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Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley

Kenya
Factors affecting the property in 2015*
  • Housing
  • Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Renewable energy facilities
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Housing
  • Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Renewable energy facilities
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2015
Requests approved: 3 (from 1999-2006)
Total amount approved : 45,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2015**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2015

On 29 January 2015, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1060/documents/.

On 24 May 2014, the adoption of the Kabarnet Declaration established the Lake Bogoria National Reserve Management Committee, formally recognizing the Endorois as a community and the Endorois Welfare Council as their representative organization in the management of Lake Bogoria. The Management Committee, which includes the Endorois Welfare Council, is established as the key body dealing with issues related to the management of Lake Bogoria, including revenue allocation and benefit sharing.

Developments in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions are presented in the report, as follows:

  • Discussions are underway with UNESCO Eastern Africa Regional Office for financial support to implement community consultative workshops and mapping of possible boundary modifications at Lake Elementaita;
  • A one-year moratorium for developments on the shores of Lake Elementaita has been postponed following consultative processes with, and stated compliance by, tourism investors;
  • Royalties in the amount of USD 22,000 were paid by a bio-prospecting company to the local Endorois communities of Lake Bogoria under the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing;
  • Geothermal prospecting and development within the property are not allowed, and the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for any geothermal energy developments that may occur outside of the property is emphasized;
  • Tanzanian and Kenyan government authorities expressed their desire to conserve Lake Natron as an important habitat for migratory birds, especially the lesser flamingos, during their participation in the 2014 World Migratory Bird Day;
  • It is stated that the State Party of Tanzania confirmed that a soda ash factory will not be constructed at Lake Natron;
  • The State Party of Kenya is currently developing a Single Species Action Plan for lesser flamingos, which will enhance the cooperative management of Lake Natron and Shampole wetlands by the States Parties of Kenya and Tanzania.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2015

The adoption of the Kabarnet Declaration should be welcomed, and the compensation paid to the local Endorois communities by a bio-prospecting company is noted. However, the State Party’s report lacks further information regarding the implementation of the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) decision on the Endorois and its Resolution 197. A letter dated 19 February 2015 from Minority Rights Group International and the Endorois Welfare Council to the World Heritage Centre, while welcoming recent efforts by the State Party to engage with the Endorois, raises concern about the effectiveness in the implementation of the Endorois ruling and the level of transparency of decision-making processes, including expectations for future financial payments. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.91, it is recommended that the Committee strongly urge the State Party to fully implement the ACHPR Endorois decision and Resolution 197 without delay, to ensure the full and effective participation of the Endorois in the management and decision-making of Lake Bogoria.

It is also welcomed that geothermal prospecting and development within the property are not allowed, and that any prospective geothermal energy developments outside the property will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It is recommended that the Committee requests the State Party to provide more information on the current status of the EIA procedure for these developments, including copies of EIAs that have already been undertaken.

The State Party of Kenya reports that the State Party of Tanzania had confirmed its decision not to construct a soda ash factory at Lake Natron. However, on 16 March 2015, the World Heritage Centre sent a letter to the State Party of Tanzania to verify a media report, which stated that the project had received approval from Tanzania’s environmental regulatory authorities. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.91 and that Lake Natron is the most important breeding site for lesser flamingo in the world, the protection and conservation of which is of great importance to the integrity of the property, the State Party was requested, in the letter, to submit to the World Heritage Centre an EIA that includes a specific assessment of potential impacts on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), and was urged not to proceed with any activities until the EIA has been received and reviewed. At the time of drafting this report, no response had been received yet.

It is noted that the one-year moratorium for development around Lake Elementaita has been postponed for an unspecified duration, considering the stated compliance of tourism investors. In the absence of clarity on the current status of these developments, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide further information on the actions undertaken to address the Committee’s request (Decision 38 COM 7B.91) for the removal of any existing illegal developments and the ecological restoration of affected areas. It is also recommended that the State Party be requested to develop and implement strict and clear regulations to prohibit developments in close proximity to fragile habitats and in the critical buffer zone to the property.

It is also noted that a more detailed State Party report, including information on the management implications of the ACHPR Endorois decision and its Resolution 197, would enable the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to analyze the state of conservation of the property more profoundly. It is finally recommended that the Committee request the States Parties of Kenya and Tanzania to invite a joint World Heritage/IUCN monitoring mission to the property to review the status of riparian areas around Lake Elementaita, to assess the water pollution and management issues that were identified as key threats in the IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2014, to evaluate concerns raised around the engagement of the Endorois community in the management of Lake Bogoria, and to review the potential impacts of the soda ash plant development at Lake Natron.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2015
39 COM 7B.5
Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (Kenya) (N 1060rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
  2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.91, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
  3. Welcomes the adoption of the Kabarnet Declaration, which formally recognizes the Endorois as a community and the Endorois Welfare Council as their representative organization in the management of Lake Bogoria;
  4. Also welcomes the State Party’s confirmation that geothermal prospecting and development within the property are not allowed, and that any prospective geothermal energy developments outside the property will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and requests the State Party to provide further information on the current status of the EIA procedure including copies of the EIAs that have already been undertaken;
  5. Notes the payments made to the Endorois communities, and the letter from Minority Rights Group International and the Endorois Welfare Council to the World Heritage Centre raising concern about the effectiveness of the implementation of the Endorois ruling and the level of transparency of decision-making processes, and strongly urges the State Party to fully implement the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Endorois decision and Resolution 197 without delay to ensure the full and effective participation of the Endorois in the management and decision-making of Lake Bogoria;
  6. Notes with appreciation the confirmation of the State Party of Tanzania not to proceed with any activities until an EIA has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and reviewed by IUCN;
  7. Further notes that the one-year moratorium on development on the shores of Lake Elementaita has been postponed following the stated compliance by tourism investors, and also further the State Party to provide detailed information on the actions taken to ensure the removal of any existing illegal developments and the ecological restoration of affected areas, and to develop and implement strict and clear regulations to prohibit developments in close proximity to fragile habitats and in the critical buffer zone to the property;
  8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
Draft Decision: 39 COM 7B.5

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
  2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.91, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
  3. Welcomes the adoption of the Kabarnet Declaration, which formally recognizes the Endorois as a community and the Endorois Welfare Council as their representative organization in the management of Lake Bogoria;
  4. Also welcomes the State Party’s confirmation that geothermal prospecting and development within the property are not allowed, and that any prospective geothermal energy developments outside the property will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and requests the State Party to provide further information on the current status of the EIA procedure including copies of the EIAs that have already been undertaken;
  5. Notes the payments made to the Endorois communities, and the letter from Minority Rights Group International and the Endorois Welfare Council to the World Heritage Centre raising concern about the effectiveness of the implementation of the Endorois ruling and the level of transparency of decision-making processes, and strongly urges the State Party to fully implement the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Endorois decision and Resolution 197 without delay to ensure the full and effective participation of the Endorois in the management and decision-making of Lake Bogoria;
  6. Also requests the State Party of Tanzania to provide detailed information on the development of the soda ash plant at Lake Natron, and also urges the State Party of Tanzania not to proceed with any activities until an EIA has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and reviewed by IUCN;
  7. Also notes that the one-year moratorium on development on the shores of Lake Elementaita has been postponed following the stated compliance by tourism investors, and further requests the State Party to provide detailed information on the actions taken to ensure the removal of any existing illegal developments and the ecological restoration of affected areas, and to develop and implement strict and clear regulations to prohibit developments in close proximity to fragile habitats and in the critical buffer zone to the property;
  8. Requests furthermore the States Parties of Kenya and Tanzania to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property to review the state of conservation of the property, and the potential impacts of soda ash plant development at Lake Natron;
  9. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.

REVISED DECISION SUBMITTED ON 29/06/2015 BY THE WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE AND IUCN
Draft Decision: 39 COM 7B.5 Rev

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
  2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.91, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
  3. Welcomes the adoption of the Kabarnet Declaration, which formally recognizes the Endorois as a community and the Endorois Welfare Council as their representative organization in the management of Lake Bogoria;
  4. Also welcomes the State Party’s confirmation that geothermal prospecting and development within the property are not allowed, and that any prospective geothermal energy developments outside the property will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and requests the State Party to provide further information on the current status of the EIA procedure including copies of the EIAs that have already been undertaken;
  5. Notes the payments made to the Endorois communities, and the letter from Minority Rights Group International and the Endorois Welfare Council to the World Heritage Centre raising concern about the effectiveness of the implementation of the Endorois ruling and the level of transparency of decision-making processes, and strongly urges the State Party to fully implement the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Endorois decision and Resolution 197 without delay to ensure the full and effective participation of the Endorois in the management and decision-making of Lake Bogoria;
  6. Also notes the information provided by the State Party of Tanzania  that the development of the soda ash plant at Lake Natron is at an investigation stage, and requests the State Party of Tanzania to  submit an EIA that includes a specific assessment of potential impacts on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN before making any decision on the implementation of the project;
  7. Further notes that the one-year moratorium on development on the shores of Lake Elementaita has been postponed following the stated compliance by tourism investors, and further requests the State Party to provide detailed information on the actions taken to ensure the removal of any existing illegal developments and the ecological restoration of affected areas, and to develop and implement strict and clear regulations to prohibit developments in close proximity to fragile habitats and in the critical buffer zone to the property;
  8. Requests furthermore the State Party of Kenya to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property to review the state of conservation of the property;
  9. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
Report year: 2015
Kenya
Date of Inscription: 2011
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(ix)(x)
Documents examined by the Committee
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2015) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 39COM (2015)
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.


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