Forêts Humides de l’Atsinanana

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/14,
2. Takes note of the status of implementation of the International Assistance request for Atsinanana Forests (Madagascar) approved in 2010 by the Committee and requests the Secretariat to include any relevant information concerning the implementation of this request in the state of conservation reports for this property, to be examined by subsequent sessions of the Committee;
3. Also takes note of the report on the implementation of revised timeline for examination of International Assistance requests and decides not to propose any changes in this regard;
4. Notes with great concern the low level of the International Assistance budget;
5. Warmly thanks the States Parties of Italy, India, the Republic of Korea, Finland, the Philippines and Turkey for their contributions which made possible the funding of several International Assistance requests since 2010;
6. Recalling Decision 39 COM 14, paragraph 4, strongly appeals to all States Parties to contribute to the sub-account of the World Heritage Fund for International Assistance by choosing among the options described in Resolution 19 GA 8;
7. Commends the World Heritage Centre for its initiative to propose International Assistance requests which have been recommended for approval but not funded due to lack of funding, to potential donors, through a dedicated web-page.

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Documents WHC-13/37.COM/14 and WHC-13/37.COM/INF.14,

2.  Expresses its deep concern at the status of the International Assistance budget;

3.  Warmly thanks the Governments of Italy and India for their generous contribution to the International Assistance budget, which made the approval of several requests possible since 2010;

4.  Encourages other States Parties to follow their example, since without additional contributions being made to the World Heritage Fund, it will not be possible to effectively respond to International Assistance requests, thereby weakening the credibility of the Convention and the fulfilment of its objectives;

5.  Recalls its Decision 37 COM 12 whereby it adopted the revision of paragraph 240 related to International Assistance in the Operational Guidelines ;

6.  Also recalls that, according to the new calendar which entered into force last year, the deadline for receiving all International Assistance requests for the 2014 cycle is 31 October 2013;

7.  Takes note of the status of implementation of the International Assistance request for Atsinanana Forests (Madagascar) approved in 2010 by the Committee and requests the Secretariat to submit the revised budget and activities of the second installment of US$65,000 for approval by the Chairperson of the Committee;

8.  Also requests the Secretariat to submit a progress report on the implementation of this request at the 39th session of the Committee in 2015, under the agenda item relating to International Assistance;

9.  Also takes note of the analysis on Preparatory Assistance dedicated to the preparation of nomination files during the period 2001-2010.

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/14,

2. Takes note of the status of implementation of the International Assistance request for the Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar), approved in 2010 by the World Heritage Committee;

3. Requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a progress report on the implementation of this request at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2013, under the agenda item relating to International Assistance;

4. Recalls its Decision 36 COM 13 whereby it adopted the revision of several paragraphs related to International Assistance in the Operational Guidelines;

5. Also requests the World Heritage Centre to implement the revised calendar for the yearly examination of International Assistance requests on an experimental basis until 2016, and approves the corresponding interim measure for pending requests;

6. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a report on the implementation of the new calendar at the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2016, under the agenda item relating to International Assistance.

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having considered Document WHC-11/35.COM/14,

2. Takes note of the status of implementation of the International Assistance request for Atsinanana Forests (Madagascar) approved in 2010;

3. Requests the Secretariat to submit a report on the implementation of this request at the 36th session of the Committee in 2012, under the agenda item International Assistance.

The World Heritage Committee, 

1.  Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/15,

2. Considering the threat to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property that motivated its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and the need for urgent action to restore the integrity of the property,

3. Decides to approve the following request:

Madagascar:  Rainforests of the Atsinanana, for an amount of US$ 100,000 in  the category "Conservation and Management Support", in accordance with the following modalities:

a) Prior payment of arrears to the World Heritage Fund;

b) Allocation of a first payment of US$ 35,000 to cover mapping activities, inventories of threats, impact assessment and inventories of stocks of cut and remaining precious woods, and as foreseen in the request for assistance in Document WHC-10/34.COM/15. This assessment should be finalized prior to the organization of the World Heritage Centre / IUCN on-site monitoring mission (see Decision 34 COM 7B.2);

c) The support should be channeled through reliable and recognized organizations selected by the World Heritage Centre in communication with relevant authorities;

d) Establishment of an emergency plan to define corrective measures, prepared jointly with the State Party and stakeholders during the World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission and approved by the State Party;

e) Allocation of a second payment of US$ 65,000 as a contribution to the implementation of the emergency plan, subject to co-financing from the government and other donors.

4. Requests the Secretariat to submit a report on the implementation of this Decision at the 35th session of the Committee in 2011, under the agenda item relating to International Assistance.