Decision 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.