Garamba National Park
Factors affecting the property in 2024*
- Civil unrest
- Illegal activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- War
- Other Threats:
Probable extinction of the northern white rhinoceros subspecies within the property
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Armed conflict and political instability
- Poaching by nationals and trans-border armed groups
- Inappropriate management capabilities to address the poaching crisis (resolved)
- Lack of management plan
- Probable extinction of the northern white rhinoceros subspecies within the property
- Artisanal mining
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Increased poaching
- Pressure linked to the civil war, thereby threatening the flagship species of the property
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
In progress
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted in 2010, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4082
Revised in 2016, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6652
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
In progress
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2024
Total amount granted: USD 937,000 from the United Nations Foundation, the Governments of Italy, Belgium and Spain and the Rapid Response Facility; USD 200,000 from the Government of Norway in 2020-2021.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2024
Total amount approved : 353,270 USD
Missions to the property until 2024**
2006, 2010 and 2016: Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring missions
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2024
No report had been provided by the State Party at the time of preparation of this report.
46. General Decision on the World Heritage properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Current conservation issuesNo report was provided by the State Party at the time of preparation of this report.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2024
The State Party did not provide a report on the state of conservation of the four properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) included on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the deadline. The absence of such a report makes it difficult for the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to monitor the state of conservation of these properties and provide in-depth analysis to the Committee. This is particularly the case for the Garamba National Park, which is increasingly threatened by the impacts of illegal exploitation of natural resources and armed conflicts in the region, as reported by the State Party in its latest report on the state of conservation of the property, while also noting that the State Party has previously reported positive progress in some aspects. Despite reminders from the World Heritage Centre, neither did the State Party invite the joint UNESCO/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, as requested by the Committee in Decision 45 COM 7A.5.
UNESCO has nevertheless continued to maintain direct contact with the staff of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (management authority - ICCN). According to this information, the state of conservation of the property continues to improve, with a reduction in poaching pressure and a steady increase in the number of elephants, Kordofan giraffes and buffalo.
According to the property manager, in the absence of evidence of the presence of the northern white rhino for more than 15 years, the proposed introduction of a population of southern white rhino has been studied and the risks and benefits associated with this introduction were assessed in 2018 and 2021, in accordance with IUCN guidelines and in line with the advice of the African Rhino Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission (AfrRSG SSC). They initially began to be introduced in June 2023 with the arrival of 16 southern white rhinos from South Africa. Further translocations are planned over the next four years to establish a viable, breeding population of southern white rhino in the property. However, the World Heritage Centre and IUCN note that neither of the two reports on the risks and benefits associated with this introduction have been submitted to the World Heritage Centre as previously requested by the Committee. In addition, it is recommended that the State Party obtain formal advice from the IUCN AfrRSG on the translocation of southern white rhino to replace northern white rhino in the property which is located outside its historical geographical range. IUCN considers it essential that any translocation of species be considered with the formal advice of the IUCN AfrRSG and in accordance with the IUCN Guidelines for the in situ reintroduction and translocation of African and Asian rhinos.
At the joint ICCN, UNESCO and African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) workshop on the Desired state of conservation of the property with a view to its removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), held in June 2022 in Kinshasa, and in which the IUCN took part, the possibility of a new nomination and the introduction of the southern white rhinoceros in place of the northern white rhinoceros were addressed. On this basis, a new nomination of the property is being prepared by the State Party, which added Garamba National Park to its Tentative List on 31 January 2024 with a view to a new nomination of the property under criteria (ix) and (x). The Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property included on the World Heritage List in 1980 places great emphasis on the presence of the last population of the northern white rhinoceros, now considered probably extinct in the wild and in the property. A new listing proposal would review the justification for the original listing under criterion (x), taking into account both the likely extinction of a key species, and also the wider range of species of high conservation value that were not recognised at the time of listing.
In the meantime, it is recommended that the Committee keep the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
46. General Decision on the World Heritage properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Analysis and Conclusions of the World Heritage Centre and IUCN
The State Party did not provide, in time for the preparation of this report, a report on the state of conservation of the four properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, nor on the general Decision on the World Heritage properties of the DRC (Decision 45 COM 7A.9), which covers several important general issues related to the state of conservation of the properties in DRC and the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration, adopted in 2011. The lack of reporting by the State Party makes it difficult for the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to provide an in-depth analysis to the Committee, for it to monitor the state of conservation of these properties.
It further needs to be recalled that, also in its latest report submitted in 2022, the State Party did not provide any specific information in response to the general Decision on the World Heritage properties of DRC (Decision 44 COM 7A.46). Both general decisions raised important issues linked to the security situation affecting the DRC properties, allegations of human rights abuses linked directly to law enforcement operations, the renewed inclusion of oil exploration blocks overlapping with Virunga National Park in the public tender process for oil blocks which was launched in 2022, as well as the attribution of mining licences for gold mining operations in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve by the mining cadastre.
The security situation remains of utmost concern in parts of eastern DRC and is particularly affecting Virunga National Park (more details are provided in the report on the Virunga National Park).
At this stage, there is no public information available on the attribution of the oil blocks included in the 2022 public tender process, including the blocks overlapping with the Virunga National Park. The mapping issue of the gold mining licences overlapping with the Okapi Wildlife Reserve also seems to remain unresolved.
In light of the absence of report by the State Party, it is recommended that the Committee reiterates the points included in the latest Decision 45 COM 7A.9.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2024
46 COM 7A.46
General Decision on the World Heritage properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decisions 44 COM 7A.46 and 45 COM 7A.9 adopted at its extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions respectively,
- Regrets that a report on the implementation of these Decisions, as requested by the Committee at its 44th and 45th extended sessions, nor a report on the state of conservation of the four properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which are inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger were submitted by the State Party;
- Notes that the lack of timely reporting by the State Party makes it difficult for the World Heritage Committee to monitor the state of conservation of the DRC properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger considering the important conservation threats these properties are facing;
- Remains concerned about previous reports of alleged human rights abuses towards indigenous peoples and local communities during law enforcement operations, and reiterates its requests to the State Party to take urgent measures to further strengthen 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 staff on human rights issues as part of regular law enforcement training, as well as ensuring that management processes are founded on a rights-based approach that ensures full involvement of all stakeholders, in particular indigenous peoples and local communities, in line with relevant international norms, the 2015 Policy on World Heritage and Sustainable Development;
- Notes with concern the continued security issues affecting some of the DRC properties, in particular Virunga National Park, which is partly situated in the territory controlled by rebel groups and has been the scene of heavy fighting since 2022, strongly condemns this violence once again, and urges the State Party to continue to strengthen the capacity of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) to continue to ensure the safety of its staff while on duty and the management of the properties in the current difficult security situation and to take all measures to restore peace and security in and around the properties;
- Strongly regrets that the State Party has included in the public auction of oil blocks in 2022 two oil blocks overlapping with Virunga National Park, notes with utmost concern the semi-industrial mining activities in Okapi Wildlife Reserve, reiterates its clear position concerning the incompatibility of mining, oil exploration and exploitation with World Heritage status, and urges once again the State Party to cancel all concessions for oil blocks and mining concessions that overlap with World Heritage properties;
- Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, a detailed report on the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration, the security situation in the properties, the measures taken to address human rights abuses and the actions undertaken to cancel all oil exploration and exploitation and mining concessions that encroach on World Heritage properties, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.
46 COM 7A.47
Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 136)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.5 adopted at its extended forty-fifth session (Riyadh, 2023),
- Regrets that the State Party did not submit in time a state of conservation report on the four properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) included on the List of World Heritage in Danger, contrary to Paragraph 169 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Notes with concern that the lack of reporting by the State Party makes it difficult to monitor the state of conservation of the DRC properties included on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the World Heritage Committee, given the significant conservation threats facing these properties;
- Notes the ongoing efforts to prepare a new nomination for the property that would review the justification for the original listing under criterion (x), taking into account both the likely extinction of a key species characteristic of the property's OUV, and also the wider range of species of high conservation value that were not recognised at the time of listing;
- Requests that the State Party provide information on the implementation of the following paragraphs mentioned in Decision 45 COM 7A.5;
- Notes the results of the ecological monitoring in 2021, which show a temporary stabilisation in the numbers of Kordofan giraffes and elephants and an increase in the hippopotamus and buffalo populations, but points out that the populations are still very small compared with the situation when the property was listed, is concerned about the high level of poaching for bushmeat for commercial and subsistence purposes in the hunting grounds, and reiterates its request to the State Party to continue efforts to control poaching in order to promote optimal conditions for fauna restoration, as well as to submit the strategy and action plan for the conservation of giraffes in the property to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
- Reiterating its utmost concern about the likely extinction of the northern white rhino subspecies within the property due to the lack of evidence of its presence since 2008, notes the launch of the implementation of a programme for the re-introduction of the white rhino into the property with the transfer of a first group of 16 specimens of the southern white rhino subspecies in June 2023, urges the State Party to:
- Submit the reports of the 2018 and 2021 southern white rhino introduction risk assessments, as well as the report of the comprehensive study conducted in accordance with the IUCN Guidelines, to the World Heritage Centre as soon as possible for review by IUCN,
- In collaboration with the World Heritage Centre, consult and take into consideration the advice of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission (AfrRSG SSC) prior to the implementation of any translocation of southern white rhino to the property,
- Implement rigorous long-term management measures for the risks that may be associated with the introduction of the southern white rhino subspecies into the property; in particular the safety of individuals, disease, competition with other herbivorous species and veterinary considerations to ensure the survival of translocated specimens in accordance with the advice of the IUCN AfrRSG SSC;
- Notes with concern the constraints related to the relocation of existing artisanal mining sites in the hunting grounds and the limited progress in the definition of a Land Use Plan (LUP) and the creation of a functional 2km buffer zone around the property, and reiterates its long-standing request to accelerate the finalisation of the LUP and the creation of the buffer zone in line with the Park's sustainable development strategy, the 2019 Ministerial Decree banning artisanal logging in hunting grounds, and the strategy for relocating refugee camps outside the park;
- Welcomes positively the continuation of cross-border cooperation with South Sudan, as recommended by the Committee, with a view to establishing a bilateral cooperation framework for the enhanced management of the Garamba-Lantoto Landscape and reiterates its call on both States Parties to expedite the formalisation of the Memorandum of Understanding in order to reduce illegal cross-border activities such as poaching and trade in wildlife products;
- Takes note of the information on the progress made by the State Party towards the achievement of the indicators as proposed by the 2016 mission and reiterates its request to the State Party to finalise these indicators on the basis of the recent inventory data available, as well as the recommendations of the regional workshop on support to the process of removal of natural properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger in the French-speaking countries of Africa in Kinshasa in June 2022, and to submit the final version of the desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) to the World Heritage Centre for adoption by the World Heritage Committee;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to review the implementation of corrective measures and progress made towards achieving the indicators as proposed by the 2016 mission, the current state of conservation of the property, the finalisation of the DSOCR as well as the status and proposed plans for the introduction of southern white rhinos to replace northern white rhinos that may be extinct in the wild as a key attribute of Outstanding Universal Value;
- 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 as set out in Decision 46 COM 7A.5, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session;
- Decides to maintain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Draft Decision: 46 COM 7A.47
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.5, adopted at its extended forty-fifth session (Riyadh, 2023),
- Regrets that the State Party did not submit in time a state of conservation report on the four properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) included on the List of World Heritage in Danger, contrary to Paragraph 169 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Notes with concern that the lack of reporting by the State Party makes it difficult to monitor the state of conservation of the DRC properties included on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the World Heritage Committee, given the significant conservation threats facing these properties;
- Notes the ongoing efforts to prepare a new nomination for the property that would review the justification for the original listing under criterion (x), taking into account both the likely extinction of a key species characteristic of the property's OUV, and also the wider range of species of high conservation value that were not recognised at the time of listing;
- Requests that the State Party provide information on the implementation of the following paragraphs mentioned in Decision 45 COM 7A.5;
- Notes the results of the ecological monitoring in 2021, which show a temporary stabilisation in the numbers of Kordofan giraffes and elephants and an increase in the hippopotamus and buffalo populations, but points out that the populations are still very small compared with the situation when the property was listed, is concerned about the high level of poaching for bushmeat for commercial and subsistence purposes in the hunting grounds, and reiterates its request to the State Party to continue efforts to control poaching in order to promote optimal conditions for fauna restoration, as well as to submit the strategy and action plan for the conservation of giraffes in the property to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
- Reiterating its utmost concern about the likely extinction of the northern white rhino subspecies within the property due to the lack of evidence of its presence since 2008, notes the launch of the implementation of a programme for the re-introduction of the white rhino into the property with the transfer of a first group of 16 specimens of the southern white rhino subspecies in June 2023, urges the State Party to:
- Submit the reports of the 2018 and 2021 southern white rhino introduction risk assessments, as well as the report of the comprehensive study conducted in accordance with the IUCN Guidelines, to the World Heritage Centre as soon as possible for review by IUCN,
- In collaboration with the World Heritage Centre, consult and take into consideration the advice of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission (AfrRSG SSC) prior to the implementation of any translocation of southern white rhino to the property,
- Implement rigorous long-term management measures for the risks that may be associated with the introduction of the southern white rhino subspecies into the property; in particular the safety of individuals, disease, competition with other herbivorous species and veterinary considerations to ensure the survival of translocated specimens in accordance with the advice of the IUCN AfrRSG SSC;
- Notes with concern the constraints related to the relocation of existing artisanal mining sites in the hunting grounds and the limited progress in the definition of a Land Use Plan (LUP) and the creation of a functional 2km buffer zone around the property and reiterates its long-standing request to accelerate the finalisation of the LUP and the creation of the buffer zone in line with the Park's sustainable development strategy, the 2019 Ministerial Decree banning artisanal logging in hunting grounds, and the strategy for relocating refugee camps outside the park;
- Welcomes positively the continuation of cross-border cooperation with South Sudan, as recommended by the Committee, with a view to establishing a bilateral cooperation framework for the enhanced management of the Garamba-Lantoto Landscape and reiterates its call on both States Parties to expedite the formalisation of the Memorandum of Understanding in order to reduce illegal cross-border activities such as poaching and trade in wildlife products;
- Takes note of the information on the progress made by the State Party towards the achievement of the indicators as proposed by the 2016 mission and reiterates its request to the State Party to finalise these indicators on the basis of the recent inventory data available, as well as the recommendations of the regional workshop on support to the process of removal of natural properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger in the French-speaking countries of Africa in Kinshasa in June 2022, and to submit the final version of the desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) to the World Heritage Centre for adoption by the World Heritage Committee;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to review the implementation of corrective measures and progress made towards achieving the indicators as proposed by the 2016 mission, the current state of conservation of the property, the finalisation of the DSOCR as well as the status and proposed plans for the introduction of southern white rhinos to replace northern white rhinos that may be extinct in the wild as a key attribute of Outstanding Universal Value;
- 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 as set out in Decision 46 COM 7A.5, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session;
- Decides to maintain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
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.
