Decision 45 COM 7B.11

Banc d'Arguin National Park (Mauritania) (N 506)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.87 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Commends the State Party for the significant efforts made and requests it to pursue them, in particular by implementing the 2020-2024 Development and Management Plan, and by continuing to develop knowledge, monitoring and the fight against threats affecting the property;
4. Considers that climate change is a crucial issue for the distribution of species and ecosystems, particularly seagrasses, and therefore for the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and for the local populations, and requests the State Party:
   1. To prioritize its prospective analysis on the potential impacts of climate change on the OUV and submit it to the World Heritage Centre,
   2. That any consideration of the relocation of threatened villages be part of this reflection, in consultation with the communities concerned and not be carried out without their free, prior and informed consent and in accordance with the Convention and international standards;
5. Noting that the ecosystems of the property represent an important reservoir of blue carbon, encourages the State Party to explore the eligibility of the property for funds to adapt to the effects of climate change, and to share these experiences with other World Heritage properties;
6. Considering on the one hand the stagnation of selachian catches, and on the other hand the tenfold increase in fishing in the property since 1997, also requests the State Party to intensify the efforts undertaken to limit the catches of selachians in order to end this practice, and to carry out an analysis of the impact of increased fishing on the OUV of the property;
7. Also commends the State Party for the actions taken to oversee the development of Chami and limit its impact on the property, and in particular the relocation of the gold processing centre, and also requests it to continue the analyses on the heavy metal contaminations in the property, to sustainably manage waste at Chami and to provide information on the management of mining waste and other environmental aspects in the new gold processing centre;
8. Welcomes the efforts of the State Party to limit maritime risks and, in addition, reiterates its request to finalize the exploration of the technical feasibility of a possible designation of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area, before submitting a final application to the International Maritime Organization;
9. Also welcomes the current abandonment of oil exploration in Oil Block C-19 and further requests information regarding the status of exploration activities in Block C-7;
10. Considering the concerns about the potential impacts of the offshore seismic campaign and the lack of significant consideration of the property in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), further requests the State Party not to carry out any activity before revising the ESIA to assess potential impacts on the OUV of the property, in accordance with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre for evaluation by IUCN, and to take into account the recommendations of the management authority for the property;
11. Noting with concern the wind farm development project at the borders of the property (Nour – Hydrogène Vert), urges the State Party to carry out an ESIA to assess the potential impacts on the OUV of the property, in accordance with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, before any decision is taken;
12. Further requests the State Party to continue monitoring the groundwater harnessed for the Tasiast mine and to finalize the strategic regional assessment of the hydrological system;
13. Notes with satisfaction that avian influenza has not had an impact on the property, commends the State Party for its efforts in the face of this threat and further requests it to continue the monitoring;
14. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above.