Decision 46 COM 7A.52

Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) (N 1257)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.11 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted a report on the state of conservation of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana, a property included on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and notes with concern that the absence of a report from the State Party makes it difficult for the World Heritage Committee to monitor the state of conservation of the property, given the significant conservation threats facing the property;
4. Takes note of the progress reported in implementing some corrective measures at a workshop organised by the World Heritage Centre on capacity-building on elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and the implementation of corrective measures, but notes that the conservation challenges of the property remain major;
5. Appreciates that a costed action plan for implementation of corrective measures was developed following this workshop and requests that the State Party submit it to the World Heritage Centre for evaluation by IUCN;
6. Reiterates its serious concern regarding the significant increase in the rate of deforestation within the property, which has reached a record level of 0.07 per cent, exceeding the limit of 0.01 per cent defined in DSOCR, the continuing loss of primary forest in all parts of the property and an increase in reports of illegal logging of precious wood species, as raised by the State Party in its 2022 report;
7. Notes the ongoing and planned efforts already indicated in the 2022 report, aimed at addressing forest loss through ecological monitoring and reforestation activities, and reiterates its request to the State Party to strengthen its efforts to combat illegal logging and trading in rosewood, complemented by efforts to promote local sustainable development;
8. Recalling the information in the 2022 report concerning the planned renewal of the development and management plans for each of the six components of the property, the purpose of which is to: assess the current situation with regard to forestry and mining; inform decisions on future activities, including the implementation of corrective measures and its costed five-year action plan; and produce an Integrated Management Plan (IMP), reiterates its strong encouragement to the State Party to ensure that a fully consultative process with relevant stakeholders, including local communities, is implemented for development of the plans;
9. Also requests that the State Party submit the draft development and management plans for the six components of the property, as well as the draft IMP, to the World Heritage Centre as soon as possible, so that they may be reviewed by IUCN prior to their adoption;
10. While noting reaffirmation of the zero-tolerance policy with regard to the logging and export of rosewood and ebony, as stated in the 2022 report, reiterates its request to the State Party that it find a sustainable solution aimed at eliminating all stocks of precious woods and ending the illegal felling and trading of precious woods, including through full implementation of the decisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) concerning ebony (Diospyros spp.), pallisander and rosewood (Dalbergia spp.);
11. Also recalling the activities indicated in the 2022 report aimed at preparing an inventory and marking system for “controlled official stocks” of seized logs and trading them on the national market, using the proceeds for restoration activities, reiterates that controlled official stocks are quite small compared to “uncontrolled but declared stocks” and undeclared illegal stocks;
12. Reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to assess progress made in implementing the corrective measures needed to achieve DSOCR and to update the corrective measures, as well as their implementation schedule, with a view to eventual removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
13. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and implementation of the above points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session;
14. Decides to retain Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.