Decision 41 COM 7B.21

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

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 35 COM 8B.6, 38 COM 7B.91 and 39 COM 7B.5, adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions respectively,
3. Taking note of the progress of the Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary boundary modification project, which aims to address encroachment and clearance of natural riparian vegetation in the areas adjoining the property by expanding the protected area, requests the State Party to submit a map of the new proposed boundaries, and encourages the State Party to incorporate into the next phase of the project proposals to strengthen the protection of the areas between Lakes Nakuru and Elementaita ;
4. Notes the reported collaboration between the State Party and the local communities in revising the Lake Elementaita Management Plan, which will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, upon completion;
5. Reiterates its request to the State Party to report on:
   1. The current status of potential geothermal prospecting activities undertaken adjacent to the property, including the status of any Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines,
   2. Progress made to implement the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Endorois ruling to ensure the full and effective participation of the Endorois in the management and decision-making of Lake Bogoria,
   3. Actions taken to ensure the removal of any existing illegal developments, to carry out 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;
6. Also requests the State Party of Tanzania to report on the soda ash deposit investigation at Lake Natron as soon as any information is available, and before taking any decisions that may be difficult to reverse, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 43rd session in 2019.