Decision 45 COM 7B.73

Simien National Park (Ethiopia) (N 9)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.81 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the progress made by the State Party, with the support of its partners, in responding to past Committee decisions and the 2017 Reactive Monitoring mission recommendations, including the finalisation and implementation of the 2020-2030 General Management Plan (GMP), the monitoring protocols for Ethiopian wolf, Walia ibex and Gelada, and a fire management plan;
4. Takes note of the confirmation that the GMP fully considers the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and that targets have been developed for species and to maintain the natural beauty and landscapes of the property, requests the State Party to submit a copy of the GMP to the World Heritage Centre, and urges the State Party to ensure that the protection of the OUV of the property, under both criteria (vii) and (x), is fully taken into account in the implementation of the GMP;
5. While also welcoming the results of the monitoring of the Ethiopian wolf, which show populations are stable, notes with concern the recorded 13% decrease of the Walia ibex population and requests the State Party to conduct further research to identify the causes for this decline and take appropriate actions to address these;
6. Further requests the State Party to continue monitoring the Ethiopian wolf, Walia ibex and Gelada through a long-term approach that informs the ongoing protection and management of the species, seeking advice from the IUCN Species Survival Commission as needed;
7. Noting that no Tourism Management Plan was appended, also requests the State Party to provide clarification regarding the request to develop a Tourism Management Plan to guide the monitoring and management of proposed tourism developments and impacts from increased visitors;
8. Notes with appreciation the cancellation of a number of lodge investment requests inside the property, however, notes with significant concern the continued construction of tourism infrastructure inside the property, and urges again the State Party not to continue these developments in their current locations before assessing the impacts of each project on the OUV, in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and to submit these Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to the World Heritage Centre for review before taking any decision that would be difficult to reverse;
9. Also recalling the high impacts of the 2019 fires on the OUV of the property, also welcomes the implementation of a fire management strategy, however, reiterates its request for the State Party to provide further information on the affected area and impact on the OUV, to monitor the recovery of vegetation, and to submit the fire management strategy to the World Heritage Centre as soon as possible;
10. Also takes note of the continued implementation of the Grazing Pressure Reduction Strategy and the resulting reduction in livestock grazing, and further requests the State Party to continue addressing any grazing pressure;
11. Appreciates the continued support of the State Party and partners to support sustainable livelihoods of the relocated Gich community and other local communities, and encourages the State Party and partners to continue these efforts;
12. Also notes with appreciation the actions taken towards developing a proposal for a Significant Boundary Modification for the entire Simien Mountains National Park (SMNP) and the intention to simultaneously formalize the buffer zone for the property and harmonize the names of the SMNP and the property, and also requests the State Party to finalize this process, requesting technical advice from the World Heritage Centre and IUCN as needed;
13. Noting that progress is underway to complete the alternative road aiming at reducing disturbance of the existing main road in important afro-alpine habitats following further delays, also urges again the State Party to complete this project and to submit the EIA for the part of the new road crossing the SMNP to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN as soon as possible;
14. Notes that the realignment of the transmission line has been suspended until the current road construction project is completed and further reiterates its request to the State Party to assess the visual and ecological impacts on the property, in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and to submit the EIA to the World Heritage Centre for review prior to the commencement of any activities;
15. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 47th session.