Decision 46 COM 7B.54

Western Caucasus (Russian Federation) (N 900)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 32 COM 7B.25, 42 COM 7B.80, 43 COM 7B.18, 44 COM 7B.110 and 45 COM 7B.27 adopted at its 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), 42nd (Manama, 2018), 43rd (Baku, 2019), extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions, respectively,
3. Recalling that the Lagonaki Plateau is essential in expressing the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, in particular for its rich biodiversity, especially its high carabid species diversity, and the fact that the area contains two thirds of the vascular plant species of the property, including many endemics, expresses its utmost concern at the confirmation that the construction of a ski resort in the Lagonaki area of the property remains under consideration;
4. Reaffirms its position that the construction of large-scale infrastructure within the property, including on the Lagonaki Plateau, would constitute a case for inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in accordance with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines, and urges the State Party not to proceed with plans for a ski resort within the property, to immediately cease all ongoing preparatory work at Lagonaki and to identify alternative locations outside the property;
5. Reiterates its utmost concern about the plans for the construction of a new highway and railway connecting the North Caucasus to the Black Sea, including routes that would bisect the property, and urges again the State Party not to proceed with these developments, in accordance with the assurances provided at the time of inscription that no linear infrastructure projects such as highways or railways would be allowed within the property;
6. Requests the State Party to provide further information on the proposals to develop a 13 km tunnel, through the property, for the road between Arkhyz and Krasnaya Polyana, including its exact location, and further urges the State Party not to proceed if it is inconsistent with the protection requirements outlined in the Operational Guidelines, or if it may negatively impact the OUV of the property;
7. Noting the information that the Lunnaya Polyana road is used for forestry and fire management purposes, recalls the importance of ensuring that all infrastructure, even if deemed necessary for management and research purposes, does not have a negative impact on the OUV of the property, and further requests the State Party to clarify whether the road provides access to the private ski resort / Biosphere Centre at Lunnaya Polyana;
8. Reiterates its request to the State Party not to allow the construction of large-scale infrastructure in the Sochi Federal Wildlife Refuge and the Sochi National Park immediately adjacent to the property, given its potential impact on the OUV of the property, and also requests the State Party to immediately halt the notified infrastructure projects until their potential impacts have been adequately assessed in accordance with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context and the resulting Environmental Impact Assessments submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
9. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to define a strategic approach to tourism development, including through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) reported to be underway, by identifying suitable alternative locations for tourism infrastructure development outside the boundaries of the property, as well as appropriate mitigation measures to ensure that any tourism-related development in the vicinity of the property is consistent with the preservation of the OUV of the property;
10. Notes with appreciation that the draft law that would have allowed the boundaries of federally protected areas to be changed to accommodate economic activities has been suspended;
11. Expresses further concern about the protection status of different components of the property managed by the Republic of Adygea, and urges again the State Party to ensure that the legal regulations applying to all components of the property are brought into line with the protection requirements of the Operational Guidelines, and to provide detailed information on the legal status of all components of the property ahead of the Reactive Monitoring mission;
12. Notes the proposal by the State Party to hold the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission in October 2024 and reiterates the need for the mission to assess the state of conservation of the property, in particular the status of planned infrastructure and road development projects within and in the vicinity of the property and their cumulative impacts, the status and adequacy of the legal protection of the property and whether the property meets the conditions for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger in accordance with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines, and to assess other threats to the property, including the extent of the impact of invasive alien species;
13. 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 the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session, considering that the urgent conservation needs of this property require a broad mobilisation to preserve its OUV, including the possible inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger.