Decision 44 COM 7B.178

Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas (Zimbabwe) (N 302)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7B.97 adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Welcomes the State Party’s continued actions to further strengthen its anti-poaching measures, including through the sufficient resourcing for the mobilisation of its operation units, ongoing collaboration with the State Party of Zambia, community involvement initatives, and the further expansion of the use of Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART);
4. Takes note that data from satellite collaring of elephants to track their movements have shown that they are not crossing over into Zambia and that these findings are being further examined, requests the State Party to ensure the outcomes inform future management of elephants and the property, and to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of its progress;
5. Reiterates its request to the State Party to:
   1. Report on the outcomes of habitat surveys, and provide data on poaching and other available conservation indicators,
   2. Complete the review of the General Management Plan, and submit it to the World Heritage Centre once it is available, for review by IUCN,
   3. Keep the World Heritage Centre informed of its progress in finalizing the Memorandum of Understanding for the Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools National Parks Trans-Frontier Conservation Area, and to request technical advice from the World Heritage Centre and IUCN as needed;
6. Also recalling that the State Party had previously reported its decision to suspend commercial sport hunting from not only Sapi Safari Area and the northern part of Chewore Safari Area, but also from the buffer zone to promote the recovery of wildlife species, also reiterates its request to the State Party to clarify the extent of the area referred to as the buffer zone, which has not yet been formally adopted by the Committee;
7. Also takes note of the locations of the tourism concessions and also requests the State Party to ensure that all proposals are subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in line with IUCN World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment, including a specific assessment of impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and the EIA submitted to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN before approval of the projects;
8. Reiterates its concern that the proposed Kangaluwi and Chisawa opencast mine in Lower Zambezi National Park could have serious impact on the OUV of the property and urges once again the State Party of Zambia to provide an update to the World Heritage Centre on the status of the mining project and not to go forward with this project, in line with its Decision 38 COM 7B.97;
9. Further reiterates its request to the State Party to continue to uphold its commitment to ensure regular monitoring of the effectiveness of the environmental and monitoring plans of the Vine Camp lodge, and to report to the World Heritage Centre on the monitoring and mitigation activities;
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 46th session.