Decision : 39 COM 7A.20
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) (N 196)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 38 COM 7A.33, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
- Commends the State Party and external supporters for the progress made in consolidating an integrated monitoring mechanism and the further clarification of access to land and natural resources, and encourages the State Party to continue these efforts;
- Adopts the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) developed by the State Party in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, as presented under Item 20 of Document WHC-15/39.COM/7A.Add, and considers that this DSOCR should be revised and, if necessary, further complemented with additional indicators following the clarification of the property’s boundaries;
- Notes the approval of the International Assistance Request to conclude the clarification of the boundaries of the property and urges the State Party to submit, as required, a boundary modification for consideration by the Committee, in conformity with the appropriate procedures laid out in the Operational Guidelines;
- Recalls the State Party’s intention to minimize the environmental and social impacts of the construction of dams in the Patuca watershed, and requests the State Party to report on the possible impacts of the Patuca III project once the boundaries of the property will be clarified;
- Reiterates its concern that no apparent progress has been made in terms of human, financial and logistical resources, and notes with concern that the security situation appears to impact on the State Party’s ability to operate in the property;
- Also reiterates its concern that illegal activities continue to impact on the property, and strongly urges the State Party to prevent new illegal settlements so as to avoid further evictions in the future;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016;
- Decides to retain the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Original Decision Document
Themes: Conservation, List of World Heritage in Danger
States Parties: Honduras
Properties: Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve
Year: 2015
Decision Code: 39 COM 7A.20
