Decision 42 COM 7A.43

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Belize) (N 764)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7A.2, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Commends the State Party for the progress made in achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and particularly welcomes the legal enactment of a moratorium on oil exploration and other petroleum operations in the entire maritime zone of Belize;
4. Considers that Indicators 2, 3 and 4 of the DSOCR have been fully achieved, and that Indicator 1 can be considered as achieved given the confirmation by the State Party that official verification of land tenure and subsequent declaration as mangrove reserves of the remaining public lands within marine reserves comprising the property has been officially agreed and initiated by the relevant ministries, and is expected to be completed in 2018;
5. Decides to remove Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Belize) from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
6. Requests the State Party to ensure that the process of official land tenure verification within the property is completed in due course and no later than by the end of 2018, and that the remaining public lands within the property are designated as strict reserves, in line with the commitment expressed by the State Party;
7. Urges the State Party to address the pending issues related to the revised regulatory instruments, in particular to ensure that specific provisions for consideration of potential impacts on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) are included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Checklist for all types of projects, and that the ongoing revision of the EIA Regulations reflects this and is completed as a matter of priority;
8. Strongly encourages the State Party to continue to ensure that the resources required for the long-term implementation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan are secured;
9. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, 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.