32 COM 5
Report of the World Heritage Centre on its activities and the implementationof the World Heritage Committee's decisions
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Documents WHC-08/32.COM/5, WHC-08/32.COM/INF.5A and WHC-08/32.COM/INF.5C,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 5.1 adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Takes note with appreciation of the results of the activities undertaken by the World Heritage Centre over the past year in pursuit of its five Strategic Objectives, and in particular the work underway to fully integrate local communities in every aspect of World Heritage site conservation and management;
4. Further notes with appreciation the results of the activities of IUCN, ...
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/6A,
2. Recalling Decisions 29 COM 11C.1, 30 COM 11F and 31 COM 23B adopted at its 29th (Durban, 2005), 30th (Vilnius, 2006),and at its 31st (Christchurch, 2007) sessions respectively;
3. Takes note of the Report of progress made in the implementation of the African World Heritage Fund;
4. Expresses its appreciation to partners at all levels for their support, and their technical and financial assistance to the African World Heritage Fund;
5. Welcomes the report of the first advocacy meeting organized in Abuja ...
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/6B,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 11C, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Takes note of the developments that have taken place with regard to the establishment of the Pacific World Heritage Fund;
4. Encourages the States Parties of the Pacific region to work with the World Heritage Centre on the development of this proposal, building on lessons learnt from the African World Heritage Fund and adapting it to the region's needs.
5. Invites the States Parties of the Pacific region to present a ...
32 COM 7.1
Presentation of the results of the international experts meeting on World Heritage and buffer zones
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7.1,
2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 9, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) and thanking the States Parties of Israel and Switzerland for jointly hosting the International Expert Meeting on World Heritage and Buffer Zones (Davos, Switzerland, 11-14 March 2008) in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre;
3. Notes the detailed report provided by the expert meeting which reflects on a wide range of issues relevant to World Heritage and buffer zones and also notes the publication under preparation for the ...
32 COM 7.2
Proposal for the preparation of a revised recommendation concerning the safeguarding and contemporary role of historic areas
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7.2,
2. Recalling Decision 29 COM 5D, adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005) and Resolution 15 GA 7, adopted at the 15th General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention (UNESCO, 2005),
3. Noting decision 179EX/25 regarding a "Proposal by the Director-General for the preparation of a revised recommendation concerning the safeguarding and contemporary role of historic areas" that includes a full preliminary study of the technical and legal aspects of the issue;
4. Commends the Advisory Bodies ICOMOS, ICCROM ...
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7.3,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 5.2 adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Notes the information provided on the activities carried out under the Reinforced Monitoring mechanism;
4. Requests, in light of the report on the implementation of the Reinforced Monitoring mechanism, the World Heritage Centre to develop a protocol for implementing the mechanism, to address:
a) the frequency of ...
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.1, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Expresses its utmost concern about the security situation in northern Central African Republic and its impact on the property, in particular the continued large scale poaching of wildlife, which could soon lead to the loss of the Outstanding Universal Value for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List;
4. Requests the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee to contact the authorities of the Central ...
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.2, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Welcomes the improvement of the security situation in the property which could allow the management authority to regain control over the entire property in the near future;
4. Notes that some progress was made in the implementation of the corrective measures, in particular with regard to community outreach activities and reinforcing anti-poaching patrols;
5. Regrets that no ecological data were provided to assess the ...
Sites: Comoé National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.3, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Regrets that the State Party of Guinea did not submit the report on the state of conservation of the property and on progress in the implementation of the corrective measures and recommendations of the 2007 monitoring mission;
4. Notes the positive efforts of the State Party of Côte d'Ivoire to address the challenges facing the property ;
5. Also notes that the 2008 Reactive Monitoring mission to the portion of ...
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.4, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Expresses its sincerest condolences to the families of guards who were killed during operations related to the protection of the property;
4. Regrets that, despite the peace efforts undertaken by the State Party in the eastern part of the country, and the Peace Conference, permanent insecurity inside and around the property continues to hinder conservation activities;
5. Notes with concern the results and conclusions of ...
Sites: Virunga National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Acknowledges with appreciation the positive efforts made by the State Party in addressing the challenges facing the property;
4. Also acknowledges the great financial and technical support provided for the conservation of the property by various partners;
5. Recognizes that challenges for the conservation of the property remain numerous;
6. Notes with concern the results of the preliminary inventory for the lowland ...
Sites: Kahuzi-Biega National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.6, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Expresses its utmost concern as regards the results of the workshop on Survival Strategies for the Northern White Rhino that indicates that the sub-species is in imminent danger of extinction and notes the conclusion of the experts that only the capture and transfer to an appropriate and secure place, beyond the Congolese borders, presents sufficient guarantee for the survival of this sub-species;
4. Notes that a recent ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.7, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Notes with concern reports of continued poaching, in particular poaching of elephants, by the army;
4. Expresses its satisfaction that the State Party has begun the implementation of some of the corrective measures established by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), notably the organization, with support from the World Heritage Fund, of a mixed anti-poaching operation;
5. Requests the ...
Sites: Salonga National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.8, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Notes with concern the preliminary results of the inventory, showing substantial reductions in the population of flagship species, including elephants and okapis, thus significantly impacting the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;
4. Welcomes the progress achieved in regaining management control over the property and in addressing poaching and small-scale mining in the property;
5. Requests the State Party, in ...
Sites: Okapi Wildlife Reserve
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.9, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Notes the request of the State Party to postpone the monitoring mission requested at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007) to allow for more time to implement the corrective measures;
4. Requests the State Party to continue to implement the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) and, in particular, to mobilize the necessary funding for and start the ...
Sites: Simien National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.3, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Expresses its utmost concern about the continued degradation of the Outstanding Universal Value for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, in particular the reduction in key wildlife populations and the degradation of the vegetation cover as well as about the renewed insecurity in the northern part of the property, which is hampering efforts by the State Party to halt this degradation;
4. ...
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7B.1, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Regrets that the State Party has not been able to implement the urgent corrective measures within the 12 month timeframe set at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007) and that no information was provided on the status of wildlife populations or on progress in addressing threats from illegal logging, road construction, the proposed dam at Mako on the Gambia river, and potential mining exploration and exploitation in the ...
Sites: Niokolo-Koba National Park
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.11, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Notes the conclusion of the mission that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property has been significantly impacted by the past civil strife and that recovery had only just started and was still in its initial stages;
4. Considers the presence of viable populations of all key species and a clear upward trend of these populations as key elements of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7B.35, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Reminds the State Party that the state of conservation report has to be submitted in one of the two working languages of the World Heritage Convention (French and English);
4. Commends the State Party for progress achieved on the implementation of some of the key corrective measures in the Action Plan produced in response to the Presidential Decree No. 270, on its continuing success in the area of control and eradication ...
Sites: Galápagos Islands
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.15, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Commends the State Party for its continued efforts for the conservation and rehabilitation of the property, and particularly for the development of improved mechanisms for community involvement in the rehabilitation and the maintenance of the property;
4. Acknowledges receipt of a Statement of significance and a Statement of authenticity/ integrity, but regrets that these are not in conformity with the Statement of ...