Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Factors affecting the property in 2013*
- Civil unrest
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
- Mining
- War
- Other Threats:
Villages in the ecological corridor between the highland and lowland sectors of the park
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Presence of armed groups, lack of security and political instability rendering a large part of the property inacessible to the guards ;
- Attribution of mining permits inside the property ;
- Poaching by armed military groups ;
- Villages in the ecological corridor between the highland and lowland sectors of the park ;
- Illegal mining and deforestation.
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Adverse refugee impact
- Irregular presence of armed militia and settlers at the property
- Increased poaching
- Deforestation
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
A draft has been developed during the 2009 reactive monitoring mission (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/137/documents), but the indicators still need to be quantified based on the results of a census of large mammals.
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4081
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2013
Total amount granted: USD 980,000 from the United Nations Foundation (UNF), and the Governments of Italy and Belgium and by the Rapid Response Facility (RRF)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2013
Total amount approved : 119,270 USD
| 2000 | Emergency assistance to World Natural Heritage of the ... (Approved) | 5,400 USD |
| 1999 | Support to Resident Staff of Garamba, Virunga, Kahuzi ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1995 | Purchase of a vehicle for Kahuzi Biega National Park (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 1994 | Financial contribution for the protection of ... (Approved) | 25,000 USD |
| 1992 | Review of the state of conservation of World Heritage ... (Approved) | 3,750 USD |
| 1988 | Purchase of a 4x4 Jeep for Kahuzi Biega National Park (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1980 | Equipment for Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Approved) | 15,120 USD |
Missions to the property until 2013**
1996 and 2006: several World Heritage Centre missions in the framework of the DRC Programme; December 2009: joint IUCN/World Heritage Centre reactive monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2013
The State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property on 25 February 2013. The report provides some information concerning the implementation of the corrective measures:
a) Evacuate the armed groups from the property and extend the area of surveillance to the whole property
The State Party notes that after encouraging results achieved in 2011 in terms of securing the park, the security situation in the area has unfortunately degraded again as a result of the emergence of a new armed militia in the region “Raia Mutomboki” and following the M23 (March 23 Movement) rebellion in the East which started end of 2012. As a result, large parts of the lowland sector are again off limits to park staff and surveillance had to be suspended in the Lulingo, Itebero and Nzovu sectors.
b) Close down all the illegal mining extraction operations within the property and officially cancel all the mining concessions encroaching on the property
The report does not provide any data on the situation of illegal artisanal mining in the property but press reports note that the Raia Mutomboki militia has occupied artisanal mining sites in the region. The report also provides no update on the situation with regard to the mining concessions which are encroaching on the property. However, the recommendations adopted at the Conference organized by the Congolese Government on "Governance and transparency in the mining sector", held in Lubumbashi on 30 January 2013, should be underlined. (See General report on the World Heritage properties of the Republic Democratic of the Congo in document WHC-13/37COM/7A.XX).
c) Evacuate the ecological corridor and initiate measures to restore plant species and connectivity
The State Party notes the dialogue at provincial level to address this issue is continuing with the objective of establishing a single and clear land register which takes into account the limits of the property in order to avoid future illegal land attributions. In December 2012, the protected area management authority also initiated a procedure to request the Governor of the South Kivu province to cancel all farming concessions illegally granted by the services of land rights and the cadaster. No information is provided on the results. The report also mentions that an inter-ministerial committee has been set up at national level to deal with land use disputes concerning protected areas, but that this has not yet produced tangible results.
d) Develop, in a participatory manner, and implement a zoning plan to resolve the issue of the villages in the lowland sector, while maintaining the values and integrity of the property
The State Party notes that most villages inside the park alongside the Mumbili and Nkolo trail have been deserted as a result of the renewed insecurity. The populations of these villages have been displaced to the towns outside the property but community conservation park staff continues a dialogue with them to identify a solution for the land disputes in the park. The State Party further notes that discussions are underway with the communities adjacent to the lowland sector in order to establish a buffer zone for the park.
e) Continue the efforts to reactivate surveillance mechanisms, while ensuring control of the whole Park
As mentioned above and as a result of renewed insecurity, a large part of the lowland sector of the park is again out of the control of park staff, reversing the positive trend reported last year. The State Party notes that a new configuration of the surveillance sectors was decided to facilitate surveillance activities.
f) Complete and approve the Management Plan for the property and ensure the means for its implementation
The implementation of the first phase (2009-2011) of the Management Plan was evaluated using the “Enhancing our Heritage” methodology. The evaluation concluded that while there had been some encouraging results, the global implementation of the work plan of the first three years had been poor, partly because of security problems but also because of insufficient staff numbers and capacity. A three-years operational plan 2012–2014 has been developed.
g) Species inventory
The State Party notes that in November 2012, work had started on the inventory of the sectors located in the lowland but that the activity had to be suspended following the increased insecurity. The State Party stresses that conducting the inventories remains a priority and work will be continued as soon as the security situation allows. Monitoring of the gorilla population and the small residual population of elephants in the high altitude sector is continuing.
h) Limit local traffic to the part of Road RN3 crossing the property, ensure the means for control, and envisage a ring road around the property should the route towards Kisangani re-open
The State Party provides no new information on this issue. It mentions that plans for the construction of the Tshivanga park headquarters and the park stations and patrol posts have been approved by the park authorities but that building has not yet started. The headquarters will be constructed on the boundary of the park but the location of the other infrastructure has not yet been determined.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2013
The World Heritage Centre and IUCN recommend that the World Heritage Committee express its utmost concern about the renewed insecurity which is again affecting the lowland sector, covering 90% of the park. They recall that this area had been inaccessible for park staff for many years and only recently park surveillance activities had re-started. The renewed infiltration of armed groups and the suspension of surveillance activities are therefore a significant setback for restoring the integrity of the property. They note that there is a significant risk that the progress which had been achieved in implementing the corrective measures will again be lost.
The World Heritage Centre and IUCN are of the view that restoring the security is the pre-condition for implementing the corrective measures and restoring the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. They recall the commitment of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the January 2011 Kinshasa Declaration to create the conditions for the implementation of the corrective measures by securing the properties.
They recommend that the Committee maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism be applied.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2013
37 COM 7A.5
Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 137)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decision 36 COM 7A.5 , adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
- Expresses its utmost concern about the renewed insecurity as a result of the infiltration of armed groups which has led to the suspension of surveillance in the lowland sector, covering 90% of the property;
- Considers that there is a significant risk that the achievements made in implementing the corrective measures will again be lost and notes that restoring security is the pre-condition for implementing the corrective measures and restoring the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;
- Strongly urges the State Party to take all necessary measures to restore security in the area and evacuate armed groups from the property in line with the commitments made in the Kinshasa Declaration and in order to create the conditions to allow the protected area management authority “Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature” (ICCN) to restore the surveillance in the entire property and continue the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010);
- Takes note of the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to deal with land use disputes and reiterates its request to the State Party to cancel land rights illegally granted in the property as well as mining concessions encroaching on the property, in conformity with the commitments made in the Kinshasa Declaration;
- Reiterates its position that mining and oil exploration and exploitation are incompatible with World Heritage status;
- Also reiterates its request to the State Party to carry out as soon as possible a survey of the main populations of wildlife in the lowland sectors of the property to enable an assessment of the state of the Outstanding Universal Value and the establishment of a timetable for the rehabilitation of the property;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2014 , a report on the state of conservation of the property, including an update on the security situation in the property, mining concessions and land rights granted on the territory of the property, progress accomplished in the resolution of the problem of illegal occupation of the ecological corridor and in the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014;
- Decides to maintain the Reinforced monitoring mechanism for the property;
- Also decides to retain the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
37 COM 7A.9
General Decision on the properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 36 COM 7A.36 adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
- Welcomes the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee, a framework agreement with the Mining Cadaster and the progress made in the establishment of the Trust Fund, also known as "Okapi Fund";
- Notes with concern the worsening of insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage properties in this region;
- Reiterates its request to ensure the full implementation of the commitments made in the Declaration of Kinshasa, and the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan, and requests the State Party to allocate to the inter-ministerial committee, the necessary technical and financial means to ensure adequate monitoring;
- Expresses its deep concern about the Hydrocarbons Code project that could make possible oil exploration activities in the protected areas and the World Heritage properties, contrary to the commitments made by the State Party in the Kinshasa Declaration and urges the State Party to ensure that the status of protection of World Heritage properties is maintained;
- Also reiterates its request to the State Party to review its mining and oil exploration and exploitation permits to exclude World Heritage properties, and not to grant them within the boundaries of the DRC properties, and recalls the incompatibility of mining and oil exploration and exploitation with World Heritage status;
- Also warmly welcomes the support of donor countries to the conservation of the five DRC properties, and calls on the international community to continue its support in the implementation of the corrective measures and the Strategic Action Plan to create the conditions necessary for the rehabilitation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the five properties of the DRC;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014 , a detailed report on the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration, the status of mining and oil exploration and exploitation permits which affect the World Heritage properties, as well as on the Hydrocarbons Code, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014.
37 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (retained properties)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-13/37.COM/7A, WHC-13/37.COM/7A.Add and WHC-13/37.COM/7A.Add.
- Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 37 COM 7A.29 )
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 37 COM 7A.30 )
- Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 37 COM 7A.16 )
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.1)
- Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 37 COM 7A.37 )
- Colombia, Los Katíos National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.17 )
- Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.2 )
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 37 COM 7A.3 )
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.4 )
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.5 )
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.6 )
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.7 )
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 37 COM 7A.8 )
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 37 COM 7A.23 )
- Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.10 )
- Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 37 COM 7A.32 )
- Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 37 COM 7A.33 )
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 37 COM 7A.18 )
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 37 COM 7A.14 )
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 37 COM 7A.24 )
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 37 COM 7A.25 )
- Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 37 COM 7A.26 )
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 37 COM 7A.11 )
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 37 COM 7A.19 )
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 37 COM 7A.20 )
- Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 37 COM 7A.12 )
- Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 37 COM 7A.27 )
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 37 COM 7A.36 )
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 37 COM 7A.38 )
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.13 )
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 37 COM 7A.34 )
- Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 37 COM 7A.21 )
- United Republic of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 37 COM 7A.22 )
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 37 COM 7A.35 )
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.15 )
- Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 37 COM 7A.39 )
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 37 COM 7A.28 )
Draft Decision: 37 COM 7A.5
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Expresses its utmost concernabout the renewed insecurity as a result of the infiltration of armed groups which has led to the suspension of surveillance in the lowland sector, covering 90% of the property;
4. Considers that there is a significant risk that the achievements made in implementing the corrective measures will again be lost and notes that restoring security is the pre-condition for implementing the corrective measures and restoring the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;
5. Strongly urges the State Party to take all necessary measures to restore security in the area and evacuate armed groups from the property in line with the commitments made in the Kinshasa Declaration and in order to create the conditions to allow the protected area management authority “Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature” (ICCN) to restore the surveillance in the entire property and continue the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010);
6. Takes note of the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to deal with land use disputes and reiterates its request to the State Party to cancel land rights illegally granted in the property as well as mining concessions encroaching on the property, in conformity with the commitments made in the Kinshasa Declaration;
7. Reiterates its position that mining and oil exploration and exploitation are incompatible with World Heritage status;
8. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to carry out as soon as possible a survey of the main populations of wildlife in the lowland sectors of the property to enable an assessment of the state of the Outstanding Universal Value and the establishment of a timetable for the rehabilitation of the property;
9. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2014, a report on the state of conservation of the property, including an updated situation on the security situation in the property, mining concessions and land rights granted on the territory of the property, progress accomplished in the resolution of the problem of illegal occupation of the ecological corridor and in the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014;
10. Decides to maintain the Reinforced monitoring mechanism for the property;
11. Also decides to retain the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
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.
