The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 40 COM 7A.41, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
- Addresses its most sincere condolences to the families of the guards killed in the exercise of their duties and to all the staff of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN);
- Warmly welcomes the joint operations between ICCN and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the increase in the number of guards to ensure an adequate surveillance of the property, but expresses its utmost concern regarding the continued insecurity in some sectors of the property, that has caused a decrease of surveillance coverage over the period under consideration and an increase in illegal activities (poaching, illicit fishing and production of charcoal) threatening the integrity of the property;
- Regrets that the State Party has not confirmed its commitment to not authorise new petroleum explorations and exploitations within the boundaries of the property and reiterates its position according to which all mining, petroleum and gas exploration and exploitation activities are incompatible with World Heritage status, a policy supported by commitments undertaken by the leaders of industry, such as Shell and Total, not to undertake such activities in World Heritage properties;
- Recalling that the importance of Lake Edward is evoked in many instances in the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, considers that any activity linked to petrol in the Lake Edward region is highly likely to damage the OUV of the property and including its integrity through negative impacts on the transborder waters;
- Reiterates its request to the Ugandan State Party not to grant a petroleum exploration permit for the Ngaji block and urges the States Parties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to strongly commit to not authorizing any petroleum exploration or exploitation in the Lake Edward region;
- Notes with satisfaction the progress achieved concerning the combat against encroachment, and that the encouraging results demonstrate an increase in the resident mountain gorilla population, the hippopotamus as well as the stabilization of elephant poaching and welcomes the efforts of the “Virunga Alliance” in carrying out sustainable development activities to improve the life of local communities;
- Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to assess the state of conservation of the property, update the corrective measures, prepare a timetable for their implementation and finalize the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, 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;
- Decides to continue to apply the reinforced monitoring mechanism;
- Also decides to retain Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.