State of Conservation (SOC)

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 320,000. Present phase: (2005-2008) limited funding from UNF. 

Requests Approved: 0 (from1985-2000)
Total Amount Ap proved: 149,900USD

2007 : World Heritage Centre / IUCN mission 

a) Armed conflict, insecurity, and political instability;

b) Poaching by the army and armed groups;

c) Conflicts with local communities concerning Park boundaries;

d) Impact on villages located within the property. 

The following corrective measures have been identified by the World Heritage Centre / IUCN mission in 2007 and adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007) :

a) Urgent organization of a mixed anti-poaching operation between the management authority (ICCN) and the Congolese army (FARDC) in cooperation with the United Nations Mission (MONUC) in the most threatened areas;

b) Creation of a permanent consultation mechanism between the provincial political, administrative and military authorities of the four provinces covered by the property in order to address in a coordinated way, the elimination of illegal activities, specifically large-scale poaching, in the Park ;

c) Implement the recently developed anti-poaching strategy;

d) Initiate a process to resolve the conflict concerning the use of Park resources through a participatory approach ;

e) Develop and implement a strategy to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the villages located within the property ;

f) Create an ecological corridor between the two sectors of the property in the framework of a development plan for the property;

g) Establish a special fund for the rehabilitation of the DRC World Heritage properties. 

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 World Heritage properties in the DRC was submitted by the State Party. The report provided a summary outline of the ongoing management operations but little information on the implementation of the corrective measures. It mentions a reestablishment of the elephant population, a greater visibility of the bonobos and abundant populations of ungulates, but gives no precise details on the population of these species. Furthermore, the State Party indicates major poaching of the wild pig, roan antelope, crocodile and primates but with no specific numbers. The Park authorities also reported on the slaughter of two elephants by the army in December 2007. The persons responsible for this slaughter were brought to justice thanks to strong cooperation between ICCN, WWF and the local police force.

Since the 2007 mission, the State Party with support from its partners, began the implementation of the corrective measures. This was facilitated by the launching of the programme for the Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (ECOFAC) funded by the European Union that supports the management authority (ICCN) in the establishment of the management of the property, staff capacity building and community conservation. Moreover, the Park has received support from the World Heritage Fund of USD 70,000 for a security project for the property and its surroundings to combat commercial armed poaching. The project « SOS Elephants » implemented successfully in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve has greatly inspired the Park authorities.

Following progress can be noted in the implementation of the corrective measures:

a) Urgent organization of a mixed anti-poaching operation between the management authority (ICCN) and the Congolese army (FARDC) in cooperation with the United Nations Mission (MONUC) in the most threatened areas;

The mixed operation was planned in the framework of the security plan and began in April 2007 with investigative activities to assist the Park authorities to obtain the maximum information concerning the poaching networks established in the property. Once the area(s) occupied by the armed poachers are identified, agreement will be reached with the FARDC to carry out targeted and one-off operations. The identification of the members of the mixed team (25 ICCN guards and 25 FARDC) is ongoing and reconnaissance missions have already been carried out. The Park authorities have also established contacts with MONUC to exchange information and evaluate the possibility of MONUC involvement in the operation.

b) Creation of a permanent consultation mechanism between the provincial political, administrative and military authorities of the four provinces covered by the property in order to address in a coordinated way, the elimination of illegal activities, specifically large-scale poaching, in the Park.

With support of MONUC, ICCN and its partners in the field have organized an important awareness raising mission in the provinces. Under the aegis of the Minister of State for Territorial Administration and Decentralization, a tripartite meeting on security of the property was organized from 14 to 16 April 2008 in Bandundu Province with the participation of the Minister for Environment and Nature Conservation as well as the governors of Bandundu, Equateur and western Kasaï. The objective of this tripartite meeting was to set up a permanent work and consultation framework for the immediate solution to the problems facing the property.

c) Implement the recently developed anti-poaching strategy

The implementation of the anti-poaching strategy began with the implementation of the security project.

d) Begin a process to resolve the conflict concerning the use of Park resources through a participatory approach

According to the Park authorities, the exactions imposed on the local populations by the poachers have little by little led the former to disassociate themselves from the latter and call for urgent intervention in order to escape the hold of the poachers. This new attitude on the part of the local populations has enabled the Park authorities to promote the creation of consultation committees between ICCN and the local authorities, as well as other platforms, to seek solutions to conflicts. ICCN envisages the extension of the current environmental education programme in these intervention areas oriented on sustainable management practices for natural resources. The promotion of alternative viable economic activities is also planned in order to slow down bad practice in the use of the natural resources.

e) Develop and implement a strategy to minimize and mitigate impacts on the villages located within the property

No information has been provided as to progress accomplished in the implementation of this corrective measure.

f) Create an ecological corridor between the two sectors of the property in the framework of a development plan for the property

No information has been provided as to the state of implementation of this corrective measure.

g) Establish a special fund for the rehabilitation of the DRC World Heritage properties

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