The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decisions 43 COM 7A.16, 44 COM 7A.51 and 45 COM 7A.14 adopted at its 43rd (Baku, 2019), extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021), and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions respectively,
- Noting that construction of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) within the property is nearing completion, also recalls its utmost concerns regarding this project, including its clear position that the construction of dams with large reservoirs within the boundaries of World Heritage properties is incompatible with their World Heritage status, the commitment made by the State Party to not undertake any development activities in the property without the Committee’s approval, and the irreversible impact of continued implementation of the JNHPP on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
- Expresses its concern regarding the reported flooding and its impacts on communities, including loss of life, downstream of the JNHPP following the discharge of water from the dam, and requests the State Party to urgently provide more information on this issue;
- Reiterates again its concerns regarding the potential impacts of the proposed Kidunda dam project, which may inundate part of the property, regrets that the revised 2021 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was submitted too late to allow for its review in time for the 46th session of the Committee and reiterates its request for the State Party not to proceed with any decision that would be difficult to reverse before the revised ESIA has been reviewed by IUCN;
- Further recalling the State Party's commitment to ensuring that previously planned major developments, including the suspended Mkuju uranium mine, would be subject to a new ESIA process should they be considered in future, also requests the State Party to ensure that a new ESIA is undertaken for the proposed Mkuju uranium mine to assess its potential impacts on the OUV of the property in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, prior to making any decision that would be difficult to reverse including to approve the project;
- Also reiterates its request for the State Party to ensure that any development that may impact on the OUV of the property is assessed in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context;
- Takes note that the State Party has invited the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission and urges the State Party to organize this mission as soon as possible, to assess amongst other matters, the status of the elephant population, the impacts of the JNHPP implemented within the property, as well as of various other construction projects on the OUV of the property, as it was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and assess future scenarios for the property, including options to conserve the wider Selous-Niassa ecosystem;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 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 47th session;
- Decides to retain Selous Game Reserve (United Republic of Tanzania) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.