The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 34 COM 7B.6 adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),
3. Welcomes the further progress of the two States Parties in strengthening the joint management of the trans-boundary property through the work of the Joint Technical and Site Management Committees, and the measures taken to promote sustainable tourism by halting construction of hotels and lodges on the river banks and islands, reducing noise and water pollution, and upgrading visitor facilities at the property;
4. Encourages the two States Parties to develop a sustainable financing strategy and business plan for the property, recognising that implementation of the Joint Integrated Management Plan may be largely financed from park entry fees and other internally-generated sources;
5. Also welcomes the voluntary agreement of the State Party of Zambia to introduce a limit on the dry-season diversion of water from the falls for hydro-electric power generation, which would significantly restore a major attribute of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, and requests the State Party of Zambia to implement this new water abstraction regime as soon as possible, and consider further reductions in water abstraction by the power station;
6. Notes that the State Party of Zambia submitted three environmental project briefs, including for a tethered balloon project adjacent to the property, reiterates its previous conclusion at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010) that any tethered balloons close to the property will adversely impact its visual integrity, and urges the States Parties not to authorize any tethered balloon or other tall structures within the vicinity of the falls;
7. Also requests that the State Party of Zambia to address IUCN’s comments regarding the proposed amphicoach and spa lodge projects, before considering whether to proceed with the two proposed projects;
8. Recommends the States Parties to conduct a joint Strategic Environmental Assessment of developments within the property and in its vicinity, in order to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, including its aesthetic value and the related conditions of integrity;
9. Also recognizes the progress made in developing benchmarks and indicators to monitor the State of Conservation of the property and also requests the States Parties to develop a comprehensive monitoring plan for the property and submit a copy to the World Heritage Centre by 1 December 2012;
10. Reiterates its request to the two States Parties to continue their on-going efforts to control invasive species;
11. Further requests the two States Parties to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2014 a jointly prepared report on the state of conservation of the property, including details of progress made in the implementation of measures to address the recommendations of the 2006 mission and the issues mentioned above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014.