Decision 45 COM 7B.30

Ngorongoro Conservation Area (United Republic of Tanzania) (C/N 39bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.171 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Expresses its deep concern over the alleged human rights violations in and around the property as set out in the letters from the UN Special Procedures Branch of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of any forced evictions, and strongly requests the State Party to continue to investigate and address all such allegations in relation to the property and its surroundings;
4. Appreciates the dialogue between the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies to clarify the provisions in the Operational Guidelines and to recall the decisions taken by the World Heritage Committee regarding human rights-based approaches that embody the participation of a wide variety of stakeholders and rights-holders, including indigenous peoples and other interested parties and partners in the identification, nomination, management and protection processes of World Heritage properties;
5. Welcomes the State Party’s confirmation that no forced relocations will be undertaken and that the State Party is implementing a Voluntary Relocation Plan including compensation measures for local communities, however, notes with concern that there is a lack of adequate response by the State Party to the UN letters and a lack of clarity as to how relocation is only being implemented on a voluntary basis and in ways that fully respect the participation and rights of communities, and also noting the 2023 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) mission concerns regarding community reports on this process, urges the State Party to provide details that:
   1. Demonstrate that any voluntary relocation process is consistent with international good practices and applicable norms and standards, including the policies of the Convention and the principles of free, prior and informed consent,
   2. Ensure a fair, just and equitably governed consultative process to find long-term, sustainable, interdisciplinary solutions to the competing requirements for conservation and other uses of the property,
   3. Rebut the allegations of human rights violations within the property,
   4. Set out how it will respond to the recommendations of the ACHPR mission that relate to the property, once the final report is available;
6. Notes that the State Party considers that the Multiple Land Use Model (MLUM) no longer meets the needs of the property and has been reviewed, urges the State Party to submit the outcomes of this review to the World Heritage Centre together with details of what model options are now being considered and to consult with, and seek the advice of, the Advisory Bodies on options for potential emerging solutions to ensure they are based on the full consultation and participation of all stakeholders and rightsholders, including indigenous peoples, consistent with applicable norms and stands;
7. Notes with appreciation the ongoing measures to address invasive species and the confirmation that no agricultural activities were observed in the property, and requests the State Party to continue to manage and control invasive species within the property;
8. Notes the current suspension of the upgrading of the Lodoare Gate to Golini main road through the property and also reiterates its request to the State Party to fully implement the 2017 mission recommendations concerning the road and submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, the action plan to manage road use, and the results of archaeological investigations and baseline ecological and environmental data before starting the upgrading works;
9. Noting the State Party’s confirmation to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in due time, also requests the State Party to ensure the timely delivery of the SEA in order to evaluate the current and future impacts of developments across all sectors in the region, including the property and the wider Serengeti ecosystem so that the findings can inform management, and submit the SEA to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
10. Further reiterates its request to the State Party to:
    1. Provide an update on the implementation of all recommendations from the 2017 and 2019 missions and previous Committee decisions based on a revised work plan,
    2. Provide an update on the development of Integrated policies and guidelines on tourism carrying capacity and monitoring framework,
    3. Submit to the World Heritage Centre the feasibility study for the southern bypass route, including maps of the considered route options,
    4. Fully implement the 2017 mission recommendations concerning the upgrading of the Lodoare Gate to Golini main road through the property and submit to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies the action plan to manage road use and the results of archaeological investigations and baseline ecological and environmental data before starting the upgrading works,
    5. Define clearer conservation approaches for the Laetoli footprint site and for the overall archaeological landscape before any decisions are made on the presentation of the footprints or a museum building, and provide an update on progress made;
11. Further notes that the State Party invited the Advisory mission by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to the property to provide advice on the strategy to address the pressing conservation issues faced by the property while fully respecting human rights and relevant international norms;
12. 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.