Decision 43 COM 7B.20

Doñana National Park (Spain) (N 685bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 37 COM 7B.27, 38 COM 7B.79, 39 COM 7B.26 and 41 COM 7B.9 adopted at its 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013), 38th (Doha, 2014), 39th (Bonn, 2015) and 41st (Krakow, 2017) sessions respectively,
3. Reiterates that a continued decline of the Doñana aquifer, if not reversed, could represent a potential danger to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, in line with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines;
4. While noting the continued inspections and a reduction of irrigable agricultural land in connection to the implementation of the Extraction Plan and Special Irrigation Plan (SIP), expresses its deep concern that the aquifer’s status within the property remains at “pre-alert” and “alert” levels (adjoined by aquifer sections in an “alarming” state) and that the current method and level of groundwater abstraction in a significant part of the Almonte-Marismas aquifer, if sustained, would ultimately compromise the terrestrial ecosystem;
5. Appreciates that the Hydrological Plan for the 2021-2027 period will include a chapter on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and also requests the State Party to submit the draft chapter including revised plans for water management and use in the river basin, based on a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that takes into account the OUV of the property and covers water supply scenarios, agricultural, industrial and commercial development, in line with Decisions 38 COM 7B.79 and 41 COM 7B.9, for review by IUCN;
6. Also recalling the relevance of the European Union Water Framework, Birds and Habitats Directives as part of the legal protection regime for the conservation of the property’s OUV, expresses its concern about the infringement decision issued by the European Commission regarding the Habitats and Water Framework Directives, and further requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of the outcomes of the infringement proceedings as soon as they become available;
7. Notes the plans to quadruple the transfer of water from the Tinto-Odiel-Piedras basin to the Guadalquivir basin, and requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including an analysis of any potential positive and negative impacts on the OUV of the property, in line with the IUCN World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment, prior to operation and as a matter of priority;
8. Further recalling the need for great caution with regards to re-opening the former Aznalcóllar mine, urges the State Party to ensure that systematic risk preparedness and emergency action plans take into account the property and to submit these analyses for review by IUCN, as soon as they become available and before a decision on re-opening the mine is made;
9. Notes with concern that the Environmental Impact statements for the Marisma Occidental and Aznalcálzar projects located in close proximity of the property recognized impacts from the additional fragmentation of the property’s upstream areas, potentially adding pressure on habitats, as well as surface and groundwater flows;
10. Requests moreover the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, to be conducted jointly with the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention if possible, to assess the potential impacts of current and future developments and water management on the OUV of the property, and to review the implementation of the recommendations of previous missions;
11. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, 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.