World Heritage Centre https://whc.unesco.org?cid=305&l=en&searchDecisions=&search_decision=&search_focalpoint=&search_session_decision=90&search_status=&search_theme=&action=list&mode=rss World Heritage Centre - Committee Decisions 90 en Copyright 2024 UNESCO, World Heritage Centre Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:39:40 EST UNESCO, World Heritage Centre - Decisions https://whc.unesco.org/document/logowhc.jpg https://whc.unesco.org 31 COM 2 Requests for observer status The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Taking into consideration Rule 8 (Observers) of the Rules of Procedure of the  Committee, 
  2. Authorizes the participation in the 31st session as observers of those representatives of the international governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), permanent observer missions to UNESCO and non profit-making institutions having activities in the fields covered by the Convention, who have requested observer participation at the session and as listed in Section A of the document WHC-07/31.COM/2;
  3. Further confirms the participation in the 31st session as observers of all those invited by the Director-General of UNESCO in accordance with Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee and as listed in Section B of the document WHC-07/31.COM/2.
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https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1253 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
31 COM 3A Adoption of the agenda The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/3A.Rev.3,
  2. Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document.
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https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1254 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
31 COM 3B Adoption of the provisional timetable The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/3B.Rev,
  2. Adopts the timetable included in the above-mentioned Document
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https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1255 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
31 COM 4 Report of the rapporteur of the 30th sessionof the world heritage committee (Vilnius, 2006) The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Rapporteur of its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006).
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https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1256 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
31 COM 5.1 Report of the world heritage centre on its activities and on the implementation of the decisions of the world heritage committee The World Heritage Committee,

  1.  Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/5,
  2.  Takes note with appreciation of the report from the World Heritage Centre on its activities and the implementation of the World Heritage Committee's decisions;
  3. Requests the World Heritage Centre to support the States Parties of the African, Arab and Pacific regions to establish and update their tentative lists and further improve the management, documentation and conservation of properties already inscribed on the World Heritage List in order to ensure that the outstanding universal value of the heritage of those regions is more fully represented on the World Heritage List.
  4.  Also requests the World Heritage Centre to intensify its capacity building activities;
  5.  Further requests the World Heritage Centre to make its future annual Reports of activities more results-oriented.
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https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1257 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
31 COM 5.2 Reinforced monitoring mechanism proposed by the Director-General The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/5.2,
  2.  Recalling the decision adopted by the Executive Board at its 176th session (176 EX/Special Plenary Meeting/Decision), which "requests the Director-General within the framework of the World Heritage Convention, to propose to the World Heritage Committee at its forthcoming session a mechanism to ensure the proper implementation of the World Heritage Committee decisions",
  3. Affirming that nothing in the present decision shall affect each State Party's primary duty to ensure the identification, protection and conservation of World Heritage properties, as stipulated in Article 4 of the World Heritage Convention;
  4. Adopts with immediate effect, the reinforced monitoring mechanism proposed by the Director-General to ensure the proper implementation of the World Heritage Committee's decisions and requests the World Heritage Centre to refine the operational aspects of this mechanism in close consultation with the Advisory Bodies, and with the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee;
  5.  Acknowledges that the verification process under the reinforced monitoring mechanism may be activated in exceptional and specific cases either by the World Heritage Committee or the Director-General and underlines that reinforced monitoring is a constant cooperative process with the State Party concerned, which will always be undertaken in full consultation and with its approval;
  6. Calls on the States Parties to contribute to resource mobilization with a view to reinforcing the monitoring of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, as foreseen in the World Heritage Convention;
  7.  Requests the World Heritage Centre to present to the World Heritage Committee, at its 33rd session in 2009, a report regarding the implementation of the reinforced monitoring mechanism with a view to assessing the lessons learned during this period, prior to institutionalizing the reinforced monitoring mechanism in the Operational Guidelines.
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https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1258 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
31 COM 6 Sixteenth session of the general assembly of states parties (Unesco, october 2007)
  • Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/6,
  • Takes note with appreciation of the Report;
  • Decides to authorize the Chairperson of the Committee to vet the report of the 31st session and, as appropriate, to consult members of the Committee by e-mail, and other means, as necessary;
  • Requests the Director of the World Heritage Centre to transmit the Report, as amended, to the Secretariat of the General Conference, so that it can be submitted to the General Conference of UNESCO at its 34th session (UNESCO, 2007);
  • Also decides to establish a mechanism for consultation with Committee members for future reports on the Committee's activities;
  • Further decides in accordance with Rule 14.1 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, to reserve one seat in the World Heritage Committee to be elected by the General Assembly at its 16th session (UNESCO, 24-25 October 2007), for a State Party which does not have any properties on the World Heritage List.
  • ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1260 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7.2 Issues relative to thestate of conservation of world heritage properties : strategy for risk reduction at world heritage properties The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7.2,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7.2, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Takes note of the important outcome of the Davos International Conference on Disaster Reduction as reflected in its final Declaration, on the role of heritage within disaster risk reduction;
    4. Approves the revised Strategy for Risk Reduction at World Heritage Properties with its prioritized list of actions;
    5. Encourages States Parties, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to implement the Strategy for Risk Reduction at World Heritage properties within their spheres of activities;
    6. Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to integrate policies and strategies established by the World Heritage Committee on the issue of climate change in the implementation of the strategy  for risk reduction at World Heritage properties;
    7. Recommends that a risk management component be incorporated in the Management Plan for World Heritage properties in accordance with Paragraph 118 of the Operational Guidelines.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1262 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7.3 Outcomes of the benchmarks meeting (Paris, 2-3 april 2007)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1.  Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7.3,
    2.  Recalling Decisions 29 COM 7C and 30 COM 9 adopted at its 29th (Durban, 2005) and 30th (Vilnius, 2006) sessions respectively,
    3.  Thanking the Government of the Netherlands for having hosted the meeting of experts, which took place from 2 to 3 April 2007 in Paris, as well as all the experts who contributed to it,
    4.  Noting the results and recommendations of the expert meeting,
    5.   Decides to formally adopt a monitoring framework for World Heritage properties;
    6.   Decides to integrate the monitoring framework into the next revision of the Operational Guidelines and to ensure cross referencing for all World Heritage processes;
    7.  Specifically requests for the revision of the Operational Guidelines to ensure the link between outstanding universal value and the format for nominations (Annex 5: 4a on present state of conservation and 4b on factors affecting the property);
    8.   Further requests the States Parties, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to establish desired state of conservation in all state of conservation reports to facilitate sound decisions, specifically for inclusion in / removal of properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
    9.   Urges the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to provide technical guidance on how to draft statements of significance / outstanding universal value  and requests ICCROM to use the funds, already allocated, for a focussed guidance manual, in consultation with IUCN and ICOMOS, to be published by the end of 2007;
    10.  Noting the prioritised implementation strategy with focus on the application of the monitoring framework to properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger, requests States Parties with properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger to prepare a draft Statement of outstanding universal value for these properties,
    11.  Further requests all States Parties, with the Advisory Bodies, to prepare a draft Statement of outstanding universal value for their properties prior to the arrival of a reactive monitoring mission, and to ensure that the draft statements of outstanding universal value be prepared in advance for the next cycle of Periodic Reporting;
    12.  Requests that stakeholders be involved in preparing all reports required under the World Heritage Convention (nomination documents, state of conservation reports, periodic reports) in order to ensure full participation in the definition of the values and desired state of conservation of a property;
    13.  Recalls the requirement that at the time of inscription the Committee decision should entail a clear Statement of outstanding universal value with authenticity and/or integrity and decides to add the requirements to describe the desired state of conservation;
    14. Notes confusion around the term "benchmarks" and requests instead the use of the terms "desired state of conservation" and "corrective measures" in all state of conservation documents relating to the List of World Heritage in Danger, and adopts in principle the format for state of conservation reports in Annex II.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1263 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7.1 Issues relative to the state of conservation of world heritage properties : the impacts of climate change on world heritage properties
  •  Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7.1,
  •  Recalling Decision 30 COM 7.1 adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
  •  Thanks the Government of the Netherlands for having funded the development of the policy document on the Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage Properties, including a meeting of the Working Group of Experts, (5 - 6 February 2007 at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris), and also thanks the experts and representatives of organizations who contributed to the meeting;
  •  Endorses the "Policy Document on the Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage Properties" as described in Document WHC-07/31.COM/7.1, and decides to authorize the Chairperson of the Committee to vet the Policy Document, incorporating views expressed at the 31st session, and, as appropriate, to consult Committee members by email and other means;
  •  Decides to transmit the revised Policy Document for discussion and adoption at the 16th General Assembly of States Parties in 2007;
  •  Recommends that the Policy Document be read in conjunction with the report on "Predicting and managing the impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage" and the "Strategy to assist States Parties to implement appropriate management responses" - endorsed by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) - together with other relevant conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification, and other UNESCO initiatives, and further thanks the Government of Spain for supporting their publication as World Heritage Paper No. 22;
  • Urges the World Heritage community to integrate actions pertaining to climate change in risk preparedness policies and action plans, making use thereby of the Policy Document and the Strategy for Risk Reduction at World Heritage properties, so as to protect their outstanding universal value, authenticity and/or integrity.
  •  Also urges States Parties to participate in the United Nations Climate Change conferences with a view to achieving a comprehensive post-Kyoto agreement, and to fund and support the research needs as identified in Annex 1 of the Policy Document;
  •   Encourages the World Heritage Centre to sensitize States Parties, as appropriate, to the need to establish inter-disciplinary mechanisms to deal with policy and governance issues relating to the effect of climate change on World Heritage properties;
  •   Recommends that the World Heritage Centre strengthen its relations with all organizations working on climate change, particularly with the UNFCCC and IPCC secretariats, and specifically with regard to the effect of climate change on World Heritage properties;
  •  Welcomes the excellent publication on "Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage" and thanks the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and the Government of the United Kingdom for having supported its production;
  •   Encourages UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies to disseminate widely the Policy Document, and other related publications through appropriate means to the World Heritage community and the broader public, and promote their application;
  •   Adopts the specific research priorities indicated in the Policy Document and recommends to the UNESCO Forum - Universities and Heritage to prioritize these subjects and to open discussions on the effects of climate change on World Heritage properties;
  •   Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to develop in consultation with States Parties criteria for the inclusion of those properties which are most threatened by climate change on the List of World Heritage in Danger, for use in prioritizing vulnerability assessment, mitigation and adaptation activities;
  •  Decides, for future sessions of the World Heritage Committee, to add to the working document on State of Conservation reporting, a section on those properties most affected by climate change;
  •  Commends the Government of New Zealand for making the 31st session "carbon neutral" and adopts a carbon neutral policy for all future sessions, to the extent feasible.
  • ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1261 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.1 Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park (Central African Republic) (N 475)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1.  Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add,
    2.   Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.1, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Expresses its utmost concern on the security situation in northern Central African Republic and its impact on the property, in particular the continued large scale poaching of its wildlife, which could lead in the near future to the loss of the Outstanding Universal Value for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List; 
    4. Regrets that the planned joint UNESCO/IUCN monitoring mission again had to be postponed as a result of the deterioration of the security situation;
    5. Reiterates its request to organize the monitoring mission as soon as the security situation allows in order to assess if the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and the potential for its rehabilitation still exists and to develop an emergency action plan for the property with all concerned stakeholders;
    6. Urges the State Party to take all measures possible to halt poaching in the property;
    7. Calls on the State Parties of Central African Republic, Chad and Sudan to develop transboundary cooperation to address the issue of wildlife poaching;
    8. Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    9. Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a clear set of corrective measures and draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value to guide future decisions by the Committee on whether or not to retain the property on the World Heritage List;
    10. Further requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    11. Decides to retain Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park (Central African Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1264 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.2 Comoé National Park (Côte d’Ivoire) (N 227) The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.2 adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Notes that the State Party has started to implement the corrective measures adopted by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006), but that it has not yet been able to establish an effective system of control and patrolling for the whole property;
    4. Urges the State Party to implement in accordance with the adopted timeframe the corrective measures, in particular emergency measures linked to the surveillance of the whole property, as well as the other recommendations of the 2006 UNESCO-IUCN monitoring mission;
    5.  Calls again upon international donors to continue to support the efforts of the State Party in the preparation and implementation of the action plan and management plan;
    6. Requests the State Party to collect, as soon as the situation allows, necessary ecological data to assess the conservation status of the property and help to define the boundaries of the management zones; 
    7. Encourages the State Party to continue its efforts to develop a transboundary wildlife migration corridor with Burkina Faso and Ghana in cooperation with IUCN;
    8. Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    9. Further requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;
    10. Also requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property and on progress with the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) as well as the other recommendations of the 2006 monitoring mission, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    11. Decides to retain Comoé National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1265 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.3 Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea) (N 155 bis)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.3 adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Regrets that the 2007 World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission was unable to visit the part of the property situated in Côte d'Ivoire;
    4. Expresses concern about the continued threats to the integrity and values of the part of the property situated in Guinea, in particular by poaching and uncontrolled fires and the limited progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the 1993 mission;
    5. Takes note of the fact that the on-going exploratory activities in the mining enclave have no significant impact on the World Heritage property but that activities will increase as the project enters its next pre-exploitation stages and requests the mining company SMFG to present a plan of the forthcoming planned activities and measures taken to limit their impact;
    6. Also notes the efforts of the mining company SMFG and the State Party of Guinea to clarify the limits of the mining enclave and requests the State Party of Guinea with the assistance of SMFG and the UNDP/GEF project to finalize the delimitation of the enclave and geo-reference the boundaries of the rest of the property before the 32nd session of the Committee in 2008, taking into account the recommendations of the 2007 mission;
    7. Requests the mining company SMFG and the State Party of Guinea to continue the process of the environmental impact assessment of the mining project and the collection of the necessary baseline data in order to clarify and quantify the potential impacts of the planned mining exploitation on the property, in close consultation with all stakeholders, the Centre and IUCN, and submit to the Committee any intermediary results;
    8. Urges the State Party of Guinea to clarify the legal status of the property, the mining enclave as well as the two other core zones and the buffer zone of the biosphere reserve, taking into account the recommendations of the 2007 mission, before the 33rd session of the Committee in 2009;
    9.  Further urges the State Party of Guinea to implement immediately the recommendations of the 2007 Centre/IUCN mission, which can be considered as corrective measures in order to safeguard the integrity and outstanding universal value of the property, in particular:
      1. Strengthen the capacities of the management authority CEGENS in the field, in particular by providing the necessary financial and technical resources to accomplish its mission;
      2. Strengthen the surveillance of the property in cooperation with the local communities, in particular by recruiting the ecoguards necessary for the surveillance of the property and by strengthening the capacities of the newly created Village Surveillance Committees;
      3. Define a buffer zone for the property, in consultation with local stakeholders, with an appropriate legal status and strengthen the conservation of the property through sustainable management of the natural resources within this buffer zone;
      4. Put in place an ecological monitoring system and a geo-referenced database for all scientific data collected on the property;
      5. Conduct a feasibility study to define a sustainable finance mechanism for the property;
      6. Develop a strategy for the conservation of the Déré Forest and Bossou Hills;
      7. Prepare a management plan for the property and the biosphere reserve;

    10. Encourages the State Parties of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea to meet and resume tripartite discussions with Liberia to enhance the required coordination which will be essential to implement the recommendations from the 2007 mission. The States Parties may wish to request international assistance from the World Heritage Fund to organize a new tripartite meeting before the 32nd session of the Committee;

    11. Requests the State Party of Côte d'Ivoire to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission to assess the State of Conservation of the part of the property situated in Côte d'Ivoire and if possible coinciding with the proposed tripartite meeting;

    12. Also requests the State Parties, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

    13. Further requests the State Parties, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;

    14. Requests the State Parties to submit a report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property, in particular on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2007 monitoring mission to the Guinean part of the property, progress with the delimitation of the property, the clarification of the legal status of the property and the implementation of the environmental impact assessment process as well as the impact of the civil conflict on the Ivorian part of the property for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

    15. Decides to retain the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1266 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.4 Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 63)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.7, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Expresses its sincerest condolences to the families of guards who were killed during operations related to the protection of the property;
    4. Regrets that the continued insecurity in and around the property continues to hamper conservation activities, leading to limited progress on the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
    5. Urges the State Party in cooperation with the United Nations Organization Mission in DRC (MONUC), in view of the extremely negative consequences of the presence of armed groups in and around the park, to urgently take measures to disarm and evacuate the armed groups and to reduce significantly the number of military positions inside the property ;
    6. Also urges the State Party and the protected area agency ICCN to implement as soon as possible the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
    7. Strongly regrets that in spite of promises by the Minister of Defence, the Nyaleke army reunification and training camp inside the property was not closed down and reiterates its request for an immediate closure and removal of the camp from the property;
    8. Expresses its concern about the map produced by the Ministry of Mines, showing that exploratory concessions were granted inside the property, calls on the holders of any concessions to respect international standards with respect to mining in World Heritage properties, as outlined in the International Council on Mining and Metals Position Statement on Mining and Protected Areas (2003), and further urges the State Party to immediately revoke any concessions that might have been granted, as mining operations are incompatible with the World Heritage status of the property;
    9. Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    10. Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;
    11. Further requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property and on progress with the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    12. Decides to retain Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1267 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.5 Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 137 The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.6, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Expresses its sincerest condolences to the families of guards who were killed during operations related to the protection of the property;
    4. Regrets that the continuing insecurity in particular in the lowland sector continues to hamper conservation activities, including the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
    5. Urges the State Party, in cooperation with the United Nations Organization Mission in DRC (MONUC), to urgently take measures to disarm and evacuate the armed groups present in and around the park, in particular of the Rwandese militia and uncontrolled units of the DRC army (FARDC);
    6. Notes that some progress was made in the implementation of the corrective measures, in particular the re-installation of park staff in the lowland sector, the organization of mixed patrols with the army and the start of survey work on key animals in the lowland;
    7. Requests the State Party and the protected area agency ICCN to implement as soon as possible the corrective measures, in close cooperation with the local communities around the park;
    8. Notes the draft report on the Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken for the planned rehabilitation of the RN3, which documents the potential direct impacts of the road crossing the property on the gorilla populations with a significant increase in the traffic as well as other potential indirect impacts on the property, in particular increased deforestation, bush meat trafficking and illegal mineral exploitation in the property;
    9. Recommends that the stretch of road crossing the property will only be rehabilitated as a local road and that the rehabilitation programme includes a continual monitoring component to determine the effect of the road on gorilla populations, habitat and their behaviour as well as other measures to limit the indirect impacts mentioned above;
    10. Also urges the State Party and the European Union to include in the final report clear recommendations on the measures proposed to limit the indirect impacts on the property as well as a detailed evaluation of expected increase in traffic volume and set clear indicators as to what traffic volume should trigger the construction of an alternative route which avoids crossing the property;
    11. Expresses its concern about the map produced by the Ministry of Mines, showing that mining concessions were granted inside the property, calls on the holders of any concessions to respect international standards with respect to mining in World Heritage properties, as outlined in the International Council on Mining and Metals Position Statement on Mining and Protected Areas (2003), and also urges the State Party to immediately revoke any concessions that might have been granted, as mining operations are incompatible with the World Heritage status of the property;
    12. Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    13. Further requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;
    14. Requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property, including an update on the road rehabilitation project and the issue of the mining concessions and on progress with the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    15. Decides to retain Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1268 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.6 Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 136)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.4, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Commends the park management authority and African Parks Foundation (APF) for their efforts to regain control over the property and effectively address poaching in the property;
    4. Expresses its utmost concern over the status of the remaining population of northern white rhino and reiterates its request to organize as soon as possible a scientific workshop in cooperation with the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group to clarify the viability of the remaining population and determine management options for the population, involving all relevant stakeholders, including the World Heritage Centre and IUCN;
    5. Urges the Government and the protected area agency to implement as soon as possible the corrective measures adopted by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
    6. Calls on the United Nations Organization Mission in DRC (MONUC) to cooperate closely with the park authorities in its planned deployment around the property and assist the conservation of the property in particular in the field of disarmament;
    7.  Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    8. Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;
    9. Further requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property, including a report on the results of the meeting to clarify the viability of and determine management options for the remaining population of northern white rhino and on progress with the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session;
    10. Decides to retain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1269 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.7 Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 280)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Expresses its concern about the serious threats to the outstanding universal value and integrity of the property as documented by the 2007 monitoring mission, in particular the large scale poaching of large mammals, illegal fishing and the impact of villages within its boundary; 
    4. Commends the conservation NGO and international donors for their support to the Park authority ICCN which have allowed to gradually put in place a management mechanism for the property;
    5. Urges the State Party to implement immediately the corrective measures identified by the 2007 joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission in order to safeguard the outstanding universal value and integrity of the property:

    a) Organize urgently a large scale joint operation between ICCN and its conservation partners and the Congolese army (FARDC), in cooperation with MONUC and the National Disarmament Commission (CONADER) to evict the armed poaching gangs from the property, and conduct a disarmement campaign in the villages around the property. This operation should capitalise on the experiences of a similar successful operation in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.The State Party might want to submit an international assistance request to help fund this urgent operation;

    b)  Establish a permanent consultation mechanism between ICCN and the political and military authorities in the 4 provinces covered by the property, in order to address in a coordinated way the illegal activities in the property, in particular the large scale poaching;

    c) Implement urgently the anti-poaching strategy developped recently, in particular by reinvigorating park staff and improving their efficiency through specialised training and introducing law enforcement monitoring;

    d)  Continue and strengthen the recent efforts to resolve longstanding conflicts with the local communities on the use of the natural resources in the property, using a participatory approach and capitalising on traditional control mechanisms. A clear demarcation of the boundaries of the park will be an important first step;

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

    f)  In the framework of the development of a management plan, establish an ecological corridor between the two sectors of the Park;

    g)  Establish a trust fund for the rehabilitation of the DRC World Heritage properties, to which the Government of the DRC committed itself to contribute at the 2004 UNESCO conference on Heritage in Danger in DRC;

    6.   Calls on international donors to support the efforts of the State Party to rehabilitate the property;

    7.   Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

    8.   Further requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;

    9.   Also requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property and progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures developed by the 2007 monitoring mission, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

    10.  Decides to retain Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

     

    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1270 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.8 Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 718)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.8, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Expresses its satisfaction with the significant progress made in the implementation of some of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006), in particular closing down of illegal mining operations in the property, curbing poaching by uncontrolled military and other organized groups and in securing the property;
    4. Requests the Government and the protected area agency to implement as soon as possible the other corrective measures;
    5. Reiterates its request for a proper Environmental Impact Assessment of the rehabilitation of the RN4 road crossing the property to identify necessary mitigating measures to reduce direct and indirect impact, in accordance with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
    6. Expresses its concern about the map produced by the Ministry of Mines, showing that mining concessions were granted inside the property, calls upon the holders of any concessions to respect international standards with respect to mining in World Heritage properties, as outlined in the International Council on Mining and Metals Position Statement on Mining and Protected Areas (2003), and also urges the State Party to revoke any concessions that might have been granted, as mining operations are incompatible with the World Heritage status of the property;
    7. Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    8. Further requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;
    9. Further requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property, including an update on the road rehabilitation project and the issue of the mining concessions and on progress with the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    10. Decides to retain Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1271 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.9 Simien National Park (Ethiopia) (N 9)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,
    2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.9, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
    3. Commends the Amhara Regional Government for its decision to re-align the planned Bwahit - Dilyibza road in order to avoid it crossing the proposed extension of the park in the Silki Yared - Kiddis Yared mountains and requests the State Party, in particular the Amhara Regional Government, to closely monitor the impact of the new road on the traffic through the park;
    4. Welcomes the efforts by the State Party and in particular the park authority to have initiated the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
    5. Encourages the State Party, with the assistance of UNESCO and IUCN, to approach potential donors to allow for the implementation of the alternative livelihoods project and calls on international donors to support this project and other activities to rehabilitate the property;
    6. Request the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to continue to provide financial and technical assistance to the State Party, in cooperation with relevant partners, to implement the recommendations of the 2006 monitoring mission, in particular the finalisation of the management plan and of a Tourism Master Plan for the property;
    7. Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    8. Further requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;
    9. Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN monitoring mission to the property to assess its state of conservation and the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the Committee at its 30th session in view of a possible removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
    10. Further requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property, including an update on progress with the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) as well as the other recommendations of the 2006 monitoring mission for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    11. Decides to retain Simien National Park (Ethiopia) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1272 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST
    31 COM 7A.10 Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) (N 573)   The World Heritage Committee,

    1.  Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A;
    2.  Recalling its Decision 30 COM 7A.10, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
    3.  Welcomes the start of the COGERAT project, funded by the Global Environmental Facility, which will assist the State Party in implementing the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 29th session (Durban, 2005) in order to address the threats to the integrity and outstanding universal value of the property;
    4. Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    5. Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;
    6.  Further requests the State Party to monitor the status of resources and trends in resource use in the property, in particular the status and distribution of threatened species, levels of poaching, and extent and degree of wood and thatch harvesting, in order to facilitate monitoring of progress towards the desired state of conservation;
    7. Urges the State Party to continue to implement the corrective measures, in close cooperation with the COGERAT project, whilst at the same time take urgent action to address poaching and illegal commercial activities;
    8. Requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property, and on progress with the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 29th session (Durban, 2005) for examination and for consideration of a possible removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
    9.  Decides to retain the Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    ]]>
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1273 wh-support@unesco.org Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST