Decision : 37 COM 7B.43
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (South Africa) (C 1099)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.48 , adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Acknowledges that archaeological advice will be provided to oversee the mitigation measures associated with the impact of open-cast coal mining on archaeological sites associated with the Mapungubwe Kingdom;
4. Notes the progress made in establishing a buffer zone for the property that will cover land to the east of the boundary, and progress with the establishment of the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA);
5. Urges the State Party to submit a minor boundary modification for a buffer zone that clarifies the policies for protecting the property with respect to mining in the buffer zone and in relation to “off-set benefits”;
6. Also notes the production of the detailed and comprehensive Management Plan, requests the State Party to provide copies of the final approved plan to the World Heritage Centre and also urges the State Party to implement the plan with immediate effect;
7. Takes note of the proposed underground expansion of the De Beers Venetia Mine in the buffer zone and also requests the State Party to provide further details to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies on the infrastructure arrangements associated with this expansion, in particular for transport and water supplies, and to provide appropriate Heritage Impact Assessments before any irreversible commitments are made;
8. Commends the State Party for not authorizing mining projects in World Heritage properties;
9. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016 , 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 40th session in 2016.
Decisions Report2013 Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
