Decision 45 COM 7B.3

W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger) (N 749bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.79 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Deplores the new murderous attacks committed by armed groups in the property, and expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to all the staff of the national administrations in charge of the management of the property;
4. Recognizing that the increase in the number of violent incidents linked to the presence of armed groups in the area of the property is a direct consequence of the dramatic deterioration in the security situation in the Sahel region, expresses its deepest concern that the increase in the number of attacks committed by armed groups in the area of the property has led to the evacuation of staff and the absence of field management in the Burkinabe and Nigerien components;
5. Expresses its utmost concern regarding the findings of the January 2022 reactive monitoring mission that the property is facing serious threats which could have detrimental effects on its essential characteristics, and that the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property is subject to potential danger in accordance with paragraphs 180 b)iii) and 180 b)iv) of the Operational Guidelines;
6. Notes also that the mission confirms that the elements justifying the OUV of the property remain present in the Benin component, but that the information and documentation available in the Burkinabe and Niger components do not allow an assessment at this stage of the extent of the impact of the presence of armed groups and illegal activities on the elements justifying the OUV in these components, and requests the States Parties to carry out aerial censuses on a regular basis using the same methodology allowing comparison of results and consequently the identification of wildlife population trends;
7. Urges the States Parties, in collaboration with technical and financial partners, to implement the recommendations established by the 2022 reactive monitoring mission in order to strengthen the management and protection of the components of the OUV of the property and to reinforce dialogue and communication with all stakeholders in the implementation of the above-mentioned recommendations;
8. Welcomes the efforts of the States Parties to address the security situation by strengthening the operational capacities of personnel, acquiring equipment, collecting and analyzing security information, reinforcing surveillance patrols and joint operations with the defense and security forces, and drawing up strategic framework and operational planning documents such as Priority Intervention Plans (PIPs) for the various components of the property, and urges the States Parties to pursue and strengthen these efforts, in particular through the implementation of PIPs and the recommendations of the second Council of Ministers of the three countries of 23 June 2023 in Benin in favour of joint efforts to secure and preserve the Transboundary Complex, with the support of the technical and financial partners involved;
9. Thanks the technical and financial partners who support the conservation of the property, notably through funding from the Government of Germany, the Adaptation Fund, the European Union and the Government of Norway, and appeals to the international community to further support the efforts of States Parties to ensure sustainable financing of the property, notably through the consolidation of the West African Savannah Foundation (WASF);
10. Further notes the progress made in implementing the provisions of the Tripartite Agreement on the Harmonized Management of Protected Areas of the W-Arly-Pendjari Transboundary Complex, and further encourages the States Parties to make available sufficient technical and financial resources for the proper functioning of the Executive Secretariat and the other governance bodies provided for therein;
11. Commends the States Parties for the adoption of a Climate Change Adaptation Plan (CCAP) for the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex and further encourages them to integrate the adaptation measures foreseen therein into the various strategic framework and operational planning documents of the property's protected areas, and to establish a multi-hazard early warning system for the property;
12. Notes the commitment of the State Party of Benin to carry out Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) for the various infrastructure projects carried out and planned in the Beninese component of the property, and reiterates that all new projects must be subject to an ESIA prior to approval, including a specific assessment of potential negative impacts on the OUV of the property, in accordance with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context;
13. Takes note of the map of the boundaries of the buffer zone of the property at a scale of 1/50,000 submitted in response to Decisions 41 COM 8B.3 and 44 COM 7B.79, welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the States Parties of Benin and Niger to modify the boundaries of the buffer zone of the property in order to strengthen its protection, and further requests the States Parties to submit a request for minor modifications to the boundaries to reflect these modifications by 1 February 2024 for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session;
14. Further urges the States Parties to strengthen dialogue and communication with all stakeholders in the implementation of the above recommendations, which could be supported through an emergency international assistance request to the World Heritage Fund and the "Initiative to Support the Sustainable Management of the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex" project funded by the Government of Norway, the first national technical consultation of which was held in Niger from 30 May to 1 June 2023, in preparation for national technical consultations in Burkina Faso and Benin, as well as the round table of technical and financial partners of the property;
15. Requests furthermore the States Parties to invite a new joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to address the shortcomings identified by the January 2022 mission, to assess the measures undertaken by the States Parties to restore security in the property and resume their management, and to determine whether the OUV is still subject to potential danger;
16. Further requests the States Parties to submit, by 1 February 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and on the steps taken to implement the above-mentioned recommendations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session, considering that the urgent conservation needs of this property require a broad mobilization to preserve its Outstanding Universal Value, including a possible inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger.