Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
- Financial resources
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Human resources
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
- Management systems/ management plan
- Mining
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Mining
- Influx of refugees
- Agricultural encroachment
- Deforestation
- Poaching
- Weak management capacity
- Lack of resources
- Unsatisfactory transboundary cooperation
- Road construction
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Iron-ore mining concession inside the property in Guinea
- Arrival of large numbers of refugees from Liberia to areas in and around the Reserve
- Insufficient institutional structure
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Proposed for adoption in the draft Decision below
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/7464
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
In progress
Previous Committee Decisions see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/155/documents/
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023
Total amount granted: USD 25,282 from the Rapid Response Facility in January 2012 (see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/830/), USD 31,214 from the Government of China Funds for Capacity Building and cooperation for World Heritage in Africa (https://whc.unesco.org/en/280/?id=1058&&&)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Total amount approved : 540,649 USD
Missions to the property until 2023**
October/November 1988: World Heritage Centre mission; 1993: Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission; 1994: IUCN mission; 2000: World Heritage Centre mission; 2007: Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission to Guinea; 2008: Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission to Côte d’Ivoire; 2013: Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission; January 2019: Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023
On 30 March 2022, the States Parties of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea submitted a joint report on the state of conservation of the property, and on 1 March 2023, they submitted additional information all of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/155/documents/ and reporting the following:
- The management functions of the Ivorian component of the property were supported from 2017 to 2021 by a 250 million FCFA (38 million for 2021) programme financed by AFD under the second Contrat de Désendettement et de Développement (C2D).The third C2D and establishment of an endowment fund for permanent financing remain in negotiation;
- The strengthening of operational management capacity, anti-poaching measures, joint patrols, geo-referencing, ecological monitoring of key species, removal of illegal occupants, land use planning, restoration of degraded areas, installation of firebreaks and support to local communities are reported as significant efforts towards achieving the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger as shown in the table of achievements annexed to the report. These efforts, although hampered by COVID-19, Ebola in 2021, will continue in 2023 with the support of national and international institutions, including Société des Mines de Fer de Guinée (SMFG), UNESCO, USAID, GEF, European Union (EU) and the World Bank through a number of programmes in the landscape;
- The Support programme for the preservation of forest ecosystems in West Africa (PAPFor) began in 2022 following significant delays due to COVID-19, Ebola and the socio-political crisis in Guinea. The 5-year programme, funded by the EU supports the continued implementation of management functions including surveillance, elaboration of the Development and Management Plan (PAG), ecological monitoring, support to riparian communities, buffer zone and transboundary activities in the Mount Nimba landscape. Challenges include the delayed PAPFor project, and insufficient studies on key species. The 5-7-year timeframe for implementation of the corrective measures is anticipated to be appropriate;
- The construction of the Danané-Lola road was suspended in 2019 and the section crossing the buffer zone of the property in Guinea was moved further north, away from the property;
- An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed SMFG project, in accordance with the highest international standards and taking into consideration the OUV of the property, is underway and will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
- The environmental compliance certificate of Zali mining has expired, and the State Party of Guinea has approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for their ESIA update following the incorporation of recommendations made by the World Heritage Centre/IUCN on the draft ToR in 2020-2021;
- As an alternative to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) requested by the Committee prior to permitting any new mining, the State Party of Guinea proposes to establish an assessment framework for mining proposals in the Nimba area, consisting of a set of technical criteria with guidance notes to assess the potential impacts (including cumulative) of individual mining proposals on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property in relation to the Desired state of conservation for the removal of property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and to submit this for IUCN review. A comprehensive update of the strategic environmental study of the entire mining sector in Guinea is planned as part of the World Bank's Guinea Natural Resource Management Project for the Mining and Environmental Sectors, which began in 2023;
- No mining activity is permitted within the property and mining activities in the vicinity must be compatible with the OUV of the property.
On 19 November 2021, the State Party of Guinea transmitted a letter to the World Heritage Centre advising of the planned timeline and review for the completion of the ESIA for the proposed Nimba Iron Ore mine, which would be located adjacent to the property.
In June 2022, the States Parties took part in a workshop in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to support the process of removing sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in French-speaking Africa, followed in June 2023 by a complementary workshop in Senegal to monitor the implementation of the corrective measures and reflect on the DSOCR.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023
Considerable progress has been made by the States Parties in implementing corrective measures under difficult circumstances including due to insufficient funding, the impacts of COVID-19 and Ebola, and ongoing security issues, and this is commendable and should be continued.
The increased funding from governments and a growing number of national and international partners including UNESCO, USAID, GEF, EU and the World Bank to enhance the property’s conservation through a number of programmes in the landscape is welcomed and vital for the future of the property. The continuation of several ongoing initiatives in the landscape in particular the operationalization of the PAPFor in 2022 will allow the States Parties to further strengthen monitoring and management capacity as well as transboundary cooperation and support to local communities. The reduction of illegal activities and bushfires within the property following the strengthening of anti-poaching measures and the installation of firebreaks in sensitive areas around the property is encouraging.
Noting that the PAG for the Côte d’Ivoire component of the property was validated in 2022, that the elaboration of the PAG for the Guinean component started in 2022, and that an integrated master plan for the entire property will be completed within three years, it is recommended that the States Parties and their partners ensure these processes are completed as soon as possible.
The delays in the designation of a functional buffer zone in the Côte d’Ivoire component of the property remain worrying. However, with the operationalization of the PAPFor in 2022, it is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to ensure the forests in the vicinity of the property be officially designated as a buffer zone following the procedure of minor boundary modifications with reference to paragraphs 107 and 164 of the Operational Guidelines.
Notwithstanding the reported species monitoring efforts, a comprehensive ecological monitoring and anti-poaching system for the property remains to be fully implemented. The ongoing harmonization of strategies across the three countries including Liberia as part of PAPFor represents a significant and encouraging development toward a coordinated approach in the landscape, and it is recommended that the States Parties and partners continue their efforts through adequate resourcing to ensure the restoration and maintenance of the ecological integrity of the property, in 2023. It is also recommended that the Committee adopt the DSOCR developed during the 2019 Reactive Monitoring mission, updated and presented in 2021 by the States Parties as additional information to their 2020 State of conservation report (see https://whc.unesco.org/document/180683, pages 40-47 of the PDF file), and work closely with relevant expert and specialist groups of IUCN and development partners to refine this and ensure its implementation going forward.
Whilst noting that the asphalting project of the Danané-Lola road was suspended in 2019 and the section crossing the buffer zone of the property in Guinea was moved further north, away from the property, the State Party should ensure that subsequent road projects do not negatively impact the OUV of the property including the proposed Lola-Zoo-Côte d’Ivoire border road project financed by the African Development Bank.
Recalling the significant concerns in recent years regarding the potential individual and cumulative impacts of mining projects in Guinea, the State Party’s commitment to ensuring the assessment of all potential development projects in line with international standards and to ensure these do not negatively impact the OUV, is encouraging. Regarding the proposal to develop a new assessment framework for mining proposals in the Nimba area as an alternative to an SEA, it is recalled that all development proposals should be assessed in line with the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context and that an SEA provides the framework to ensure a strategic level assessment of the potential impacts of various mining projects on the OUV. It would be important to clarify the objectives of the planned World Bank strategic assessment of mining in all of Guinea, including its timeline and to what extent this would specifically assess the potential impacts of projects on the OUV of the property consistent with the aforementioned guidance.
It is noted that the recommendations of the World Heritage Centre and IUCN on the ToR for the new ESIA for the Zali mining project were reportedly taken into account. It is recommended that the State Party of Guinea provides the World Heritage Centre with a copy of the approved ToR and ensures the ESIA is carried out to the highest international standards and in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context.
Regarding the proposed Nimba Iron Ore mine, the proactive engagement of the State Party of Guinea with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN regarding the development of the ESIA is welcomed. However, it is recommended to recall the significant concerns of the Committee regarding the potential impacts of this project on the OUV of the property, to ensure the ESIA is carried out according to the highest international standards, and to reiterate its request for an independent evaluation of the ESIA as soon as it is finalized and before any decision is taken to approve the project, including the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate.
It is positive that the State Party of Guinea has committed not to authorize any mining project within the property and that mining activities in the vicinity must be compatible with the OUV of the property. However, the World Heritage Centre and IUCN remain concerned about the proliferation of mining permits around the property and it is recommended that the Committee reiterates its request to the State Party of Guinea not to deliver permits for mining exploitation near the property without an SEA being carried out in order to assess the cumulative impacts on the OUV of the property.
Finally, it is recommended that the Committee retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7A.4
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d’Ivoire/Guinea) (N 155bis)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decisions 43 COM 7A.6 and 44 COM 7A.40 adopted at its 43rd (Baku, 2019) and extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) sessions,
- Commends the States Parties for their ongoing efforts under difficult circumstances to implement the corrective measures including joint transboundary surveillance patrols, funding to support management operations, anti-poaching activities, restoration of degraded areas, support for local communities, and development of a high-resolution map of the property, and requests the States Parties to continue the implementation of all corrective measures including to strengthen ecological monitoring and finalize the management plans for the property;
- Appreciates the support by an increasing number of national and international partners to the conservation of the property, including UNESCO, USAID, GEF, EU and the World Bank and encourages the States Parties to build long term programmes with them and explore other funding opportunities for a sustainable maintenance of the ecological integrity of the property;
- Recalls the importance of having a functional buffer zone (or an equivalent measure) around the property in Côte d’Ivoire, and reiterates its request to the State Party of Côte d’Ivoire to designate and formalize such an area following the procedures of the Operational Guidelines, and to strengthen the monitoring of community forests around the property, while ensuring that their management objectives are compatible with the management of the property;
- Notes that the asphalting project of the Danané-Lola road was suspended in 2019 and the section crossing the buffer zone of the property in Guinea was moved further north, away from the property, and encourages the State Party to ensure that subsequent road projects in the landscape do not negatively impact the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property including the proposed Lola-Zoo-Côte d’Ivoire border road project financed by the African Development Bank;
- Takes note of the expiration of the environmental compliance certificate of Zali mining SA for the mining block immediately adjacent to the property and the information provided by the State Party of Guinea that the recommendations of the World Heritage Centre and IUCN on the draft Terms of Reference (ToR) were fully incorporated, and also requests the State Party to submit the approved ToR to the World Heritage Centre;
- Requests the State Party of Guinea to ensure that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) for the proposed Nimba Iron Ore mining project by the Société des mines de fer de Guinée (SMFG) and the Zali Mining iron ore project:
- Are carried out in accordance with the highest international standards in line with the Guidance and Toolkit on Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and in close consultation with all key stakeholders,
- Identify fully and quantify the potential effects of the project on the OUV of the property, at each phase of its cycle, including construction and operation, taking into account the synergistic and collateral impacts also linked to on-site transformation of the ore and its transport, as well as the socio-economic changes to be expected,
- Are submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN before any decision to approve the projects, including any issuance of a certificate of environmental compliance;
- Notes with appreciation the commitment of the State Party of Guinea not to authorize any mining activity within the property and to ensure mining activities in the vicinity must be compatible with the OUV of the property, but remains concerned about the proliferation of mining permits around the property, and further requests the State Party of Guinea not to grant any exploration or mining permits around the property without carrying out a strategic environmental assessment to assess the impacts, including synergistic and cumulative impacts of these projects, and submitting it for prior consideration to the World Heritage Centre and for examination by IUCN, and also to provide further clarification regarding the planned World Bank strategic assessment of all mining projects in Guinea, in relation to the OUV of the property;
- Adopts the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), presented in 2021 by the States Parties as additional information to their 2020 State of conservation report, and requests furthermore the States Parties to ensure its refinement and implementation in collaboration with international experts and development partners, considering the recommendations of the workshops related to the DSOCR held in 2022 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in 2023 in Senegal;
- Requests moreover the States Parties 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;
- Decides to retain Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
45 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/23/45.COM/7A, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.3, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4),
- Having examined the recommendations of the Advisory Bodies, decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 45 COM 7A.51)
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 45 COM 7A.52)
- Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 45 COM 7A.55)
- Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 45 COM 7A.18)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.3)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.4)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.5)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.6)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.7)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.8)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 45 COM 7A.26)
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.1)
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.15)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 45 COM 7A.27)
- Iraq, Hatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.28)
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 45 COM 7A.29)
- Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 45 COM 7A.31)
- Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 45 COM 7A.10)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 45 COM 7A.33)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 45 COM 7A.34)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 45 COM 7A.35)
- Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 45 COM 7A.36)
- Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 45 COM 7A.37)
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 45 COM 7A.11)
- Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 45 COM 7A.22)
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 45 COM 7A.23)
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 45 COM 7A.24)
- Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 45 COM 7A.2)
- Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 45 COM 7A.53)
- Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 45 COM 7A.12)
- Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 45 COM 7A.39)
- Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 45 COM 7A.38)
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 45 COM 7A.19)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 45 COM 7A.20)
- Romania, Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Decision 45 COM 7A.56)
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.13)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 45 COM 7A.57)
- Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 45 COM 7A.16)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 45 COM 7A.40)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 45 COM 7A.41)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 45 COM 7A.42)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 45 COM 7A.43)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 45COM 7A.44)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 45 COM 7A.45)
- United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.14)
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.17)
- Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 45 COM 7A.54)
- Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 45 COM 7A.21)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 45 COM 7A.47)
- Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 45 COM 7A.49)
- Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 45 COM 7A.50)
- Lebanon, Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.1)
- Ukraine, The Historic Centre of Odesa (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.2)
- Yemen, Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3)
45 COM 8D
Clarifications of property boundaries and areas by States Parties
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/8D,
- Recalling Decision 44 COM 8D adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online 2021),
- Acknowledges the excellent work accomplished by States Parties in the clarification of the boundaries of their World Heritage properties and commends them for their efforts to improve the credibility of the World Heritage List;
- Recalls that the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are not able to examine proposals for minor or significant modifications to boundaries of World Heritage properties whenever the delimitations of such properties as inscribed remain unclear;
- Takes note of the clarifications of boundaries and areas provided by the States Parties for the following properties, as presented in the Annex of Document WHC/23/45.COM/8D:
AFRICA
- Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
- Togo, Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba
ARAB STATES
- Oman, Bahla Fort
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
- China, Longmen Grottoes
- China, Old Town of Lijiang
- China, West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
- Iran (Islamic Republic of), Bam and its Cultural Landscape
- Iran (Islamic Republic of), Meidan Emam, Esfahan
- Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pasargadae
- Iran (Islamic Republic of), Shahr-i Sokhta
- Iran (Islamic Republic of), Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System
- Japan, Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
- Viet Nam, Ha Long Bay
EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA
- Armenia, Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley
- Czechia, Historic Centre of Český Krumlov
- Czechia, Historic Centre of Telč
- Czechia, Kutná Hora: Historical Town Centre with the Church of St Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec
- Italy, Mantua and Sabbioneta
- Lithuania, Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė)
- Malta, City of Valletta
- Malta, Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
- Norway, Bryggen
- Norway, West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord
- Sweden, Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå
- Sweden, Engelsberg Ironworks
- Sweden, Hanseatic Town of Visby
- Sweden, Rock Carvings in Tanum
- Switzerland, Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Blenheim Palace
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Saltaire
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
- Argentina, Península Valdés
- Chile, Sewell Mining Town;
7. Also requests the States Parties which have not yet answered the questions raised in the framework of the Retrospective Inventory, to provide all clarifications and documentation as soon as possible, and by 1 December 2023, for their subsequent examination, if the technical requirements are met, by the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7A.4
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decisions 43 COM 7A.6 and 44 COM 7A.40 adopted at its 43rd (Baku, 2019) and extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) sessions,
- Commends the States Parties for their ongoing efforts under difficult circumstances to implement the corrective measures including joint transboundary surveillance patrols, funding to support management operations, anti-poaching activities, restoration of degraded areas, support for local communities, and development of a high-resolution map of the property, and requests the States Parties to continue the implementation of all corrective measures including to strengthen ecological monitoring and finalize the management plans for the property;
- Appreciates the support by an increasing number of national and international partners to the conservation of the property, including UNESCO, USAID, GEF, EU and the World Bank and encourages the States Parties to build long term programmes with them and explore other funding opportunities for a sustainable maintenance of the ecological integrity of the property;
- Recalls the importance of having a functional buffer zone (or an equivalent measure) around the property in Côte d’Ivoire, and reiterates its request to the State Party of Côte d’Ivoire to designate and formalize such an area following the procedures of the Operational Guidelines, and to strengthen the monitoring of community forests around the property, while ensuring that their management objectives are compatible with the management of the property;
- Notes that the asphalting project of the Danané-Lola road was suspended in 2019 and the section crossing the buffer zone of the property in Guinea was moved further north, away from the property, and encourages the State Party to ensure that subsequent road projects in the landscape do not negatively impact the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property including the proposed Lola-Zoo-Côte d’Ivoire border road project financed by the African Development Bank;
- Takes note of the expiration of the environmental compliance certificate of Zali mining SA for the mining block immediately adjacent to the property and the information provided by the State Party of Guinea that the recommendations of the World Heritage Centre and IUCN on the draft Terms of Reference (ToR) were fully incorporated, and also requests the State Party to submit the approved ToR to the World Heritage Centre;
- Requests the State Party of Guinea to ensure that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) for the proposed Nimba Iron Ore mining project by the Société des mines de fer de Guinée (SMFG) and the Zali Mining iron ore project:
- Are carried out in accordance with the highest international standards in line with the Guidance and Toolkit on Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and in close consultation with all key stakeholders,
- Identify fully and quantify the potential effects of the project on the OUV of the property, at each phase of its cycle, including construction and operation, taking into account the synergistic and collateral impacts also linked to on-site transformation of the ore and its transport, as well as the socio-economic changes to be expected,
- Are submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN before any decision to approve the projects, including any issuance of a certificate of environmental compliance;
- Notes with appreciation the commitment of the State Party of Guinea not to authorize any mining activity within the property and to ensure mining activities in the vicinity must be compatible with the OUV of the property, but remains concerned about the proliferation of mining permits around the property, and further requests the State Party of Guinea not to grant any exploration or mining permits around the property without carrying out a strategic environmental assessment to assess the impacts, including synergistic and cumulative impacts of these projects, and submitting it for prior consideration to the World Heritage Centre and for examination by IUCN, and also to provide further clarification regarding the planned World Bank strategic assessment of all mining projects in Guinea, in relation to the OUV of the property;
- Adopts the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), presented in 2021 by the States Parties as additional information to their 2020 State of conservation report, and requests furthermore the States Parties to ensure its refinement and implementation in collaboration with international experts and development partners, considering the recommendations of the workshops related to the DSOCR held in 2022 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in 2023 in Senegal;
- Requests moreover the States Parties 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;
- Decides to retain Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Côte d'Ivoire 
Guinea
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.
