Decision 47 COM 7A.16

Selous Game Reserve (United Republic of Tanzania)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/25/47.COM/7A.Add.3,
2. Recalling Decisions 43 COM 7A.16, 44 COM 7A.51, 45 COM 7A.14 and 46 COM 7A.55 adopted at its 43rd (Baku, 2019), extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021), extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) and 46th (New Delhi, 2024) sessions respectively,
3. Expresses its utmost concern that the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) is now fully operational with all nine turbines activated in April 2025, despite the utmost concerns and positions of the Committee, over the irreversible impact of continued implementation of the JNHPP on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and the clear position that the construction of dams with large reservoirs within the boundaries of World Heritage properties is incompatible with their World Heritage status;
4. Regrets that no information was provided regarding the previously reported flooding and its impacts on communities, including loss of life and crops, downstream of the JNHPP following the discharge of water from the dam as well as any mitigation measures taken;
5. Acknowledges the 58% reduction in the Kidunda Dam’s inundation area, but notes with concern the ecological risks of the remaining flooded reserve land within the property on migratory species, wetland ecosystems, and the Selous-Wami Mbiki seasonal migration corridor;
6. Also expresses its utmost concern that the State Party has reportedly commenced construction of the Kidunda Dam project, despite the Committee’s request not to proceed with any decision that would be difficult to reverse, including to approve the project, before a new Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been undertaken, also notes with concern that the new ESIA submitted in 2024 does not assess the potential impacts of the Kidunda dam project on the OUV of the property, nor does it consider the cumulative effects of the dam with other developments such as the JNHPP on the Rufiji River’s hydrology and the property’s ecological resilience;
7. Urges the State Party to suspend the Kidunda Dam project implementation and continue dialogue with the Secretariat and Advisory Bodies on the revision of the existing ESIA in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, to include a comprehensive assessment of impacts on OUV and cumulative effects and agreed actions to address actual and potential impacts on OUV, prior to any resumption of project activities;
8. 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 the future, expresses its deep concern over the awarding of a driling contract by the Tanzanian Mining Commission and the reported commencement of drilling for the Mkuju Uranium Project without a new ESIA having been undertaken as requested by the Committee, and urgently requests the State Party to suspend all operations immediately until the potential impacts of the project on the OUV of the property have been rigorously assessed in line with the aforementioned guidelines and the ESIA submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
9. Recalling that the State Party has invited the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission, and urges again 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;
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2026, 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;
11. Decides to retain Selous Game Reserve (United Republic of Tanzania) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.