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Reactive Monitoring Mission report - Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas (Zimbabwe) 9-15 January 2011
IUCN and UNESCO
January 15, 2012

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Executive Summary

From 9 to 15 January 2011, a joint UNESCO World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission visited the area in and around Mana Pools National Park and Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas (MPSC); World Heritage property in Zimbabwe; in accordance with Decision 34 COM 7B.7, adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010).

The mission looked into the potential impact of reported mining and tourism infrastructure developments in and around the property. The main conclusions and recommendations are summarized below.

On the basis of the information gathered, the mission concludes that the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property is currently being maintained but could be compromised in the future, in particular regarding criterion vii, in the event of uncontrolled or uncoordinated socioeconomic developments, in particular open cast mining and tourism activities. The OUV integrity also relies on the condition that the waters of the Zambezi River in its eastern stretches in Zambia and Zimbabwe are kept free from downstream impacts of mining.

During meetings in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the mission received confirmation of past exploration and the potential for future mining in the Zambian protected areas adjacent to the Property; and of the planned Hotel development in the Chiawa GMA in Zambia and two planned lodge developments in Mana Pools NP.

The mission recommends that in view of possible future mining in the Zambian protected areas, the environmental policies should be strictly followed and monitored; and that special regulations are required to protect the Zambezi River from overburden and drainage from mine activities, with strategic monitoring to detect pollutants related to mining operations and the mining operations charged with removing impacts and sources; that for mining outside protected areas but in the catchment of the Lower Zambezi, precautionary measures should be taken to ensure no mining pollution occurs; and that regular monitoring for pollutants originating from mining operations in the same section of the Zambezi River is required to identify their origin.

In view of the development of tourism, the mission recommends that controls on levels of tourism and other uses of facilities (particularly the lodges, and especially for conferencing) should be strictly maintained to limit traffic and disturbance in the Zambian protected areas and reduce impacts on local people, biodiversity and on the World Heritage site across the Zambezi River; in adherence to ZAWA, ECZ and other regulations and should be regularly monitored.

Furthermore, cross-border coordination and rationalization of socio-economic activities such as fishing, low-impact tourism, and boat traffic in the Zambezi River valley should be discussed and standardized according to the policies and regulations of both countries and both countries' wildlife area management plans.

It is also recommended to facilitate regular cross-border meetings of the protected area managers to solve immediate problems and on-going issues to do with the biodiversity and environment of the Zambezi Valley in the area of concern.

The mission also notes that the recommendations of Decision 34 7B.7 remain relevant, in particular the request to submit documents regarding planned mining and other socio-economic developments in the Property or areas adjacent to the Property, in Zambia and Zimbabwe; and the request to increase collaboration, where the mission recommends to undertake a joint process of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) to inform an eventual joint management plan of the Middle Zambezi valley. The mission reiterates the recommendation of the World Heritage Committee (1984) that Zambia consider nominating the Lower Zambezi National Park.

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