Decision 41 COM 7A.7

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

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7A.37, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Welcoming the meetings held between the States Parties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Uganda to discuss the threat of poaching on the property and insecurity in the region, encourages all four States Parties to continue the ongoing dialogue for the improvement of security in the region;
4. Invites the Director-General of UNESCO to call on the State Party, as well as neighbouring States, in particular Central African Republic, South Sudan and Uganda, to ensure that military operations in the region do not impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and to organize, in cooperation with United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), a high-level meeting between the above-mentioned States Parties and other potential stakeholders on how to improve security in the region and address the poaching issue;
5. Commends the State Party on its continued anti-poaching efforts, notes with appreciation that there were no reported case of Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) personnel involvement in poaching in the reporting period and encourages the State Party to continue to pursue all its efforts to combat poaching at the regional level;
6. Reiterates however its deepest concern over continued insecurity around the property and on-going poaching pressure from the international ivory trade, and the fact that current estimates put the elephant population at 1,200, which represents a further decline from the 1,500 elephants estimated to remain in 2015, and reiterates its appeal to all Member States of UNESCO to cooperate in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade, including through the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with the full engagement of transit and destination countries;
7. Notes with significant concern the loss of three giraffes as a result of poaching from a population of approximately only 40 individuals that remain in the whole of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are restricted to the property, and welcomes the planned radio-collaring of giraffes and more elephants;
8. Noting that 20% of the property’s surrounding hunting areas are being patrolled, encourages the State Party to maintain an effective year-round surveillance of at least 50% of the hunting areas, in addition to the full coverage of the property;
9. Requests the State Party to provide an update on progress achieved towards establishing a conservation strategy for the hunting areas and developing a Buffer Zone for the property to strengthen the protection of its OUV;
10. Appreciates the progress made in developing the park’s infrastructures and the further planned developments to facilitate efficient protection and management of the property;
11. Regrets that the State Party did not 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) as requested by the Committee, and reiterates its request to the State Party to submit it to the World Heritage Centre, as soon as possible, and at the latest by 1 February 2018, for adoption by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
12. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, 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 42nd session in 2018;
13. Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism to the property;
14. Also decides to retain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.