Decision 41 COM 7B.13

Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park (Costa Rica, Panama) (N 205bis

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.72, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Noting the information provided by the States Parties that several small areas affected by encroachment and illegal activities have been detected through recent patrolling and overflight activities and the States Parties’ intention to further investigate these cases, requests the States Parties to continue their efforts to combat all illegal activities within the property;
4. Takes note with satisfaction of the commitment of the States Parties to finalize the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the entire property by 2018 and the commitment of the State Party of Panama not to approve any new hydropower projects in the vicinity of the property until the SEA is available, and also requests the State Party to submit the results of this SEA by 1 February 2018 to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
5. Also takes note with satisfaction of the information provided by the State Party of Panama that the contract for the construction of the Changuinola II dam has been cancelled and further requests the State Party of Panama to confirm this decision once it has officially entered into force following the necessary procedures, and to clarify whether the cancellation of this contract means that the plans for Changuinola II hydropower project will be definitely abandoned;
6. Recalls its position that any development of new hydropower projects prior to the finalization and adequate review of the SEA for the entire property would represent a danger to the OUV of the property in line with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines and would lead to its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
7. Requests furthermore the State Party of Panama to continue monitoring activities of the Chan 75 and Bonyic dams, the findings of which should be taken into account in the above-mentioned SEA and assessment of cumulative impacts, and to establish a long-term monitoring programme for these two projects to evaluate the effectiveness of their mitigation measures;
8. Finally requests the States Parties to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 43rd session in 2019.