Decision 44 COM 7B.181

South China Karst (China) (N 1248bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7B.4 adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Welcomes the State Party’s continued progress towards an integrated, coordinated management system for the property, including the ongoing implementation of the 2016-2025 Conservation and Management Plan of South China Karst World Natural Heritage Site (CMP-SCK) and the positive results reported to date;
4. Notes with appreciation the measures taken by the State Party to address any negative impact on the buffer zone of the Libo Karst component from the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway, currently under construction, but reiterates its request to the State Party to address potential impacts of the project, including invasive alien species, on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
5. Noting that tourism is a major source of income for local communities, including Wukeshu, requests the State Party to ensure the sustainable development of the tourism industry at the property, which mitigates the potential for negative impacts on the property’s OUV;
6. Also notes with appreciation that a visitor carrying capacity was established for the property and that the operation of the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway will be managed within these limits, and also requests the State Party to ensure that the distribution of visitor pressure is monitored and sustainably managed;
7. Also welcomes the efforts to formulate strict working procedures in order to positively engage with local communities during relocation programmes in Wukeshu Village and the State Party’s commitment to adhering to the 2015 Policy Document on the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the Processes of the World Heritage Convention and other relevant international standards in case of any future relocation;
8. Encourages the State Party to seek advice from the UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme and prepare a Sustainable Tourism and Development Strategy for the property, for review by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN;
9. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for review by the Advisory Bodies.