Decision 41 COM 7B.35

Blue and John Crow Mountains (Jamaica) (C/N 1356rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 8B.7, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
3. Highly commends the State Party for the actions undertaken in response to the Committee’s requests at the time of inscription regarding threats from agricultural encroachment, legal protection of the property against mining prospecting licences and/or operations, as well as integration of the “satellite sites” linked to Maroon tangible and intangible heritage into the interpretation and presentation programme of the property; and recommends that these actions be continued;
4. Encourages the State Party to continue supporting the livelihoods of local communities through initiatives related to environmentally and culturally compatible options in order to prevent any threats from human activity to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and consider developing a long-term programme to this end;
5. Requests the State Party to finalize, adopt and implement:
   1. The amendments to the Draft National Minerals Policy so as to secure protection of sensitive cultural and natural areas sustaining the OUV of the property,
   2. The new overarching policy and legislation for the protected areas system,
   3. The training programme for Maroon Cultural Assistants and the Preservation Scheme for cultural heritage,
   4. The new Management Plan 2017-2027, underpinned by adequate human and financial resources, in close coordination and cooperation between governmental actors, civil society and the Windward Maroon communities, and fully considering the factors identified by the World Heritage Committee in Decision 39 COM 8B.7 as affecting the property;
6. Also requests the State Party 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 review by the Advisory Bodies.