Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Factors affecting the property in 2024*
- Civil unrest
- Commercial hunting
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
- Mining
- War
- Other Threats:
Villages in the ecological corridor between the highland and lowland sectors of the park
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Presence of armed groups, lack of security and political instability rendering a large part of the property inaccessible to the guards
- Attribution of mining permits inside the property (issue resolved)
- Poaching by armed military groups
- Bush meat hunting
- Villages in the ecological corridor between the highland and lowland sectors of the park
- Illegal mining and deforestation
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Adverse refugee impact
- Intermittent presence of armed militias and settlers at the property
- Increased poaching
- Deforestation
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
A draft was developed during the 2017 Reactive Monitoring mission (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/137/documents), but the biological indicators still need to be quantified based on the results of a census of large mammals available at late 2018.
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted in 2017, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6954
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Adopted in 2017, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6954
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2024
Total amount granted: USD 1,003,900 from the United Nations Foundation (UNF), and the Governments of Italy and Belgium, and by the Rapid Response Facility (RRF), USD 300,000 from the Government of Norway (2021-2022)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2024
Total amount approved : 170,025 USD
| 2021 | Projet d’identification des villages se trouvant à ... (Approved) | 29,055 USD |
| 2018 | Organisation du survol (Approved) | 21,700 USD |
| 2000 | Emergency assistance to World Natural Heritage of the ... (Approved) | 5,400 USD |
| 1999 | Support to Resident Staff of Garamba, Virunga, Kahuzi ... (Approved) | 20,000 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 2024**
1996-2006: several World Heritage Centre missions in the framework of the DRC Programme; December 2009 and April/May 2017: 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 issues
No 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 reportmakes it difficult for the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to monitor the state of conservation of these properties and transmit in-depth analysis to the Committee. This is particularly the case for the Kahuzi-Biega 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.
The World Heritage Centre has been informed by third parties of allegations of human rights violations against indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) in the context of law enforcement operations. In this regard, on 22 January 2024, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) stated that it had sent an urgent letter of appeal to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo calling for an end to the violence and expulsion of members of the Batwa indigenous population in the property.
It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide information on the implementation of the recommendations made in Decision 45 COM 7A.6.
Finally, it is recommended that the Committee continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for this property and keep it 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.48
Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 137)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.6 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
- Regrets that the State Party did not submit 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;
- Requests that the State Party provide information on the implementation of the recommendations made in Decision 45 COM 7A.6 and recalled below;
- Reiterates its concern about allegations of serious human rights violations against indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) in the context of law enforcement operations, and also takes note of the conclusions of the "Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Violations Committed by ICCN Personnel in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park" established by the State Party to investigate the issues raised and documented in the previous report submitted by the State Party in 2022;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to implement all the recommendations of the report of the Commission of Inquiry, as well as any other measures necessary to ensure that all conservation activities fully respect human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including, but not limited to, establishing a national code of conduct for ecoguards and an effective and transparent complaints mechanism for human rights violations, and training all conservation personnel tasked with the application of human rights, as well as ensuring an equitably governed consultative process with the participation and decision-making of all rights holders and stakeholders, in accordance with relevant international standards and the 2015 Policy on the Integration of a Sustainable Development dimension into the Processes of the World Heritage Convention;
- Urges the State Party to accelerate the further implementation of the recommendations of the 2019 Bukavu Dialogue for relations with Batwa indigenous communities, in close consultation with all parties concerned;
- Requests that the State Party promptly implement all corrective measures updated by the 2017 mission;
- Recalling its concern about the increasing pressure of encroachment on the property, also reiterates its request to the State Party to submit further details on the rehabilitation plan for the ecological corridor and to ensure that that its implementation takes into account all the impacts of the encroachment on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and the actions necessary to ensure the recovery and regeneration of the natural vegetation, in consultation with all the parties concerned;
- Recalling the importance of wild flora and fauna to the OUV of the property, remains concerned about the low populations of key wildlife species, in particular the Grauer’s gorilla population, compared to the date of listing and reiterates its requests to the State Party to submit the results of the 2018 wild flora and fauna inventory, or a more recent inventory, to the World Heritage Centre, and to finalise, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, indicators for the Desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), defined on the basis of the draft proposed by the 2017 mission and the wild flora and fauna data;
- 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-mentioned points in the Decision 46 COM 7A.6, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session;
- Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism to this property;
- Also decides to keep the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Draft Decision: 46 COM 7A.48
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.6 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
- Regrets that the State Party did not submit 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;
- Requests that the State Party provide information on the implementation of the recommendations made in Decision 45 COM 7A.6 and recalled below;
- Reiterates its concern about allegations of serious human rights violations against indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) in the context of law enforcement operations, and also takes note of the conclusions of the "Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Violations Committed by ICCN Personnel in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park" established by the State Party to investigate the issues raised and documented in the previous report submitted by the State Party in 2022;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to implement all the recommendations of the report of the Commission of Inquiry, as well as any other measures necessary to ensure that all conservation activities fully respect human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including, but not limited to, establishing a national code of conduct for ecoguards and an effective and transparent complaints mechanism for human rights violations, and training all conservation personnel tasked with the application of human rights, as well as ensuring an equitably governed consultative process with the participation and decision-making of all rights holders and stakeholders, in accordance with relevant international standards and the 2015 Policy on the Integration of a Sustainable Development dimension into the Processes of the World Heritage Convention;
- Urges the State Party to accelerate the further implementation of the recommendations of the 2019 Bukavu Dialogue for relations with Batwa indigenous communities, in close consultation with all parties concerned;
- Requests that the State Party promptly implement all corrective measures updated by the 2017 mission;
- Recalling its concern about the increasing pressure of encroachment on the property, also reiterates its request to the State Party to submit further details on the rehabilitation plan for the ecological corridor and to ensure that that its implementation takes into account all the impacts of the encroachment on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and the actions necessary to ensure the recovery and regeneration of the natural vegetation, in consultation with all the parties concerned;
- Recalling the importance of wild flora and fauna to the OUV of the property, remains concerned about the low populations of key wildlife species, in particular the Grauer’s gorilla population, compared to the date of listing and reiterates its requests to the State Party to submit the results of the 2018 wild flora and fauna inventory, or a more recent inventory, to the World Heritage Centre, and to finalise, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, indicators for the Desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), defined on the basis of the draft proposed by the 2017 mission and the wild flora and fauna data;
- 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-mentioned points in the Decision 46 COM 7A.6, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session;
- Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism to this property;
- Also decides to keep the Kahuzi-Biega 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.
