Decision 43 COM 7B.4

South China Karst Phase II (China) (N 1248bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7B.26, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Welcomes the State Party’s progress towards an integrated, coordinated management system for the property, including the ongoing implementation of the 2016 Conservation and Management Plan of South China Karst World Natural Heritage Site (CMP‐SCK);
4. Notes with appreciation the continued progress in addressing impacts from tourism, water pollution, agriculture and urban development through the implementation of the CMP-SCK, and urges again the State Party to closely monitor the effectiveness of measures taken;
5. Also notes with appreciation the State Party’s decision to abandon the renovation and expansion projects of the two existing roads crossing Shilin Karst and its Buffer Zone, which may have a negative impact on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), and its commitment to report any future developments to the World Heritage Centre, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
6. Acknowledges the reported assessment of environmental impacts of the Guiyang‐Nanning High‐Speed Railway, which commenced in 2016 and crosses the buffer zone of Libo Karst, concluding that the project would not affect the OUV of the property, but requests however the State Party to address any impact on the buffer zone, any potential impact of invasive alien species on the property, and that it assess, monitor and manage the potential long-term cumulative impacts of increased tourism pressure on the OUV of the property;
7. Further notes with appreciation the information provided about the relocation processes followed for Wukeshu Village, in particular to ensure that the relocation was carried out with the consent of the population concerned, and also requests the State Party to ensure that any such relocation programmes are in line with the 2015 World Heritage and Sustainable Development Policy and relevant international standards;
8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2020, 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 45th session in 2021.