Decision 44 COM 7A.48

Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) (N 1257)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.13, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Notes the efforts made by the State Party for the implementation of corrective measures, in particular the fight against illegal activities and trafficking, the application of laws relating to forest and wildlife offenses, ecological monitoring, ecological restoration, and the empowerment of neighbouring communities and their involvement in the management of the property;
4. Notes with preoccupation the rate of deforestation of the property recorded following the analysis of satellite data for the period from 2010 to 2018 as well as the increase in clearing in 2019, recalls the objective of limiting the annual rate of clearing below 0.01% of the surface of the property with a view to its removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger (indicator 2) and reiterates its request to the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with detailed data on deforestation, explaining the contradictions observed in the report, and detailed information on the sites to be rehabilitated, for examination by IUCN;
5. Notes with concern that 10 years after the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, there is no significant progress with regard to the inventory, the securing and elimination of the stocks of rosewood, and also reiterates its request to the State Party to find a lasting solution aimed at eliminating all stocks of precious woods by fully implementing the decisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) concerning ebony (Diospyros spp.), palisander and rosewood (Dalbergia spp.);
6. Further reiterates its request to the State Party to provide an update on the progress of the implementation of the action plan, as well as an assessment of the impacts of mining activity on the property, and to undertake the necessary ecological restoration activities;
7. Urges the State Party to continue the implementation of the CITES action plan and the biodiversity management plan, and strongly encourages it to implement all CITES decisions relating to the ebony, palisander and rosewood;
8. Also notes with concern that the deforestation linked to the illegal trade in precious timber, poaching and artisanal mining still constitute serious threats to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and requests the State Party to continue and intensify its efforts to implement corrective measures;
9. Further reiterates its request to the State Party to update the timetable for the implementation of the corrective measures by developing a budgeted and time-bound action plan as part of the new integrated management plan, and to submit the draft management plans for each element of the property, as well as the integrated management plan, to the World Heritage Centre, for examination by IUCN before approval;
10. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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;
11. Decides to retain the Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.