Decision 45 COM 7A.1

Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) (N 196)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.55 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the strengthening of indigenous territorial governance, and biodiversity conservation measures to restore the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and notes with satisfaction the ongoing inter-institutional efforts to address illegal activity in the property, including poaching and illegal settlement;
4. Expresses concern that the expected completion of the land titling process in the cultural zone of the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve has been further delayed to 2022 and urges the State Party to complete the process within the newly proposed timeframe;
5. Notes the State Party’s progress to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), however, notes with concernthat many challenges remain, and also urges the State Party and its partners to ensure the corrective measures are expeditiously and fully implemented, through improved collaboration and resourcing;
6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to secure the necessary technical and financial resources required for the consultation processes, especially with indigenous and Afro-Honduran territorial councils, to submit a proposal for a Significant Boundary Modification as a crucial step towards achieving the DSOCR, and in particular to fully consider the archaeological heritage of the property and corresponding actors;
7. Regrets that the Patuca III Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) is already in operational testing without the current and potential impacts of the project on the OUV of the property having been thoroughly assessed through a Strategic Environmental Assessment;
8. Requests the State Party to urgently develop a study to identify and monitor any actual and potential impacts of the HPP on the OUV of the property, and to adopt an adaptive management approach, including through development and implementation of necessary measures to mitigate any adverse impacts on the OUV;
9. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session in 2024;
10. Decides to retain Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.