Documents Decisions of the World Heritage Committee Decisions adopted at the 38th session (Doha, 15-25 of June 2014)


Virgin Komi Forests (Russian Federation) (N 719)

Decision:   38 COM 7B.78

 The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7B,
2.  Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.24, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),  
3.  Regrets that the State Party has reversed neither the boundary changes which
removed the legal protection of four areas within the property nor the 19.9 square km
gold mining concession and has not revoked or frozen mining exploitation licences
granted inside the  property as requested by the Committee at its 35th and 36th
sessions,  reiterates  its position that mining activities are not compatible with World
Heritage status, and urges the State Party to immediately halt all activities associated
with gold mining in the property;  
4.  Takes note of the August 2013 decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian
Federation which declared inoperative the order of the Ministry of Natural Resources
and Ecology on approval of the Regulations about “Yugyd Va” National Park”, thereby
confirming that the original boundaries of the national park, which coincide with the
boundaries of the northern component of the property, remain valid;
5.  Reiterates its request to the State Party to implement the following measures:
a)  Revoke or freeze the exploration and exploitation licenses already granted,
b)  Reverse the boundary changes made to Yugyd Va National Park;
6.  Notes that the State Party had submitted a re-nomination of the property proposing
significant boundary modifications, which was incomplete and was therefore not
transmitted for evaluation;  
7.  Considers that any resumption of mining activities inside the property would provide the
basis for immediate inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in line with
Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines;
8.  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 and on the implementation of the above requests, for examination by
the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.