The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7B.29, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Welcomes the examples of transboundary cooperation in management planning, in addressing the requests of the World Heritage Committee, and in carrying out field missions;
4. Regrets that the State Party of Panama was unable to invite a reactive monitoring mission to the property, as requested in Decision 35 COM 7B.29;
5. Expresses its serious concern about the State Party of Panama’s stated intent to complete the Bonyic dam without prior consideration of the results of the on-going Strategic Environmental Assessment, and requests the State Party of Panama to put in place adequate mitigation measures at the CHAN-75 and Bonyic dams to overcome barriers to the movement of aquatic species along the affected waterways, and to also put in place an effective and long term monitoring programme to measure the extent to which mitigation measures are effective;
6. Also requests the States Parties to submit a copy of the Strategic Environmental Assessment to the World Heritage Centre as soon as it is completed;
7. Expresses its concern over the absence of progress in developing and implementing a systematic approach regarding the cattle in the property, and in the unresolved situation concerning the remaining mineral exploration permits in Costa Rica, and further requests the States Parties to address these issues;
8. Requests furthermore that both States Parties jointly invite an IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property, prior to its 37th session in 2013, which should assess the threats posed by ongoing dam construction in Panama, existing and further potential dam developments, mining in Costa Rica, the planned road project to traverse the property from Boquete to Bocas del Toro, and the effects of cattle in the property, and to make a recommendation on the possible inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
9. Requests moreover both States Parties of Costa Rica and Panama to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, a joint report on the state of conservation of the property, including on the halting of dam construction that may impact the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, a report on progress on the transboundary dam Strategic Environmental Assessment project, a report on progress achieved in resolving land tenure and land use issues, as well as on the other points raised above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013, with a view to consider, if the ascertained or potential danger to Outstanding Universal Value is confirmed, the possible inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.