Decision 44 COM 7B.175

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

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 35 COM 8B.6, 39 COM 7B.5, 41 COM 7B.21 and 43 COM 7B.33, adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 39th (Bonn, 2015), 41st (Krakow, 2017) and 43rd (Baku, 2019) sessions respectively,
3. Notes with concern the impacts of the unusually high water levels in all components of the property, which is attributed to heavy rainfall, potentially as a result of climate change and exacerbated by the increasing deforestation, sewage loads and degradation of the catchments, and requests the State Party to monitor the impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and to consider potential adaptation measures and to develop a wastewater management strategy;
4. Welcomes the finalization of the Lake Bogoria National Reserve Management Plan 2019-2029, developed through wide community participation including with the Endorois Welfare Council, but also notes with concern the proposed zonation scheme, which could permit the construction of ecolodges along approximately half of the lake’s shoreline and allow any type of visitor facility in the reserve’s buffer zone, and reiterates its request to the State Party 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;
5. Notes with appreciation the State Party’s work to redefine the boundaries of Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary to ensure the inclusion of riparian habitat in response to the lake level rise, in consultation with the community and stakeholders, and its commitment to developing a proposal for a minor boundary modification;
6. Specifically recalling Decision 35 COM 8B.6 requesting the State Party to improve the ecological connectivity between the Lake Nakuru and Elementaita components through wildlife corridors such as the Soysambu Conservancy, encourages the State Party to strongly consider the possible extension and formalization of the buffer zone between Lakes Elementaita and Nakuru to restore connectivity and further strengthen their protection, in consultation with local stakeholders and rights-holders;
7. Also requests the State Party to integrate any changes or findings from the boundary modification exercise in the revision of the management plans for Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary and Lake Nakuru National Park, and also ensure sensitive areas are protected from developments;
8. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to ensure a co-ordinated management system of the three components of the property in accordance with Paragraph 114 of the Operational Guidelines;
9. Further notes with concern that the construction of the Olkaria-Lessos-Kisumu power transmission line proposed near Lake Elementaita has proceeded while there remains significant concern for the potential impacts of the project on the OUV of the property, urges the State Party to halt any further development of the transmission line until the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) on-the-spot appraisal mission has taken place and its recommendations made available, and encourages the State Party to continue its consultation with the Secretariat of AEWA, the World Heritage Centre and IUCN in addressing this issue;
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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.