Decision 43 COM 7A.15

Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) (N 153)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.55, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Congratulates the State Party for the efforts undertaken in the implementation of the corrective measures, in particular the updating of the General Management Plan of the property and its periphery, the combat against invasive species and the operationalisation of the ecological monitoring system, and requests the State Party to continue its efforts;
4. Takes note that the results of the inventory and the ecological monitoring indicate an increase in the population of some flagship species, while showing the vulnerability of other species like the elephant, the lycaon, and the hartebeest and considers that this monitoring should continue for a longer period, and also requests the State Party to implement the recommendations of the inventory; notably the establishment of an emergency programme for the lycaon, a conservation programme for the Derby eland and a monitoring programme for the hartebeest ;
5. Welcomes all the development, education, information and awareness-raising activities initiated by the State Party and its partners enabling an improved involvement of communities in the management of the property;
6. Expresses its keen concern regarding the reports on mining extraction in the south-east part of the property, further requests that all mining exploitation in the property be immediately suspended, and reiterates its position concerning mining exploration or exploitation which is incompatible with World Heritage status, policy supported by the position statement of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) not to undertake such activities in World Heritage properties;
7. Regrets that the State Party has not provided any information concerning the possible granting of a mining license to the Barrick Gold Society in the vicinity of the property, and requests furthermore the State Party to ensure that the impacts of this project on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property be evaluated in the framework of an in-depth Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), in conformity with the IUCN Advice Note on World Heritage and environmental assessment, and to submit, without delay, a copy to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
8. Recalls its high concern with regard to the impacts of the Petewil Mining Company mining project on the quality and regime of the waterways as well as on the chimpanzee population and their habitat, and requests moreover the State Party to:
   1. Continue the regular monitoring of the quantity and quality of the surface water, waste water and groundwater above and below the Mako mining project,
   2. Provide detailed data on the monitoring of chimpanzees and their habitat, to enable an evaluation on the actual impacts of the project and the proposed mitigation measures to ensure the conservation of this species,
   3. Carry out microbiological analyses of the waterways likely to be affected by the project and submit the results to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
9. Also regrets that the information provided on the inter-connectivity water project of the Gambia River and the ponds located in the property do not enable the evaluation of the potential impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the OUV of the property and reiterates its request to the State Party that this project be subject to a detailed ESIA in conformity with the IUCN Advice Note and to keep the World Heritage Centre informed on the progress of the project;
10. Further regrets the report on the closure of the quarry at Mansadala due to public works and requests in addition the State Party to proceed immediately with its closure given its negative impact on the OUV of the property;
11. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 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 44th session in 2020;
12. Decides to retain Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.