Decision 42 COM 7B.81

Gough and Inaccessible Islands (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) (N 740bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.103, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Welcomes the planned implementation of the house mice (Mus musculus) eradication programme on Gough Island in 2019, and requests the State Party to ensure adequate funding to fully implement the programme as a matter of urgency;
4. Appreciates that a feasibility study for the eradication of house mice has been undertaken and that the captive management of two endemic land bird species is being planned to mitigate risk of poisoning of these species, and also requests the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed on the results of the mice eradication programme and on progress to avoid collateral impact on any non-target species, particularly those that are components of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value;
5. Further requests the State Party to submit the review of the effectiveness of the eradication programme for the invasive plant species, procumbent pearlwort (Sagina procumbens) to the World Heritage Centre as soon as it is available;
6. Encourages the State Party to share its experience on invasive alien species eradication programmes to promote knowledge exchange with other States Parties facing similar challenges;
7. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, a progress report to confirm that funding has been secured for the eradication programme and its implementation has started on schedule, and by 1 December 2020, 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 45th session in 2021.