Decision 40 COM 7A.34

Manovo Gounda St. Floris National Park (Central African Republic) (N 475)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7A.34 and 39 COM 7A.1 adopted respectively at its 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions,
3. Takes note of the Bangui National Forum relating to the restoration of peace and expresses the hope that the commitments undertaken as a result of this Forum will enable a progressive improvement of the security situation in the country, including in the zone where the property is located;
4. However, notes with concern that insecurity continues to complicate the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the Committee at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009);
5. Reiterates its deep concern regarding the probable loss of most of the flagship species of large mammals in the property, due to poaching and impact from grazing cattle;
6. Also reiterates its continuing concern regarding the fact that the property has already lost its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), which could result in its removal from the World Heritage List, in conformity with Paragraph 176d) of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Warmly welcomes the commitment of the State Party to pursue the implementation of the ECOFAUNE + Project with the support of the European Union, as well as the land use and security activities foreseen in and around the property in the framework of the Central Africa Biodiversity Conservation Programme – Protecting Central Africa’s Elephants funded by the African Development Bank and encourages the State Party to continue its efforts;
8. Reiterates its request to the State Party to organize a workshop to assess the feasibility for the restoration of the OUV of the property under the current security conditions and based on this, to prepare an emergency action plan, focused on the adopted corrective measures;
9. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission as soon as the security situation permits to assess the state of conservation of the property and determine whether there remain perspectives for the regeneration of the characteristics of the property justifying its OUV, or if a removal of the property from the World Heritage List in accordance with Paragraph IV.C of the Operational Guidelines should be envisaged;
10. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report 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;
11. Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for this property;
12. Also decides to retain Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Central African Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.