Case Law

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.8, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
3. Commends the efforts of the staff of the property who continue their actions for the conservation of the property, often at great risk, and expresses its most sincere condolences to the families of the guards and soldiers killed in operations for the protection of the property;
4. Expresses its deepest concern over continuing insecurity around the property and ongoing poaching pressure, particularly targeted at elephants and driven by international ivory trafficking;
5. Reiterates its great concern that the northern white rhino is now considered to be extinct in the property and in the wild, that populations of elephants and other key species have continued to decline and Congolese giraffe are now reaching critically low numbers, and as a result the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property could be lost if urgent action to reverse the downward population trends is not taken;
6. Also commends the State Party, particularly the Congolese Nature Conservation Institute (ICCN) and its partner, African Parks Network for their continuous efforts to further strengthen law enforcement operations by extending aerial and ground surveillance to cover the entire property as well as adjacent Hunting Areas that serve as important buffer zones for the property;
7. Requests the State Party to continue its efforts to implement the corrective measures, updated by the 2016 mission, as follows:
   1. Further strengthen anti-poaching efforts through continued close collaboration with the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and development of highly skilled, motivated and properly equipped field personnel,
   2. Further enhance trans-boundary cooperation with South Sudan, particularly in relation to the management of adjacent Lantoto National Park, and efforts to curb poaching and illegal cross-border trade in wildlife products,
   3. Complete the establishment and deployment of a team of at least 200 operational guards incorporating carefully selected elements from FARDC,
   4. Maintain an effective year-round surveillance of the entire park and at least 50% of the surrounding Hunting Areas, increasing the extent and frequency of ground patrols whilst maintaining the existing levels of aerial surveillance,
   5. Establish a conservation strategy for the Hunting Areas and develop a recognized Buffer Zone for the World Heritage property which serves to strengthen the protection of the property’s OUV,
   6. Support and strengthen economic development activities for communities around the property to promote sustainable livelihoods, reduce dependence on park resources and ensure that neighbouring communities understand and support conservation efforts,
   7. Maintain close surveillance of the few remaining Congo giraffe and establish appropriate measures to ensure their protection,
   8. Further develop the park’s infrastructure, extending the road network, and installing additional radio repeater stations, observation posts and other installations to facilitate efficient and effective protection and management of the entire property, especially the northern sectors,
   9. Work towards sustainable financing of park management, identifying and developing a range of income sources, including trust funds, business and tourism opportunities;
8. Takes notes of the revision proposed by the 2016 mission of the indicators of the draft Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, the final version of the DSOCR for adoption by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
9. Also takes note of the ongoing consultation carried out by UNESCO in view of convening a meeting on the security in the region, and reiterates its invitation to the Director-General of UNESCO to organize, in cooperation with United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), a high-level meeting between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, as well as Central African Republic and other potential stakeholders on how to improve security in the region and address the poaching issue;
10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
11. Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism to the property;
12. Also decides to retain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.10, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the State Party in the areas of defence and land restoration, demining and reinforcement of the physical presence of forestry agents in the property, and requests the State Party to continue its efforts to implement the corrective measures and strengthen the management structure of the property, by providing the necessary human, material and financial resources for its efficient operation;
4. Expresses its deep concern regarding the degradation of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property linked to the illegal activities such as poaching and abusive logging, and requests the State Party to prioritize the combat against these illegal activities;
5. Takes note of the information provided by the State Party according to which an inventory mission is foreseen for 2014 to confirm and quantify the presence of flagship wildlife species (white antelope, dama gazelle and Saharan cheetah) within the property, and reiterates its request to the State Party to invite an IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property as soon as the results of this inventory are available, to assess its state of conservation, update the corrective measures and establish a timetable for their implementation, and to develop a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
6. Also requests the State Party to provide more information together with maps concerning the demining activities within the property;
7. Also takes note of information provided by the State Party concerning the absence of extraction activities in and on the periphery of the property and further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015 a detailed report, including a 1-page executive summary on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above-mentioned points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
8. Decides to retain the Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7B,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7B.6, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Notes the State Party's efforts to manage sustainably the marine resources of the property; and establish a fund to ensure sustainable financing for the property;

4. Also notes the significant international support of International Banc d'Arguin Foundation (FIBA) and international partners and welcomes the partnerships being developed on remote sensing;

5. Urges the State Party to complete the «Plan d'Intervention en cas d'Ecoulement d'hydrocarbures et de substance chimiques dangereuses » (POLMAR) and to provide a copy to the World Heritage Centre, as soon as possible and preferably before 1 February 2010;

6. Further notes with concern that threats from ongoing low rainfall are contributing to a decline in terrestrial habitats and wildlife; and encourages the State Party to assess adaptation measures to respond to climate change and other environmental phenomena with assistance from the international community;

7. Also encourages the State Party to continue and enhance its efforts against poaching and wood harvesting, which have degraded the terrestrial portion of the property, and to establish a thorough terrestrial monitoring programme which includes wildlife populations, vegetation cover, and threats to the property;

8. Requests the State Party to pursue its efforts to designate a 'particularly sensitive sea area' (PSSA) in and near the property, in recognition of risks from the international West African shipping lane;

9. Also requests the State Party to provide three printed and electronic copies of the new management plan to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN;

10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2011, a report on the state of conservation of the property and on the progress made in addressing the threats to the terrestrial portion of the property and in implementing the previous decisions of the World Heritage Committee;

11. Request the State Party to work with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to strengthen cooperation on management and research activities in conserving migratory species along the East Atlantic Flyway.