Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Factors affecting the property in 1995*
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- War
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Proposed construction of a highway (issue resolved)
- Armed conflict
- Uncontrolled arrival of refugees causing deforestation and poaching
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1995
Total amount approved : 93,870 USD
| 1995 | Purchase of a vehicle for Kahuzi Biega National Park (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 1994 | Financial contribution for the protection of ... (Approved) | 25,000 USD |
| 1992 | Review of the state of conservation of World Heritage ... (Approved) | 3,750 USD |
| 1988 | Purchase of a 4x4 Jeep for Kahuzi Biega National Park (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1980 | Equipment for Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Approved) | 15,120 USD |
Missions to the property until 1995**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1995
On 31 August 1994 the World Heritage Centre was informed that a UNHCR refugee camp for 50,000 people was going to be established near a three-kilometer strip of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park near Ihembe. The World Heritage Centre immediately contacted the UNHCR (Geneva), the Director of IZCN, Mr Mankoto Ma Mbaelele, (Kinshasa), who was carrying out monitoring missions at World Heritage sites in Zaire, and a bilateral project by the GTZ (Germany). The Centre obtained relocation of the camp near Uvira which relieved the pressure from the site. With the relocation of the camp, the Kahuzi-Biega World Heritage site seemed to be less threatened in comparison with the situation at Virunga National Park, which still remains very critical. The Centre was informed by the Zairois authorities (IZCN) that a new visitor centre was built with funding from German authorities and the GTZ. Furthermore, Kahuzi-Biega obtained funds from the European Cooperation.
Action Required
The Bureau commends the German and European authorities for their support to the site.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1995
19 BUR IX.1
Requests for International Assistance
IX.1 The Bureau examined documents WHC-95/CONF.201/7 and WHC-95/CONF.201/7Add and noted that, in accordance with the decisions at the eighteenth session of the World Heritage Committee, one third of the funds should be for natural heritage.Therefore, only requests for technical cooperation for natural heritage were brought forward to the Bureau. The Bureau, taking note of the amount of the remaining funds for international assistance, took the following decisions:
Requests approved:
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Côte d'Ivoire)
Technical assistance for this site inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger for refurbishing, maintenance of the Headquarters buildings and for the reinforcement of the administrative structure-for an amount of US$ 18,000 was approved.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park (Uganda)
The technical assistance request for radio equipment, ranger field equipment and rescue gear for Rwenzori Mountains National Park for an amount of US$ 20,000 was approved.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Zaire)
The technical cooperation request for a 4-WD Toyota Land Cruiser Station Wagon for better surveillance and control of the National Park was approved (an amount of US$ 30,000), subject to the payment of outstanding dues to the World Heritage Fund.
19 BUR VI.20
Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Zaire)
The Bureau recalled that with the relocation of a refugee camp in 1994, the Kahuzi-Biega World Heritage site seemed to be less threatened in comparison with the situation at Virunga NationalPark, but still remains critical. The Centre informed the Bureau that a new visitor centre was built with funding from the German authorities and the GTZ. Furthermore, Kahuzi-Biega obtained funds from the European Cooperation. A progress report on the emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund was also received. The site will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 1995.
The Bureau requested the Centre to commend the German and European authorities for their support to the site.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
