On 15 February 2018, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at http://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/136/documents/, and which provides the following information on the implementation of the corrective measures.
The process of finalizing the Integrated Management Plan is underway.
The Corps responsible for security of the National Parks (CorPPN) and the related natural reserves, created in June 2015, is not operational due to lack of financial resources, thus delaying approval of the presidential decree for its creation. The Ministry of Defence and ICCN have, nevertheless, appointed their representatives.
The State Party is continuing its efforts to strengthen surveillance and ecological monitoring as well as anti-poaching, while recognizing that the number of rangers remains insufficient. The fact that no FARDC member is no longer involved in poaching activities is welcomed. In addition, the patrol efforts cover the entire property and 40% of the hunting areas, a clear increase that makes it possible to approach the 50% requested in the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR). It is recommended that the Committee commends the efforts by the State Party in strengthening surveillance in the property and in the hunting areas, and strongly encourages it to continue its efforts.
Despite this, the number of elephants killed in 2017 by poachers (50 individuals) remains high, although halved compared to 2016 (98). The April 2017 aerial census confirmed that the elephant population, now 1,191 individuals, has declined further since 2015 (1,500). This situation remains extremely worrying. It is the same for the giraffe, whose 49 individuals listed in the property constitute the only population of the DRC. Efforts made by the State Party to strengthen surveillance and monitoring and to protect both species, including the installation of telemetry collars, are welcomed and are crucial to stem the declining trend of these populations and prevent these species from becoming extinct.
Instability in neighbouring countries is a permanent threat to the property. In addition to insecurity, the influx of refugees into the region is putting additional pressure on the property managers. The World Heritage Centre received information in December 2017 regarding the establishment of two refugee camps just 15 km from the property and which should accommodate up to 20,000 people. UNESCO sent two letters, in December 2017, respectively to the Governor of the Province of Upper Dungu and the Representative of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the DRC, to raise awareness about the status of the PNG as a property of World Heritage in Danger. They have been requested to take the necessary measures to relocate these camps outside the property and its buffer zone in order to reduce the already strong pressures on the natural resources of the property, particularly through poaching. No response was received at the time of writing this report. It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to take the necessary and urgent measures to move these camps away from the property and its buffer zone.
The meetings held between the States Parties of the DRC, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Uganda during the 40th session of the Committee in 2016 have unfortunately not yet resulted in a high-level meeting involving all relevant stakeholders and institutions, including UNESCO and MONUSCO, to improve security in the region and develop solutions to tackle poaching at the regional level. Given the situation in South Sudan and in Central African Republic, it seems unrealistic that, at the present stage, such a meeting could have tangible results on the ground.
It is regrettable that the State Party has still not submitted the finalized version of the DSOCR and it is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to submit this document urgently.
In view of the continuing threat posed by insecurity in the region and poaching, it is recommended that the Committee maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for the property.
The efforts of ICCN to implement the Kinshasa Declaration and the corrective measures in each of the properties as well as strengthening its collaboration with the FARDC and the different state institutions are favourably welcomed. Commendable progress has also been made with the law-enforcement equipment made available to improve security for the guards.
Insecurity caused by the presence of armed groups and various militia continue to threaten the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of most of the properties located in eastern DRC. In particular, it has a heavy human impact and in this respect, it is relevant to recall that the year 2017 was extremely tragic for ICCN staff. Twenty-one guards and a driver were killed in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and in the Virunga National Park and many others were seriously injured. They were killed during attacks and ambushes deliberately targeting the ICCN staff. At the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a team of 27 ICCN agents were kidnapped last March for more than a month by a group of militia. It is recommended that the Committee strongly condemn this violence, address its condolences to the families of the victims and ICCN staff and that it expresses its utmost concern as regards the continuing insecurity in and around most of the properties located in eastern DRC.
The delay engendered in the deployment of the CorPPN contingent is regrettable. It is recommended that the Committee reiterates its request to the State Party to provide human and financial means to enable it to become operational, and that it also requests the State Party to implement, in conformity with the Kinshasa Declaration, all means to establish security conditions for the ICCN staff to fulfil their mission under adequate conditions and without risk of life.
Concerning the issue of petroleum exploration, the State Party has informed the World Heritage Centre of the attribution of the three blocks that encroach a part of Salonga National Park. Other blocks should soon be attributed; if they were attributed, they would cover the total area of the property. Furthermore, the World Heritage Centre was informed in May of a proposal made in March 2018 by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons to its government of degazettement, at the national level of one or several zones of the Virunga and Salonga National Parks, to carry out petroleum explorations. It is noted that a partial reclassification of these Parks unilaterally decided by the State Party would question the legal protection of the properties. This legal protection is one of the three components of the OUV. Moreover, modifications to the boundaries of the World Heritage properties linked to extractive industries must be treated through the procedure applied for major modifications to boundaries, in conformity with Paragraph 165 of the Operational Guidelines, taking into account the potential impact of these projects on the OUV. Furthermore, this proposal is in contradiction to the Kinshasa Declaration that is committed to maintaining the protection status of the properties. It is therefore recommended that the Committee expresses its utmost concern regarding this issue and that it reiterates its position concerning the incompatibility of oil exploration and exploitation with World Heritage status. It is also recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to cancel these concessions and to attribute no new ones in Salonga National Park and its periphery. It is recommended that the Committee reiterates its deep concern as regards the proposal of degazettement one or several zones of the Salonga and Virunga National Parks to authorize petroleum exploration and that it recalls that modifications made to the boundaries of the World Heritage properties must be made in conformity with the provisions of the Operational Guidelines and must be based on strengthening the OUV of the properties, rather than facilitating extractive activities.
The efforts of the State Party to render the FOCON Trust Fund operational are warmly welcomed. It is recommended that the Committee congratulate the State Party for this important progress and encourages it, as well as the donors, to provide this Fund with adequate financial means to respond to the needs of the protected areas and the DRC World Heritage properties.
Note: the following report on the World Heritage properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) needs to be read in conjunction with Item 52.
Also decides to retain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, a detailed report on the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration, the security situation in the properties, and the status of the oil exploration and exploitation concessions that encroach on World Heritage properties, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020.
Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, a detailed report on the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration, the security situation in the properties, and the status of the oil exploration and exploitation concessions that encroach on World Heritage properties, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 43rd session in 2019.