Decision 45 COM 7B.98

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

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.192 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Appreciates the implementation in 2021 of the house mouse (Mus musculus) eradication programme and the resulting temporarily improved breeding success of several flagship seabird species, as well as the prevention of collateral damage to non-target species;
4. Regrets, however, that the eradication of the house mouse population was unsuccessful, and notes with significant concern that the population of mice is rapidly increasing again, which is expected to significantly reduce the breeding success of seabirds and thus negatively impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and in particular criterion (x) in the future;
5. Welcomes the continued commitment of the State Party and its partners to eradicate the house mouse from the island, which is vital for the protection of the property’s OUV, and urges the State Party to ensure that the independent review of the eradication programme’s failure informs the development of a new phase of the programme for which funding is secured as soon as possible;
6. Encourages the State Party to continue to share its experience on invasive alien species eradication and island ecosystem management practices, including the findings of the independent review, to promote knowledge exchange with other States Parties facing similar challenges;
7. Also regrets that the eradication of the procumbent pearlwort (Sagina procumbens) is no longer considered possible and requests the State Party to conduct an analysis of the impacts of the procumbent pearlwort on endemic species of plants and associated invertebrates and to develop a long-term containment plan;
8. Notes that there is no imminent risk to the OUV of the property arising from the sunken fishing vessel and encourages the State Party to continue monitoring the situation for potential impacts;
9. Also requests the State Party to continue monitoring for any Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and encourages the State Party to establish monitoring that would provide information on the current status of the OUV of the property;
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2025, 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 48th session.