The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.16 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
- Appreciates the State Party’s continued efforts towards the implementation of the corrective measures to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) within the current timeframe, in close cooperation with local communities and provincial, national and international partners,
- Reiterates once again its request to the State Party to adopt, as a matter of urgency, a new Cabinet Paper with the commitments and associated budgets of the respective ministries reflected in the budget allocation for the next fiscal year;
- Welcomes the support provided by international NGOs for the implementation of some corrective measures, notably the carbon financing project led by “Live & Learn Environmental Education” and the IAS/rodent control project led by “BirdLife International”;
- Also welcomes the significant progress made by the State Party towards obtaining consensus from the customary landowners to apply the Protected Areas Act 2010 to the property, and the intention to develop a new Management Plan, and requests the State Party to continue its efforts to obtain full consent from all the customary landowners in East Rennell to ensure legal protection for the entire property including the adjacent area in order to address ongoing and potential threats of mining and commercial logging;
- Regrets that no information was provided by the State Party concerning the previously reported bauxite mining exploration proposal, recalling its position that mining, including exploration, is considered incompatible with World Heritage status, reiterates its request to the State Party to clarify the status of the mining proposal;
- Expresses its utmost concern that the flying fox species which are recognized as an attribute of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), appear to have become locally extinct in the property according to a recent investigation following a 2021 mass mortality event, also requests the State Party to clarify further the results of the surveys by submitting information for each species of flying fox, and further investigate the cause and the reported possible sightings in West Rennell to determine the potential for natural restoration of the population across the Island;
- Also expresses its utmost concern that the environmental damages and socio-economic impacts on local communities caused by the grounding of the barge SAPOR 2302 in 2021 persist, and that no compensation has been made to date, also reiterates its request to the responsible company and licensee of SAPOR 2302 to adhere to the conclusions and recommendations of the assessment conducted in 2021, with regards to compensation of the ecological, cultural and socio-economic impacts of the grounding and urges the State Party to support the communities in their claims for compensation;
- Further welcomes the State Party’s continued efforts to develop livelihood activities for East Rennell communities with support of the UNESCO/Netherlands and UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust as well as to accelerate the implementation of the DSOCR through applying to the International Assistance;
- Calls upon the international community to continue providing the State Party necessary support, both financially and technically, to meet the current timeframe to achieve the DSOCR by 2025, as well as climate change funding to conduct an integrated vulnerability assessment of the property;
- Finally 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 East Rennell (Solomon Islands) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.