Decision 41 COM 7B.8

Western Caucasus (Russian Federation) (N 900)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.101, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Notes with concern the recent legislative changes adopted by the State Party, which may weaken the protection regime of the property and recalls its concerns over a number of previous legislative changes potentially affecting the property;
4. Considers that such continuous degradation of the legal protection regime of protected areas comprising the property represents a potential danger to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, in line with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines, and requests the State Party to provide detailed information about all recently adopted legislative changes and measures taken to avoid negative impacts on the property;
5. Notes the conclusions of the 2016 IUCN Advisory mission that the recent plans for development of skiing facilities within the property may have significant impacts on the OUV of the property including its conditions of integrity;
6. Recalls that the Committee has repeatedly reiterated its position that the installation of capital construction on the Lagonaki Plateau, including Mount Fisht and Oshten, would constitute a case for inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in line with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines, and considers that this also applies to such constructions in any other part of the property;
7. Reiterates its concerns over potential development of large-scale skiing facilities within the property and also requests the State Party to confirm the current status of any existing plans for large-scale tourism and sport infrastructure within the property;
8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, 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 42nd session in 2018.