Decision 31 COM 7A.6

Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 136)

  The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.4, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
3. Commends the park management authority and African Parks Foundation (APF) for their efforts to regain control over the property and effectively address poaching in the property;
4. Expresses its utmost concern over the status of the remaining population of northern white rhino and reiterates its request to organize as soon as possible a scientific workshop in cooperation with the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group to clarify the viability of the remaining population and determine management options for the population, involving all relevant stakeholders, including the World Heritage Centre and IUCN;
5. Urges the Government and the protected area agency to implement as soon as possible the corrective measures adopted by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
6. Calls on the United Nations Organization Mission in DRC (MONUC) to cooperate closely with the park authorities in its planned deployment around the property and assist the conservation of the property in particular in the field of disarmament;
7.  Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property, including the conditions of integrity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
8. Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, to develop a draft statement of the desired state of conservation for the property based on its Outstanding Universal Value;
9. Further requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2008 on the state of conservation of the property, including a report on the results of the meeting to clarify the viability of and determine management options for the remaining population of northern white rhino and on progress with the implementation of the corrective measures set by the Committee at its 30th session;
10. Decides to retain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.