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Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Factors affecting the property in 2008*
  • Civil unrest
  • Illegal activities
  • Land conversion
  • Mining
  • War
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Armed conflict, insecurity and political instability;

b) Poaching by armed military groups;

c) Encroachment, in particular in the corridor between the highlands and lowlands;

d) Illegal mining and deforestation.

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Refugee impact ;
  • Presence of armed militia and settlers in irregular situation at the property ;
  • Increased poaching ;
  • Deforestation. 
Corrective Measures for the property

The following corrective measures were recommended by the 2006 UNESCO mission and approved by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) :

a) Establish a strategy for the evacuation of all the armed groups in the property. The strategy should also take into consideration the closing of all illegal mining operations inside the property. ;

b) Substantially strengthen the presence of ICCN Park guards in the lowland sector of the Park ; 

c) Reclaim, as soon as the security situation allows, the farms situated in the ecologically important corridor between the lowland and highland sectors ;

d) Strengthen cooperation between ICCN and its partners by developing a joint plan for all interventions in the Park ;

e) Conduct, as soon as the security situation allows, a survey of flagship species present in the lowland sector of the Park, in particular gorilla and other primates ;

f) Strengthen law enforcement in the property thereby gradually increasing the area of the Park covered by guard patrols ;

g) Establish a trust fund for the rehabilitation of the World Heritage properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2008

Total amount provided to the property: First phase of the programme financed by the UNF and Belgium for the conservation of DRC World Heritage properties (« DRC Programme), (2001-2005) : approximately USD 300,000. Current phase (2005-2008) : USD 300,000. 

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2008
Requests approved: 7 (from 1980-2000)
Total amount approved : 119,270 USD
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2008

Application of the Reinforced monitoring mechanism at the property since 2007 (31 COM 7A.32).

On 1 February 2008, a concise report on the state of conservation of the five DRC World Heritage properties was submitted by the State Party. The report gives a brief overview of the ongoing management operations but little information on the implementation of the corrective measures.

In December 2007, the World Heritage Centre received from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) the final version of its report on preliminary work for the inventory of flagship species of the lowland sector of the Park. This sector has been inaccessible because of insecurity for most of the time since the beginning of hostilities in 1996. The lowlands alone contain the most important population of flagship species of the property. A survey carried out in 1994, just before the beginning of the conflict, estimated the number of Grauer gorilla at 6 670 individuals, e.g. 75% of the total population of that sub-species endemic to the DRC.

The WCS report analyses the data gathered between 2004 and 2007 in 20% of the lowland area. At the outset, work was planned to cover the whole sector but due to problems of insecurity, this was not possible. Although partial, these results provide an initial idea of the situation in this sector since the beginning of the conflict in 1996. The report contains a first estimate of the size of the populations of large fauna and analyses the impact of human activities, in particular hunting and mining. The main results of this work are summarized here below:

· The sector still provides shelter for important populations of gorilla and chimpanzee. The gorilla population in the Itebero and Nzovu Sectors has decreased by 25% since the beginning of the conflict. The analyses are less clear as regards the chimpanzee population.

· No sign of elephants was found the last signs observed in Nzovu date back to 2004. With a population before hostilities estimated at several thousand animals, it appears today that the elephant has almost disappeared.

· The presence of cephalopoda, buffalo, sitatunga, bongo, wild pig and six species of primate was confirmed.

· Signs of hunting activities were observed throughout the area inventoried.

· The presence of seven villages in the sectors visited in the Park was documented. The Rwanda rebels (FDLR) have also established their Headquarters in the Park, but visits to these areas were not possible.

· Indications of artisanal mining were observed in all the inventoried sectors. The presence of mining sites is often associated with increased poaching activities. The report also indicates that among the mining sites evacuated by the Park authorities in 2005 at Itebero, most are newly occupied.

The results of the study remain partial and it is impossible to present to conclude that they are representative for the whole lowland sector, as the areas occupied by numerous armed bands could not be visited. Nevertheless, the study appears to confirm the catastrophic impact of the war on the elephant population. However, other species still seem to be present, although their numbers have been seriously reduced.

The World Heritage Centre was also informed of a field mission by the Environment Minister, from 8 to 11 March 2008. During this mission, the Minister was able to discuss the illegal exploitation of mining resources in the property as well as the illegal occupation of the ecological corridor between the highland and the lowland sectors with the different politico-administrative and military authorities of the Province. The Minister also raised the question of insecurity at the property and the problems of the exploitation of certain natural resources by the armed Forces.

The main obstacle to the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) remains the insecurity in the region that renders a large part of the property practically inaccessible to the Park guards. To date, the following progress has been noted :

a) Establish a strategy to evacuate all armed groups from the property

The issue of the presence of armed bands remains the key problem for the conservation of the property. A slight improvement of the situation is to be noted with the reintegration into the army of two rebel military groups that were operating inside the property. To date, no progress has been made with regard to the issue of disarmament of the Rwanda rebel army that operates inside the Park. However, the « Act of Engagement » signed on 23 January 2008 at the end of the Goma Peace and Development Conference in the two Kivu (see also the report on Virunga National Park) foresees the disarmament of national and foreign armed groups remaining inthe region.

b) Substantially strengthen the presence of ICCN guards in the lowland sector. Strengthen law enforcement in the Park, thereby gradually increasing the area covered by guard patrols inside the Park.

The reopening in 2007 of the Itebero and Nzovu stations in the lowland sector of the Park is beginning to have an impact in the field. The slow return of security in these areas of the Park has allowed the organization of mixed patrols (guards, military and MONUC). From 10% in 2005, the area covered by the patrols in certain parts of the Park has increased to more than 30% in 2007.

c) Reclaim possession of the farms occupying the corridor and determine its boundaries.

The question of the corridor still remains unsolved. Lobbying activities to raise awareness of the political and administrative authorities in the Province, as well as the population regarding this issue continue. The field visit of the Environment Minister also provided the opportunity to raise the problem in the presence of the Minister for Land Affairs and the Senior Officer of the Auditorat during meetings with the political and administrative authorities of South Kivu.

d) Strengthen cooperation between ICCN and its partners in the development of a joint plan for all interventions in the Park, with clearly established responsibilities and benchmarks.

The preparation of an operational plan by the local Coordination Committee of the property was finalised. It is regularly updated in accordance with the situation at site. The development of a management plan has begun.

e) Conduct, as soon as security conditions allow, a study of flagship species in the lowland sector of the Park, in particular the gorilla and other primates;

As mentioned above, the report on the partial inventory of the sector in the areas of Nzovu and Itebero is available. Nevertheless, it remains urgent to complete this essential work for the remainder of the lowland sector, as soon as security conditions permit.

f) Establish a trust fund for the rehabilitation of the DRC World Heritage properties.

A trust fund for the DRC protected areas is being established and will be presented in the general report on the state of conservation of the DRC properties (Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A, item 31).

The issue of mining concessions attributed by the Ministry of Mines is not yet solved.

Developments with regard to the refurbishing of the RN3 Kisangani – Bukavu road that crosses the highland sector of the Park are to be noted. At the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee (Christchurch, 2007), the World Heritage Centre presented additional information on the Environmental Impact Study carried out by the German Cooperation (GTZ) at the request of the European Union (EU) and submitted on 11 June 2007. The World Heritage Centre and IUCN considered that this study did not dispel the concerns relating to the potential impact of the refurbishing project on the integrity of the property, in particular increased deforestation and mining and wild meat traffic. Moreover, an important increase in traffic on the part that crosses the property also crosses the habitat of gorilla populations and could affect their behaviour. The World Heritage Centre and IUCN had considered that the measures proposed to lessen the impact of the road in the Park were insufficient and the World Heritage Committee had requested the State Party to include in the final report clear proposals on the mitigation measures envisaged to reduce the direct and indirect impacts. The World Heritage Centre was informed that the EU and GTZ had accepted to review the study and consult experts of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. This additional study is underway. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2008
32 COM 7A.31
World Heritage properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.32, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Commends the State Party for its effort to control poaching but expresses its concern about the ongoing threats to the integrity of the properties;

4. Reiterates its request to the State Party to adopt a comprehensive approach to address the urgent threats to the properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) based on the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee as well as the recommendations from monitoring missions;

5. Calls on all States Parties to the Convention to use their bilateral contacts to raise international awareness and promote the implementation of the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee;

6. Regrets that the State Party has postponed the high level meeting between the authorities of DRC, the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, the Director-General of UNESCO, the President of IUCN, donors and other interested parties to identify strategies to address the on-going deterioration of the state of conservation of the five properties from DRC inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger before the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee, and urgesthe State Party to set a date for this meeting as soon as possible, in consultation with the Office of the Director-General of UNESCO, and the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee and the office of the President of IUCN;

7. Welcomes the commitment of the United Nations Foundation, the African World Heritage Fund, and the States Parties of Italy and Belgium in supporting the activities for restoring the Outstanding Universal Value of the five properties;

8. Notes with satisfaction the progress made in developing a trust fund for the DRC properties;

9. Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring mechanism to the five properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

32 COM 7A.5
Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 137)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Acknowledges with appreciation the positive efforts made by the State Party in addressing the challenges facing the property;

4. Also acknowledges the great financial and technical support provided for the conservation of the property by various partners;

5. Recognizes that challenges for the conservation of the property remain numerous;

6. Notes with concern the results of the preliminary inventory for the lowland sector, indicating the quasi-disappearance of the elephant, a 25% reduction in the gorilla population, continued poaching and artisanal mining operations in all the areas visited, as well as militia presence;

7. Requests the State Party, in consultation with ICCN, the management body for the protected areas, to continue with the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006), in close cooperation with the local communities surrounding the property;

8. Urges the State Party, in cooperation with MONUC, to implement the Act of Engagement adopted on 23 January 2008 following the Goma Peace and Development Conference in the two Kivu that foresees the disarmament of all national and foreign armed groups in this region;

9. Reiterates its request for the immediate withdrawal of all mining concessions that have been granted within the property;

10. Also requests the State Party to transmit to the World Heritage Centre the revised version of the Environmental Impact Study concerning the refurbishment of the RN3 road containing new proposals on mitigation measures, before taking a final decision with regard to the project, in conformity with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;

11. Further requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, including conditions of integrity, as well as a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009;

12. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, before 1 February 2009 a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, including an update on the disarmament of armed groups within the property, the road refurbishing project, as well as progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009;

13. Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring mechanism to the property;

14. Decides to retain Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Draft Decision: 32 COM 7A.5

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Notes with concern the results of the preliminary inventory for the lowland sector, indicating the quasi-disappearance of the elephant, a 25% reduction in the gorilla population, continued poaching and artisanal mining operations in all the areas visited, as well as militia presence ;

4. Requests the State Party, in consultation with ICCN, the management body for the protected areas, to continue with the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006), in close cooperation with the local communities surrounding the property ;

5. Urges the State Party, in cooperation with MONUC, to implement the Act of Engagement adopted on 23 January 2008 following the Goma Peace and Development Conference in the two Kivu that foresees the disarmament of all national and foreign armed groups in this region ;

6. Reiterates its request for the immediate withdrawal of all mining concessions that have been granted inside the property;

7. Also requests the State Party to transmit to the World Heritage Centre the revised version of the Environmental Impact Study concerning the refurbishment of the RN3 road containing new proposals on mitigation measures, before taking a final decision with regard to the project, in conformity with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;

8. Further requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to develop a draft Statement of outstanding universal value, including conditions of integrity, as well as a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009 ;

9. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, before 1 February 2009 a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, including an update on the disarmament of armed groups inside the property, the road refurbishing project, as well as progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009 ;

10. Decides to maintain Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Report year: 2008
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date of Inscription: 1980
Category: Natural
Criteria: (x)
Danger List (dates): 1997-present
Documents examined by the Committee
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2008) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 32COM (2008)
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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