Western Caucasus

• Management systems/ management plan (Lack of Management Plan)
• Legal framework (Weakening of conservation controls and laws)
• Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation (Impacts of proposed tourism infrastructure development)
• Ground transport infrastructure (Road construction)
• Illegal activities (Deforestation)

On 21 September 2018, the State Party sent a letter to the World Heritage Centre addressing the points raised by the World Heritage Committee in its Decision 42 COM 7B.80, noting the following:

• Currently no plans exist for establishment of biosphere polygons within the property;
• No plans exist for construction of large-scale infrastructure on Lagonaki Plateau, nor for development of the property for recreational, tourism or sport purposes;
• No plans exist for construction of large-scale tourism facilities in protected areas adjacent to the property, including Sochi National Park and Sochi Federal Wildlife Refuge;
• The reintroduction of the Central Asian leopard continues to be implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with several international organizations, however, the State Party stresses the complexity of such reintroduction programmes.

On 18 January and 4 February 2019, the World Heritage Centre sent letters to the State Party regarding third party information, respectively, alleged resumption of construction of the road to Lunnaya Polyana centre within the property and proposed legislative amendments, which may potentially affect several natural properties of the State Party. No response has been received at the time of the drafting of this report.

On 28 January 2019, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/900/documents/, providing the following information:

• Federal Law 321-FZ, adopted on 3 August 2018, prohibits construction of permanent sport facilities as well as related infrastructure on the territory of national parks. The same law introduced an amendment to the Federal Law 33-FZ from 1994 requiring organizations leasing land plots in national parks for recreational activities to undertake regular actions to prevent negative environmental impacts;
• It is confirmed that in 2014-2017 the entire Colchic boxwood forest (total area of about 500 ha) in the property was destroyed by an insect pest. Measures to artificially preserve Colchic boxwood are noted and the State Party expresses its readiness to work with IUCN on its restoration;
• Overall, natural conditions of the property are reported to remain unchanged from 2017-2018. Mountain meadow and alpine landscapes remain well preserved and positive dynamics continue to be observed on Lagonaki Plateau in terms of regeneration of natural plant communities.

It should be recalled that the World Heritage Committee has repeatedly expressed its concerns over reported plans for construction of large-scale infrastructure within the property, considering that these would constitute a case for inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in line with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines.  Furthermore, in its Decision 42 COM 7B.80, the Committee also expressed its concern over the reported lease of land plots for the development of large-scale investment projects related to sport and recreational activities directly bordering the property, and located on the territory of Sochi Federal Wildlife Refuge and Sochi National Park.  In this regard, the State Party’s confirmation that no plans exist for development of the property for recreational, sport or tourism purposes or for construction of large-scale tourism facilities in protected areas adjacent to the property should be welcomed by the Committee. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to confirm the status of the land plots reported to have been leased on the territory of Sochi Federal Wildlife Refuge and Sochi National Park, including the purpose of the lease. It is also recalled that the 2016 IUCN Advisory mission was made aware of plans for construction of large-scale skiing facilities within the property, including by Gazprom and Rosa Khutor companies, and that, in its Decision 41 COM 7B.8, the Committee noted the mission conclusion that these plans would have significant impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. It is therefore recommended that the Committee request the State Party to confirm whether these companies’ plans have been fully abandoned.

The confirmation by the State Party that construction of permanent sport facilities on the territory of national parks is prohibited by the recently adopted Federal Law is also noted. However, it should be recalled that that Committee had repeatedly expressed its concerns over several recently introduced legislative changes, which might negatively affect the property and other natural properties in the Russian Federation. It is therefore recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to provide a comprehensive overview of recently introduced and proposed legislative changes potentially affecting strict nature reserves and other protected areas, including those related to designation of biosphere polygons, as well as excision of lands from the boundaries of protected areas.

Third party information about resumption of the road construction to the Lunnaya Polyana centre within the property raises serious concerns. Noting that no response to the letter from the World Heritage Centre on this matter has been received yet from the State Party, the 2008 mission recommendations and Committee’s Decision 32 COM 7B.25, requesting the State Party to halt further construction of the road to Lunnaya Polyana and to ensure that it is not enlarged or asphalted should be recalled. It is therefore recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit a response on these concerns to the World Heritage Centre.

Finally, the confirmation that the entire Colchic boxwood forest area within the property has been destroyed by an insect pest, which was introduced during preparations for the Sochi Olympic Games, is noted with utmost concern. It is welcomed that the State Party expressed its readiness to work with IUCN on restoring this type of vegetation within the property and it is recommended that the Committee reiterate its requests to the State Party on this matter expressed in Decision 42 COM 7B.80.