Decision 43 COM 7B.21

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Belize) (N 764)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.43, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Welcomes the State Party’s confirmation that it will complete the land tenure verification process in April 2019, followed by the designation of remaining public lands within the property as strict mangrove reserves, however notes that this was not completed in 2018 as requested in Decision 42 COM 7A.43, and requests the State Party to finalize the process as a matter of priority and no later than 31 December 2019;
4. Also welcomes the confirmation provided by the State Party that consideration of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) has been included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Checklist and the amended EIA Regulations are expected to be approved in 2019, and also requests the State Party to confirm the official approval of the amended Regulations, once available;
5. Takes note of the information provided by the State Party regarding the continued implementation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan, including through bilateral and multilateral programmes and funding initiatives, and encourages the State Party to continue these efforts;
6. Further welcomes measures undertaken by the State Party to further strengthen fishing regulations, including progress achieved towards finalization and official approval of the Fisheries Resources Bill and actions aimed at increasing the total area covered by no-take zones;
7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2020, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session in 2021.