Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Factors affecting the property in 2014*
- Civil unrest
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
- Mining
- War
- Other Threats:
Villages in the ecological corridor between the highland and lowland sectors of the park
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Presence of armed groups, lack of security and political instability rendering a large part of the property inaccessible to the guards;
- Attribution of mining permits inside the property;
- Poaching by armed military groups;
- Villages in the ecological corridor between the highland and lowland sectors of the park;
- Illegal mining and deforestation.
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Adverse refugee impact
- Irregular presence of armed militia and settlers at the property
- Increased poaching
- Deforestation
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
A draft has been developed during the 2009 reactive monitoring mission (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/137/documents), but the indicators still need to be quantified based on the results of a census of large mammals.
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4081
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2014
Total amount granted: USD 980,000 from the United Nations Foundation (UNF), and the Governments of Italy and Belgium and by the Rapid Response Facility (RRF)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2014
Total amount approved : 119,270 USD
| 2000 | Emergency assistance to World Natural Heritage of the ... (Approved) | 5,400 USD |
| 1999 | Support to Resident Staff of Garamba, Virunga, Kahuzi ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1995 | Purchase of a vehicle for Kahuzi Biega National Park (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 1994 | Financial contribution for the protection of ... (Approved) | 25,000 USD |
| 1992 | Review of the state of conservation of World Heritage ... (Approved) | 3,750 USD |
| 1988 | Purchase of a 4x4 Jeep for Kahuzi Biega National Park (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1980 | Equipment for Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Approved) | 15,120 USD |
Missions to the property until 2014**
1996 and 2006: several World Heritage Centre missions in the framework of the DRC Programme; December 2009: joint IUCN/World Heritage Centre reactive monitoring mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2014
On 1 February 2014, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/137/documents/ (pages 13 – 28).
The report notes a general improvement of the security situation in particular in the lowland sector of the park following the defeat of the M23 rebellion. Other local armed groups have also been disarmed and integrated in the national army. This improved security situation has allowed park staff to start patrolling the lowland sector and resulted in a significant increase in patrol efforts in 2013 compared to 2012. Currently patrols cover 28,4 % of the park area.
The report also provides information concerning the implementation of corrective measures, in particular:
- In order to reactivate surveillance activities, training sessions of park rangers are underway;
- Several illegal artisanal mining operations have been closed down but illegal mining remains an important issue. No progress is reported on the cancelation of mining concessions covering the park;
- No progress has been reported on the evacuation of the corridor area. 17 farms have been inventoried inside the corridor and 7 more are infringing on the boundaries of the park. However, in the few farms that have been removed earlier, the ecological restoration is reported to be in progress;
- As a result of the fighting, many of the villages inside the park have been abandoned and the park is currently re-assessing their situation;
- 3 expeditions to the lowland have been undertaken in 2013 to inventory the great mammals. Their results are currently being analysed and should be available this year. A new overall inventory is planned in 2014;
- In 2013, pedestrian traffic on the road through the park increased by almost 50 % whilst vehicle traffic diminished by 25%. All traffic on the road is checked at the gates of the park;
- The management plan is currently being revised and implemented but more funds need to be mobilized to ensure its full implementation.
The report notes that the main challenge for the management of the park is currently the lack of staff and equipment, in particular arms and ammunition for surveillance activities.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2014
The improvement in the security situation has allowed the park staff to again start patrolling the areas previously out of control. The World Heritage Centre and IUCN note that restoring the security is a pre-condition for implementing the corrective measures and restoring the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. They further note that at the moment the area covered by patrol remains limited and that the park is reportedly lacking patrol staff and equipment, in particular arms and ammunition, necessary to substantially increase patrolling efforts. They consider that it is crucial to take advantage of the current improvement in the security situation to step up surveillance efforts and to curb illegal activities, in particular poaching and mining, which increased during the period of insecurity.
While no progress was made in evacuating the ecological corridor, which is crucial to ensure ecological connectivity between the highland and lowland sectors, it is hoped that with the improvement of security, progress can be made swiftly on this important corrective measure. The report provides no information on the results of the inter-ministerial committee to deal with land use disputes, which was reported in the 2012 State Party report. The need to cancel all mining concessions encroaching on the property, in line with the Committee’s established position that mining is incompatible with World Heritage status continues to remain an outstanding issue.
Efforts are underway to undertake a comprehensive survey of fauna and flora in the park. The results of this will provide information on the current status of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and on how much time would be needed to restore it. It is recommended that a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission is invited to the property once the results of this inventory are available, in order to update the corrective measures, establish a timeframe for their implementation and finalize the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
It is also recommended that the Committee maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2014
38 COM 7A.38
Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 137)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
- Welcomes the reported improvement in the security situation which has allowed the park staff to again start patrolling the areas previously out of control and notes that restoring the security is a pre-condition for implementing the corrective measures and restoring the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
- Also welcomes the ongoing efforts of the State Party to carry out a survey of the main populations of wildlife in the lowland sectors of the property to enable an assessment of the state of its OUV, as well as the establishment of a timetable for the rehabilitation of the property;
- Also notes that the area of the property covered by ranger patrolling remains limited, and requests the State Party to take urgent measures to improve the efficiency and security of patrols and curb the illegal activities, in particular poaching and mining;
- Expresses its concern that no progress was made in evacuating the ecological corridor, which is crucial to ensure ecological connectivity between the highland and lowland sectors, nor in the cancelling of mining concessions and reiterates its request to the State Party to cancel land rights illegally granted in the property as well as mining concessions encroaching on the property, in conformity with the commitments made in the Kinshasa Declaration, and the Committee’s established position that extractive activities are incompatible with World Heritage status;
- Urges the State Party to continue its efforts to implement the corrective measures to restore the OUV of the property;
- Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property as soon as the results of the wildlife survey are available, in order to re-assess the state of conservation of the property, to update the corrective measures, to establish a new time frame for their implementation and to finalize the Desired state of conservation of the property for removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2015, a detailed report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property, including an update of progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
- Decides to continue the application of the Reinforced monitoring mechanism to the property;
- Also decides to retain Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
38 COM 7A.42
General Decision on the properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.9, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013) and reaffirming the need to implement the Kinshasa Declaration adopted in 2011,
- Notes that the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has improved since the last session but that it still remains unstable and commends the courage of the staff of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and its efforts to protect the World Heritage properties;
- Urges the State Party to guarantee the implementation of the commitments undertaken in the Kinshasa Declaration and to ensure the execution of the Strategic Plan of Action and requests the State Party to approve the decree to officialise the creation of an inter-ministerial committee and allocate the necessary technical and financial means to ensure adequate monitoring in the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration;
- Reiterates its utmost concern as regards the Hydrocarbons Code that could make possible oil exploitation activities in protected areas and also urges the State Party to ensure that the protection status of the World Heritage properties be maintained;
- Also requests the State Party to review the mining and oil exploration and exploitation titles to exclude the World Heritage properties and not to grant further titles within the boundaries of the properties of the DRC and recalls its position that mining and oil exploration is incompatible with World Heritage status;
- Congratulates the TOTAL Company for its commitment not to carry out oil or gas exploration and exploitation activities in properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, a principle to which the Shell Company has already subscribed;
- Takes note of the press statement of SOCO not to undertake or commission any exploratory or other drilling within Virunga National Park unless UNESCO and the DRC Government agree that such activities are not incompatible with its World Heritage status, not to conduct any operations in any other World Heritage site and to ensure that any current or future operations in buffer zones adjacent to World Heritage sites do not jeopardize the Outstanding Universal Value for which these sites are listed;
- Warmly welcomes the support of donor countries in the conservation of the five DRC properties, and calls on the international community to continue to provide support in the implementation of the corrective measures and the Strategic Action Plan to create the necessary conditions for the rehabilitation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the five DRC properties;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, a detailed report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration, the situation regarding mining and oil exploration and exploitation titles that encroach World Heritage properties, and the Hydrocarbons Code, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.
38 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (retained sites)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-14/38.COM/7A and WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add),
- Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 38 COM 7A.14)
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 38 COM 7A.15)
- Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 38 COM 7A.31)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.34)
- Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 38 COM 7A.21)
- Colombia, Los Katíos National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.32)
- Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.35)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.36)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.37)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.38)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.39)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.40)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.41)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 38 COM 7A.1)
- Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.43)
- Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 38 COM 7A.16)
- Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 38 COM 7A.17)
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.33)
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 38 COM 7A.28)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 38 COM 7A.2)
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 38 COM 7A.3)
- Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 38 COM 7A.4)
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 38 COM 7A.44)
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 38 COM 7A.24)
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 38 COM 7A.25)
- Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 38 COM 7A.45)
- Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 38 COM 7A.5)
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 38 COM 7A.20)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 38 COM 7A.22)
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.46)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 38 COM 7A.18)
- Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 38 COM 7A.29)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 38 COM 7A.26)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 38 COM 7A.19)
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.30)
- Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 38 COM 7A.23)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 38 COM 7A.13)
Draft Decision: 38 COM 7A.38
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Welcomes the reported improvement in the security situation which has allowed the park staff to again start patrolling the areas previously out of control and notes that restoring the security is a pre-condition for implementing the corrective measures and restoring the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
4. Also welcomes the ongoing efforts of the State Party to carry out a survey of the main populations of wildlife in the lowland sectors of the property to enable an assessment of the state of its OUV, as well as the establishment of a timetable for the rehabilitation of the property;
5. Also notes that the area of the property covered by ranger patrolling remains limited, and requests the State Party to take urgent measures to improve the efficiency and security of patrols and curb the illegal activities, in particular poaching and mining;
6. Expresses its concern that no progress was made in evacuating the ecological corridor, which is crucial to ensure ecological connectivity between the highland and lowland sectors, nor in the cancelling of mining concessions and reiterates its request to the State Party to cancel land rights illegally granted in the property as well as mining concessions encroaching on the property, in conformity with the commitments made in the Kinshasa Declaration, and the Committee’s established position that extractive activities are incompatible with World Heritage status;
7. Urges the State Party to continue its efforts to implement the corrective measures to restore the OUV of the property;
8. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property as soon as the results of the wildlife survey are available, in order to re-assess the state of conservation of the property, to update the corrective measures, to establish a new time frame for their implementation and to finalize the Desired state of conservation of the property for removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
9. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2015, a detailed report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property, including an update of progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
10. Decides to continue the application of the Reinforced monitoring mechanism to the property;
11. Also decides to retain Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Documents examined by the Committee
38COM (2014)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
