The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7A.10, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Welcomes the efforts by the State Party to start implementing the corrective measures, in particular the inscription of ebony and rosewood species under Appendix III of CITES, and the reported halting of all illegal logging in Masoala National Park;
4. Considers that to address the issue of illegal logging in a sustainable way, it is important to tackle the governance of the forest sector and in particular eliminate all existing rosewood and ebony stocks, as foreseen in the urgent corrective measures;
5. Takes note of the strategy to eliminate rosewood and ebony stocks based on a “zero stock, zero logging and zero transporting” approach proposed by the State Party, and urges the State Party to confiscate illegal timber, and include illegal timber stocks retained by timber traders in the operation, and requests the State Party to involve an independent observer in this process;
6. Also urges the State Party to take an unequivocal position on the illegal logging and trade of rosewood and ebony at the highest level and enforce the existing trade ban legislation as defined in Decree 2010-141;
7. Reiterates the importance of the States Parties to the Convention taking measures to ensure that illegal timber from Madagascar is both forbidden and cannot enter their domestic markets;
8. Notes with concern reports that an estimated 10,000 sapphire artisanal miners are currently based near Zahamena National Park, one of the components of the property, which could affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, and further urges the State Party to provide immediate and appropriate support to park management and local authorities to effectively address this threat;
9. Also requests the State Party to continue its efforts to implement the corrective measures;
10.Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, including, notably, an overall assessment of the impacts of illegal logging in Masoala and Marojejy National Parks, and an evaluation of the implementation of corrective measures, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013;
11. Decides to retain the Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.