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Salonga National Park

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Factors affecting the property in 2021*
  • Civil unrest
  • Illegal activities
  • Indigenous hunting, gathering and collecting
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Oil and gas
  • War
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Armed conflict, lack of security and political instability (issue resolved)
  • Poaching by the army and armed groups (issue resolved)
  • Conflicts with local communities concerning Park boundaries
  • Impact of villages located within the property
  • Threat of oil exploitation
  • Poaching
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Impact due to conflict
  • Increased poaching and illegal encroachment affecting the integrity of the site
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Proposed in the 2012 mission report.
Corrective Measures for the property

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4575 
An update is proposed for adoption in the draft decision below.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

In progress

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2021

Total amount granted: USD 320,000 from the United Nations Foundation and the Governments of Italy and Belgium; USD 250,000 from the Government of Norway (2021-2022) 

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2021
Requests approved: 9 (from 1985-2000)
Total amount approved : 149,900 USD
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2021

A joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN Reactive Monitoring Mission visited the property in January / February 2020 (mission report available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/280/documents). On 27 February 2020, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property and additional information on 12 March 2021, all available at the same address and which provide the following information:

  • Several activities were carried out favouring the empowerment of communities, in particular the creation and strengthening of farmer-led organisations (171), local development committees (350) and support for the process of creating community forests (172,802 hectares ) in the buffer zone of the property;
  • The participatory process of creating forest concessions to ensure ecological connectivity between the two blocks of the Park is evaluated at 50%;
  • An inclusive process of displacement of the Yaelima communities with their free, informed and prior consent has been initiated as well as the elaboration of an environmental and social safeguarding framework in accordance with international standards;
  • The co-management agreement between the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) and WWF expired in August 2018. Its evaluation was satisfactory and a new agreement is under negotiation and could be signed by the end of the first quarter of 2021;
  • The biological inventories carried out from 2016 to 2018 on the entire property and the corridor made it possible to obtain data on the fauna. An average of 1,562 elephants and 14,988 bonobos indicate that their populations remain stable despite past pressures;
  • The non-natural boundaries of the property have been demarcated at 52%, with the priority of limiting conflicts with communities. In 2020, UNESCO provided USD 250,000 to support the finalisation of the demarcation process in 2021;
  • Funding from the European Commission is currently supporting the management of the property and new funding is being negotiated;
  • Significant progress has been made with regard to indicators for monitoring biological values ​​as well as those for protection and management;
  • The overall summary score of the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) has increased from 40.9% (2016) to 64.5% (2019); which shows an improvement in the efficiency of the management of the property;
  • In total, 198 patrols were carried out, equivalent to 59% within 1km² against 39.7% in 2018. The encounter rate for hunting activities (0.0298) is slightly up and several seizures and arrests have been made;
  • Various tools have been developed to guarantee the professionalisation of eco-guards in the face of alleged violations of human rights, and the governance of the property has been strengthened by the establishment of several consultation frameworks;
  • There is no oil exploration or exploitation activity in the property but it remains a potential threat. In 2021, the environment minister of the new government will be alerted for the signing of a letter clarifying the final position of the State Party.

In response to alleged human rights violations by eco-guards, an independent study was launched by WWF International and published in November 2020.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2021

The State Party and its partners have made significant efforts in the implementation of corrective measures, especially with regard to improving security of the property, rendering the anti-poaching strategy more effective, ensuring regular ecological monitoring of species characteristic of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and strengthening collaboration between all those involved in the management of the property. The joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN reactive monitoring mission was also able to note the important progress made in achieving the indicators of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR). However, the significant progress observed should not obscure several recurring management weaknesses, requiring that the achievements be strengthened to enable the property to fully recover its original level of ecological integrity. Thanks to assistance from the Government of Norway and UNESCO, the participatory demarcation of the property will be finalised in 2021.

Negotiations between ICCN and WWF for the renewal of the co-management agreement are noted. It is important that this agreement or any other equivalent conventional instrument be finalised as soon as possible to ensure the sustainable continuation of management and protection activities.

The participatory work towards the creation of an ecological continuum between the two blocks of the Park is an important step forward and it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to finalise the process by proposing a classification status and a management system for this space.

Improving collaboration between the management team, neighbouring communities and political, administrative and military authorities effectively contributes to the management of conflicts related to the use of natural resources. In this context, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to continue its efforts towards the empowerment of communities, the participatory finalisation of the demarcation of the non-natural boundaries of the park and the voluntary displacement of communities dwelling inside the park in accordance with the Policy for the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the Processes of the World Heritage Convention.

The human rights violations by the eco-guards revealed by the independent study are of great concern. It is positive that the State Party has taken appropriate measures, and it is recommended to fully implement all measures in accordance with the recommendations of the independent study (see also draft decision 44 COM 7A.46).

The lack of sustainable funding aimed at ensuring the implementation of the management functions of the property is of concern and it is recommended that the State Party and its partners develop a sustainable funding system to ensure the effective management of the property.

Although there is currently no oil exploration or exploitation in the property, and it was noted during the reactive monitoring mission that no such intervention was undertaken that could affect the OUV of the property or its integrity, the existence of oil concessions allocated by presidential ordinance and straddling the property continues to constitute a potential threat to the OUV, as defined in paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines. It is recommended that the Committee regrets that these concessions have not yet been cancelled in accordance with its Decision 43 COM 7A.10, and that it reiterates its request to the State Party to cancel the current oil concessions, while not granting new concessions in the property and its periphery that could have negative and irreversible impacts on its OUV.

Finally, it is recommended that the Committee retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger pending the achievement of the elements proposed by the 2020 mission. However, in view of the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures, it is recommended that the Committee no longer apply the reinforced monitoring mechanism for this property.



46. General decision on the World Heritage properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Current conservation issues

On 26 March 2020, the State Party submitted a report on the implementation of Decision 42 COM 7A.52, available at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/718/documents and providing the following information:

  • Progress accomplished in the implementation of the 2011 Kinshasa Declaration and the corrective measures for each of the five properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is described (see Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A);
  • A special army Corps responsible for security of the National Parks and relevant protected areas (CorPPN), which was created in June 2015, is now operational: a command structure was established in 2018, and in 2019 anti-poaching units were dispatched to six priority sites in the DRC, including all five World Heritage properties. Senior officers, logistics and operations rooms were put in place in the different sites;
  • With regard to oil exploitation in Salonga and Virunga National Parks, the report states that oil exploitation, at this stage, does not threaten the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the two properties, as no exploration or exploitation activities are on-going. The report further states that “la volonté traduite à son temps par le gouvernement n’est plus à l’ordre du jour” (sic) (“the will expressed by the government at that time is no longer on the agenda”);
  • A list of funding mobilised for the five properties for the period 2016 to 2023, totalling more than 100 million Euros, is provided. Key donors include the European Commission and the Government of Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW). No further information is provided on the status of the Trust Fund “Okapi Fund for Conservation – FOCON” for sustainable funding of the protected areas in the DRC;

The World Heritage Centre also received several letters on alleged human rights abuses by eco-guards in two properties (Salonga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks). These were forwarded to the protected area authority, the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN). An Independent Review was initiated by WWF, and in Salonga National Park, a code of conduct for the eco-guards and a complaint mechanism were established, while guards have received training on human rights issues.


Analysis and Conclusions of the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies

The operationalization of the CorPPN at the level of each of the World Heritage properties, together with the creation of operational rooms and capacity building of the eco-guards, are important steps to further professionalize law enforcement in the properties and address the continuing threats of poaching, including by professional poaching groups. The reported alleged human rights abuses towards  indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) are highly concerning, and it is crucial that the State Party urgently implement strong measures to ensure that the rights of IPLCs are fully respected in all management decisions. Measures should include the establishment of a code of conduct and provision of training on human rights issues for all patrol units that includes appropriate law enforcement techniques with regard to the use of force and forearms, to ensure law enforcement operations are conducted in a way that fully respects the rights of IPLCs, and avoids excessive use of force and loss of human lives, in full respect  of relevant international norms. Furthermore, management processes should follow a rights-based approach and ensure full involvement of all rightsholders and stakeholders, in particular IPLCs, in line with the Policy on World Heritage and Sustainable Development. It is encouraging that the protected area authority and its partners have already taken measures to address these issues and it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to further strengthen these efforts including by establishing and implementing a national code of conduct for eco-guards and a grievance mechanism for human rights abuses, and by training all law enforcement staff on human rights issues as part of regular training. It is also recommended that the outcomes of the Independent Review are taken into consideration.

It is noted that the security situation is reported to have improved in most of the properties. It is important that the State Party takes advantage of this situation to address the drivers of fundamental threats impacting the different properties linked to insecurity and lawlessness. These include the closure of illegal mining operations and reclaiming parts of the properties occupied by armed forces since the start of the conflict. Encouraging achievements so far are the evacuation of illegal occupants in the corridor between the highland and lowland sectors in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and the closure of artisanal gold mines in the hunting areas surrounding Garamba National Park. It is crucial that the protected area authority receives the full support of all appropriate ministries and agencies, as well as traditional and political authorities to achieve this, in line with the 2011 Kinshasa Declaration.

It is concerning however, that issues of insecurity persist, noting particularly in Virunga National Park and Okapi Wildlife Reserve, where, since the previous session of the Committee, a further 25 park staff were killed in armed attacks. It is recommended that the Committee again strongly condemn this violence, address its condolences to the families of the victims and ICCN staff, and express its utmost concern regarding the continuing insecurity in and around Virunga National Park.

The confirmation by the State Party that there is currently no oil exploration or exploitation on-going in Virunga and Salonga National Parks and that the government is currently no longer pursuing oil development projects inside the two properties, is noted. However, as long as the concessions that have been attributed by Presidential Decree to companies for oil blocks overlapping with these properties are not revoked, the potential for oil projects to legally proceed in future remains, thereby continuing to impose a potential threat to the OUV of the properties, in line with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines. This potential for extractive activities to occur has been demonstrated again by the legal action taken by certain companies against the State Party, asserting their legal rights to activate concessions. It is therefore recommended that the Committee express its regret that the State Party has neither cancelled these concessions nor provided the Committee with an unequivocal commitment not to authorize any new oil exploration and exploitation within the boundaries of the DRC properties. The Committee should also reiterate its clear position concerning the incompatibility of oil exploration and exploitation with World Heritage status and urge once again the State Party to cancel all concessions for oil blocks that overlap with World Heritage properties. 

The important efforts to mobilize funding for the management of the properties of the DRC and the implementation of corrective measures, as well as the firm commitment of the various donors to provide substantial financial and technical support, are welcomed. However, it is noted that the funding situation remains precarious, in particular for Salonga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks and Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The importance of a sustainable financing mechanism also needs to be stressed, as all properties currently fully depend on outside project funding supported by international donors, which can be unpredictable and is not sustainable in the long term. In this respect, it is regrettable that no further information was provided on the status and capitalisation of the FOCON Trust Fund.

 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2021
44 COM 7A.44
Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 280)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.10 adopted at its 43rd session, Baku, 2019),
  3. Takes note of the conclusion of the 2020 joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN mission, in particular the efforts made by the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures and the significant progress made towards the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) since the establishment of a functional co-management system for the property;
  4. Takes note of the clarification provided by the State Party that although the oil concessions awarded by presidential ordinance and straddling the property have not yet been cancelled, the rights to the oil blocks have now lapsed, as well as the assurance given that these blocks will be excluded from any tender, and reiterates its request to permanently cancel these oil concessions, while not authorizing new concessions within the property and its periphery which could have negative and irreversible impacts on its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
  5. Decides to no longer apply the reinforced monitoring mechanism for the property due to the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures and the improvement of the security situation;
  6. Noting the clarification provided by the State Party on oil exploration or exploitation within the property, the significant progress towards the formalisation of the Co-management Agreement between the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the significant progress towards the achievement of all DSOCR indicators, also decides to remove Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
  7. Takes note with concern of the reports of alleged human rights violations against local communities during law enforcement operations and calls upon the State Party to take urgent action to strengthen its efforts to resolve this issue in accordance with relevant international standards and the World Heritage Sustainable Development Policy, taking into account the results of the Independent Review and Decision 44 COM 7A.46;
  8. Further requests the State Party to implement the recommendations of the 2020 mission, as follows:
    1. Pursue current efforts and strengthen the human, technical and financial capacities dedicated to the fight against poaching, both in terms of staff and their training with a view to reaching a surveillance rate of 80% of the property,
    2. Increase the efforts undertaken with a view to a stronger involvement of communities in decision-making processes and raise their awareness of the fight against environmental crime,
    3. Finalize a framework for the peaceful management of conflicts with village communities, based on a successful mechanism for managing complaints and appeals to the co-managers of the property and including the establishment of precise protocols for community intervention,
    4. Prioritize finalizing the creation of an operational forestry continuum with a view to ensuring ecological functionalities between the two blocks of the property,
    5. Strengthen the fight against poaching linked to local corruption and public services,
    6. Improve the collection, management and processing of information and data obtained during surveillance operations, and stabilize the indicators used in this instance,
    7. Extend the sampling base for the annual monitoring of species in the corridor separating the two blocks which constitutes a favourable habitat for most of them, in particular the flagship species, the Congolese elephant, bonobo and peacock in order to document the follow-up of the reconstitution of fauna,
    8. Pursue current efforts to minimize the impacts of human activities on the outskirts of the property (e.g. fishing, itinerant slash-and-burn agriculture), on its OUV and on its integrity,
    9. Establish, as a priority, a sustainable development model adapted to the expectations of the communities residing in the periphery of the property, compatible with its environmental sensitivity,
    10. Pursue and accelerate the current process aimed at best preparing the relocation of families / communities established in the property, in accordance with the principal of prior, freely given and informed consent (PCPLC),
    11. Submit the findings of the ongoing study on the relocation of families / communities to the Committee, as soon as they are available, for opinion and comments,
    12. Finalise the Co-management Agreement between ICCN and WWF for the sustainable management of the property;
  9. Commends the State Party for improving the collaboration between the management team, the local communities and the political, administrative and military authorities, with a view to effective management of conflicts related to the use of natural resources and encourages it to:
    1. Pursue its efforts to empower communities,
    2. Undertake participatory finalization of the demarcation of the non-natural boundaries of the Park, of which 120 kilometres have already been demarcated, and the process of creating an ecological continuum between the two sectors of the Park by proposing a classification status and a simple management plan for this area,
    3. Ensure that the displacement of communities living within the Park is in accordance with the policies of the Convention and relevant international standards;
  10. Thanks all the donors who continue to support the conservation of the property, in particular the Governments of Germany and Norway, and the European Union through its funding to the World Heritage Fund, providing financial support for improving the state of conservation of the property;
  11. Also takes note of the limited funding aimed at ensuring in a sustainable manner the implementation of all the management functions of the property and further requests the State Party, with the support of its partners, to continue its efforts with a view to develop a sustainable financing system with a view to the improvement of the efficiency in the management of the property;
  12. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, an updated report on the implementation of the above, including the progress made aiming for the definitive cancellation of oil concessions straddling the property and the formalisation of the Co-management Agreement between ICCN and WWF, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session.
44 COM 7A.46
General decision on the World Heritage properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.52, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
  3. Appreciates the continued efforts of the State Party to implement the Kinshasa Declaration adopted in 2011, in particular the progress made with the operationalization of Corps responsible for the security of the National Parks and relevant protected areas (CorPPN) at the level of each of the five World Heritage properties in order to face the continuing threats of poaching, including by professional poaching groups;
  4. Notes with significant concern the reports on alleged human rights abuses towards indigenous peoples and local communities during law enforcement operations and requests the State Party to take urgent measures to further strengthen its efforts to address this issue, including by establishing and implementing a national code of conduct for eco-guards and a grievance mechanism for human rights abuses, and by training all protected area staff on human rights issues as part of regular law enforcement training, as well as ensuring that management processes follow a rights-based approach and ensure full involvement of all stakeholders, in particular local and indigenous communities, in line with relevant international norms, the Policy on World Heritage and Sustainable Development, and taking into consideration the outcomes of the Independent Review;
  5. Welcomes the improvement in the security situation in most properties, and urges the State Party to take advantage of this improved security situation to address the fundamental threats to the different properties, including by closing all remaining illegal mining operations and reclaiming parts of the properties occupied by armed forces since the start of the conflict, ensuring the support of all appropriate ministries and agencies as well as traditional and political authorities to achieve this, in line with the 2011 Kinshasa Declaration;
  6. Expresses its utmost concern regarding the continued insecurity in Virunga National Park and Okapi Wildlife Reserve which resulted in further park staff being killed in the line of duty, strongly condemns this violence once again and addresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and all ICCN staff;
  7. While noting the statement by the State Party that the government is currently no longer pursuing oil exploration or exploitation activities within Virunga and Salonga National Parks, strongly regrets that the State Party has not cancelled the oil concessions it has attributed which overlap with these properties, and that it has not yet provided the Committee with a firm commitment not to authorize any oil exploration and exploitation within the boundaries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) World Heritage properties, as requested in previous decisions;
  8. Reiterates its position according to which oil and gas exploration and exploitation is incompatible with World Heritage status and also urges once again the State Party to cancel these concessions and to undertake a commitment not to authorize any new oil exploration and exploitation within the boundaries of any World Heritage property;
  9. Commends the efforts of the State Party to make operational the “Okapi Fund for Conservation – FOCON” as the Trust Fund for protected areas in the DRC, and also requests the State Party, and the donor community, to provide it with adequate funding to effectively respond to the management needs of the DRC World Heritage properties;
  10. Also appreciates the important efforts to mobilize funding for the management of the DRC properties and the implementation of the corrective measures, as well as the firm commitment of the various donors to provide substantial financial and technical support, but notes that the funding situation remains precarious, in particular for Salonga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks and Okapi Wildlife Reserve, and stresses the importance of ensuring a sustainable financing mechanism, while regretting that no further information was provided on the status and capitalisation of the FOCON Trust Fund, and further requests the State Party to report on progress in this regard;
  11. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, a detailed report on the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration, the security situation in the properties, and the status of the oil exploration and exploitation concessions that encroach on World Heritage properties, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session.
44 COM 8C.3
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Removed Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/21/44.COM/7A, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2.Add),
  2. Decides to remove the following property from the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.44).
Draft Decision: 44 COM 7A.44

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.10 adopted at its 43rd session, Baku, 2019),
  3. Takes note of the conclusion of the 2020 joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN mission, in particular the efforts made by the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures and the significant progress made towards the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) since the establishment of a functional co-management system for the property;
  4. Notes that although there is currently no oil exploration or exploitation in progress in the property, the legal existence of oil concessions awarded by presidential ordinance and straddling the property continues to be a threat to the property, as defined in paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines;
  5. Regrets that the State Party has not cancelled the concessions straddling the property, in accordance with its Decision 43 COM 7A.10, and reiterates its request to cancel the current oil concessions, while not authorizing new concessions within the property and its periphery which could have negative and irreversible impacts on its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
  6. Takes note with deep concern of the reports of alleged human rights violations against local communities during law enforcement operations and calls upon the State Party to take urgent action to strengthen its efforts to resolve this issue in accordance with relevant international standards and the World Heritage Sustainable Development Policy, taking into account the results of the Independent Review and Decision 44 COM 7A.46;
  7. Also recalling the DSOCR indicators as proposed in the report of the 2012 reactive monitoring mission, also requests the State Party to implement the following elements to allow the property to be removed from the World Heritage List in Danger:
    1. Ensure that all the indicators of the existing DSOCR are met,
    2. Finalize a co-management agreement for the management of the property or any other equivalent conventional instrument operational for a significant period (at least two years after signature, and with the confirmation of a continued commitment to its implementation supported by sustainable funding),
    3. Confirm officially to the World Heritage Centre, in writing, (1) that no sharing contract or other legal commitment has been signed authorizing petroleum activities within the property or that (2) in the event that such contracts or commitments exist, the State Party undertakes to cancel and (3) ensure that such activities on the outskirts of the property have no negative effect on its OUV;
  8. Further requests the State Party to implement the corrective measures and recommendations as updated by the 2020 mission, as follows:
    1. Pursue current efforts and strengthen the human, technical and financial capacities dedicated to the fight against poaching, both in terms of staff and their training,
    2. Increase the efforts undertaken with a view to a stronger involvement of communities in decision-making processes and raise their awareness of the fight against environmental crime,
    3. Finalize a framework for the peaceful management of conflicts with village communities, based on a successful mechanism for managing complaints and appeals to the co-managers of the property and including the establishment of precise protocols for community intervention,
    4. Prioritize finalizing the creation of an operational forestry continuum with a view to ensuring ecological functionalities between the two blocks of the property,
    5. Strengthen the fight against poaching linked to local corruption and public services,
    6. Improve the collection, management and processing of information and data obtained during surveillance operations, and stabilize the indicators used in this instance,
    7. Extend the sampling base for the annual monitoring of species in the corridor separating the two blocks which constitutes a favourable habitat for most of them, in particular the flagship species, the Congolese elephant, bonobo and peacock,
    8. Pursue current efforts to minimize the impacts of human activities on the outskirts of the property (e.g. fishing, itinerant slash-and-burn agriculture), on its OUV and on its integrity,
    9. Establish, as a priority, a sustainable development model adapted to the expectations of the communities residing in the periphery of the property, compatible with its environmental sensitivity,
    10. Pursue and accelerate the current process aimed at best preparing the relocation of families / communities established in the property, in accordance with the principal of prior, freely given and informed consent (PCPLC),
    11. Submit the findings of the ongoing study on the relocation of families / communities to the Committee, as soon as they are available, for opinion and comments;
  9. Commends the State Party for improving the collaboration between the management team, the local communities and the political, administrative and military authorities, with a view to effective management of conflicts related to the use of natural resources and encourages it to:
    1. Pursue its efforts to empower communities,
    2. Undertake participatory finalization of the demarcation of the non-natural boundaries of the Park and the process of creating an ecological continuum between the two sectors of the Park by proposing a classification status and a simple management plan for this area,
    3. Ensure that the displacement of communities living within the Park is in accordance with the policies of the Convention and relevant international standards;
  10. Thanks the donors who continue to support the conservation of the property, in particular the Government of Norway through its funding to the World Heritage Fund, providing financial support for improving the state of conservation of the property;
  11. Also takes note of the absence of a financing mechanism aimed at ensuring in a sustainable manner the implementation of the management functions of the property and further requests the State Party to develop a sustainable financing system with a view to the improvement of the efficiency in the management of the property;
  12. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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 2022;
  13. Decides to no longer continue to apply the reinforced monitoring mechanism for the property due to the progress made in the implementation of corrective measures and the improvement of the security situation;
  14. Also decides to retain Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Report year: 2021
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date of Inscription: 1984
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(ix)
Danger List (dates): 1999-2021
Documents examined by the Committee
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2020) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2020
arrow_circle_right 44COM (2021)
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.


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