Decision 41 COM 7A.19

East Rennell (Solomon Islands) (N 854)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7A.49, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Adopts the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) submitted by the State Party (see Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add) and requests the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, a set of corrective measures to guide action towards achieving the DSOCR;
4. Calls upon the international community to provide support to the State Party in its efforts to implement the DSOCR and to develop sustainable livelihoods for the customary owners of the property;
5. Commends the State Party for undertaking important steps aimed at consolidating the conservation and management of the property, including the adoption of the Cabinet Paper which provides a strategic framework for the various measures required to ensure the conservation of the property and the establishment of the inter-ministerial Core Team for Heritage which will oversee the process;
6. Welcomes the State Party’s decision to organize a national Round Table to discuss future strategies for the property and the State Party’s commitment to ensuring the inclusion of all stakeholders in the process;
7. Notes the Cabinet decision to revoke and/or refuse granting any felling licences for areas within the property, but considers that a permanent legal mechanism should be put in place to ensure that no commercial logging can be permitted within the property in the future, and therefore urges the State Party to expedite the designation of the property under the Protected Areas Act and the finalization of the Management Plan, with the consent of the customary owners;
8. Also notes the information provided by the State Party that no bauxite mining activities in the property take place and also urges the State Party to defer consideration of bauxite mining license applications until a better understanding of the ecological links between East and West Rennell is available;
9. Notes with concern that a proposal for a rat eradication project has been put on hold due to uncertainties about governance mechanisms and further urges the State Party to take urgent measures to clarify these uncertainties, in order to address the threat of invasive species, in line with the DSOCR, including by seeking international support from States Parties with significant expertise in eradication of invasive species;
10. 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;
11. Decides to retain East Rennell (Solomon Islands) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.