Decision 39 COM 7B.5

Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (Kenya) (N 1060rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.91, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
3. Welcomes the adoption of the Kabarnet Declaration, which formally recognizes the Endorois as a community and the Endorois Welfare Council as their representative organization in the management of Lake Bogoria;
4. Also welcomes the State Party’s confirmation that geothermal prospecting and development within the property are not allowed, and that any prospective geothermal energy developments outside the property will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and requests the State Party to provide further information on the current status of the EIA procedure including copies of the EIAs that have already been undertaken;
5. Notes the payments made to the Endorois communities, and the letter from Minority Rights Group International and the Endorois Welfare Council to the World Heritage Centre raising concern about the effectiveness of the implementation of the Endorois ruling and the level of transparency of decision-making processes, and strongly urges the State Party to fully implement the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Endorois decision and Resolution 197 without delay to ensure the full and effective participation of the Endorois in the management and decision-making of Lake Bogoria;
6. Notes with appreciation the confirmation of the State Party of Tanzania not to proceed with any activities until an EIA has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and reviewed by IUCN;
7. Further notes that the one-year moratorium on development on the shores of Lake Elementaita has been postponed following the stated compliance by tourism investors, and also further the State Party to provide detailed information on the actions taken to ensure the removal of any existing illegal developments and the ecological restoration of affected areas, and to develop and implement strict and clear regulations to prohibit developments in close proximity to fragile habitats and in the critical buffer zone to the property;
8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.