Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas
Factors affecting the property in 1989*
- Illegal activities
- Oil and gas
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Poaching
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1989
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1989**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1989
Mobil Oil is about to begin an oil exploration programme in the Zambesi valley including the above reserves. On request of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, IUCN prepared environmental impact guidelines which would be built into the contract between Mobil and the Government. There are possibilities that seismic surveys could be conducted without construction of trace lines through the park but substantial impacts would still be experienced. Ideally, no exploration activity should be permitted within the boundaries of the World Heritage site.
Action Required
The Bureau should express its concern over oil exploration in the site and inform both the Zimbabwean officials and Mobil Oil that any further consideration of the proposal should be approached with great caution. At the same time Zimbabwe should be commended by the Committee for its efforts to protect the remaining rhino and elephant populations that have been under intense pressure from poachers over the past four years (over 30 human lives have also been lost in anti-poaching operations since 1986).
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1989
IUCN reported to the 13th Session of the Bureau that Mobil Oil was about to begin an oil exploration programme in the Zambesi valley including the above reserve.
On request of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, IUCN prepared environmental impact guidelines to be built into the contract between Mobil and the Government. There are possibilities that seismic surveys could be conducted without construction of trace lines through the park but substantial impacts would still be experienced. Ideally, no exploration activity should be permitted within the boundaries of the World Heritage site.
IUCN also suggested that Zimbabwe should be commended for its efforts to protect the remaining rhino and elephant populations that have been under intense pressure from poachers over the past four years.
On the light of this, the Bureau decided to commend the Zimbabwean authorities for their efforts to protect the remaining rhinoceros and elephant populations. The Bureau expressed great concern however over the proposed oil exploration programme, particularly in the light of a very negative report submitted to the Secretariat by the Zimbabwe National Commission for Unesco. The Bureau therefore requested the Secretariat to convey its concern to the highest government authorities of Zimbabwe, as well as to the Director of Mobil Oil Company.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1989
13 BUR IV.B.5
Mana Pools, Sani and Chewore Reserves (Zimbabwe)
The Bureau wished firstly to commend the Zimbabwean authorities for their efforts to protect the remaining rhinoceros and elephant populations. The Bureau expressed great concern however over the proposed oil exploration programme, particularly in the light of a very negative report submitted to the Secretariat by the Zimbabwe National Commission for Unesco. The Bureau therefore requested the Secretariat to convey its concern to the highest government authorities of Zimbabwe, as well as to the Director of Mobil Oil Company.
13 COM VIII.16
SOC: Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore Reserves (Zimbabwe)
Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore Reserves (Zimbabwe)
The Committee noted with satisfaction the incorporation of environmental safeguards into the agreement signed on 4 December 1989 between the Government of Zimbabwe and Mobil Oil relating to oil exploration in this site. The Committee decided to commend Zimbabwe on the action taken and to urge that it monitor the effects of the exploration closely. The Committee requested the Zimbabwean authorities to inform the Secretariat in the event that oil extraction might proceed later as this could significantly affect the site's integrity.
No draft Decision
ZimbabweDocuments examined by the Committee
13COM (1989)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
