Decision 40 COM 7B.15

Island of Mozambique (Mozambique) (C 599)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.51, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
3. Takes note of the ongoing progress on the restoration and rehabilitation of buildings within the World Heritage property;
4. Also notes that, to date, only the Terms of Reference have been finalized for the revision of the Management and Conservation Plan for Mozambique Island (2010 – 2014), and reiterates its request that the revised Plan be duly evaluated and updated with the close participation of all stakeholders, including local communities, and that it include issues related to disaster preparedness, population increase on the island, continued strengthening of the Conservation Office of Mozambique Island (GACIM), coordination between various institutional stakeholders, and the need to promote more interaction with partners for technical assistance and fundraising;
5. Further notes that the State Party demarcated a revised buffer zone in 2011 but has not yet submitted it to the World Heritage Centre pending a study of the existing underwater archaeology, and urges the State Party to finalize and adopt a revised buffer zone, in conformity with Paragraph 107 of the Operational Guidelines, at the earliest opportunity;
6. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to approve the updated legislation for the protection and conservation of heritage;
7. Requests the State Party to forward details of the project for the rehabilitation of the Mozambique Island Hospital and the São Lourenco Fortress, along with a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for the project in conformity with Paragraph 110 of the Operational Guidelines, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, and also to inform the Committee, through the World Heritage Centre, about any future projects that may potentially affect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, including its authenticity or integrity, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse;
8. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to the property to assess the state of conservation of the overall building stock of the property;
9. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, a progress report and, by 1 December 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 42nd session in 2018.