World Heritage 43 COM WHC/19/43.COM/19 Paris, 10 July 2019 Original: English UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE Forty-third session Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan 30 June – 10 July 2019 REPORT Decisions adopted during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee (Baku, 2019) Part 2 (Decisions 43 COM 8 to 43 COM 17) DRAFT 8. Establishment of the World Heritage List and of the List of World Heritage in Danger 8. Nomination Process Draft Decision: 43 COM 8 The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/8, 2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 8 adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018), 3. Reaffirming the overriding necessity to continue to work towards bringing greater convergence between the decisions taken by the Committee and the recommendations of the Advisory Bodies; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the work of the ad-hoc Working Group, the experts that have participated to the Tunis Meeting, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre for their work on the ongoing reflection on the revision of the nomination process; 5. Also recalling that the Operational Guidelines set out the conditions for inscription on the World Heritage List, strongly reiterates that only meeting criteria is not enough to warrant inscription, as to be deemed of Outstanding Universal Value a site must also meet the conditions of integrity (and authenticity) and must have an adequate protection and management system to ensure its safeguarding, as outlined in paragraph 78 of the Operational Guidelines; 6. Recalling Decision 35 COM 12B, requests States Parties to refrain from providing additional information regarding nominations after the deadlines indicated in the Operational Guidelines, as this information is not able to be evaluated by the Advisory Bodies; 7. Taking note of the discussions during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee concerning the referral mechanism, requestsREPORT the review of the referral procedure and its application be included for examination in the framework of the ongoing reflection on the revision of the nomination process; 8. Recommends that consideration is given to using the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in 2022 to undertake a reflection on the Global Strategy. 8A. Tentative Lists submitted by States Parties as of 15 April 2019, in conformity with the Operational Guidelines Draft Decision: 43 COM 8A The World Heritage Committee, 1. DRAFTHaving examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/8A.Rev, 2. Stressing the importance of the process of revision and updating of Tentative Lists, as a tool for regional harmonisation of the World Heritage List and long-term planning of its development; 1 3. Encourages States Parties to seek as early as possible upstream advice from the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies during the development or revision of their Tentative Lists as appropriate; 4. Takes note of the Tentative Lists presented in Annexes 2 and 3 of this document. 8B. Nominations to the World Heritage List I. CHANGES TO NAMES OF PROPERTIES INSCRIBED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST Draft Decision: 43 COM 8B.1 The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/8B, 2. Approves the name change to the Golden Temple of Dambulla as proposed by the Sri Lankan authorities. The name of the property becomes Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple in English and Temple troglodyte de Rangiri Dambulla in French. Draft Decision: 43 COM 8B.2 The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/8B, 2. Approves the name change to the Kiev: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra as proposed by the Ukrainian authorities. The name of the property becomes Kyiv: Saint-Sophia CathedralREPORT and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in English and Kyiv : Cathédrale Sainte-Sophie et ensemble des bâtiments monastiques et Laure de Kyiv-Petchersk in French. II. EXAMINATION OF NOMINATIONS OF NATURAL, MIXED AND CULTURAL SITES A. NATURAL SITES A.1. ASIA - PACIFIC A.1.1. New Nominations Draft Decision: 43 COM 8B.3 TheDRAFT World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Documents WHC/19/43.COM/8B and WHC/19/43.COM/INF.8B2, 2. Inscribes the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I), China on the World Heritage List on the basis of criterion (x); 3. Takes note of the following provisional Statement of Outstanding Universal Value: 2 Brief Synthesis The Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) is situated in the largest intertidal wetland system in the world and one of the most biologically diverse. The property is an irreplaceable and indispensable hub for birds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which spans some 20 countries across two hemispheres from the Arctic to South-East Asia and Australasia. The global importance of the wider coastal area is evidenced by several Ramsar sites, some of which fully or partially overlap with components of the property. Thus, this property is a globally significant example of the shared natural heritage embodied in migratory birds. The two components of the property are both along the coast of the Yellow Sea: 1) YS1- the Jiangsu Dafeng National Nature Reserve, the southern section and Dongsha Experimental Zone of Jiangsu Yancheng National Nature Reserve and the Tiaozini area (totalling 173,110 ha including a buffer zone of 28,271); and 2) YS-2 the middle section of Jiangsu Yancheng National Nature Reserve (95,589 ha including a buffer zone of 51,785). The total area of the two components is 188,643 ha plus a buffer zone of 80,056 ha. The two components are about 30 kilometers apart, separated by the Dafeng Port and surrounding areas with dense human activity. Human activity has transformed some of the tidal wetlands and there is need for measures to halt major threats and restore key migratory bird habitats. The intertidal wetlands of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf span three countries: China, North Korea and the Republic of Korea. In each country, the wetlands support crucial habitats for birds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Further national and transnational serial nominations, and/or extensions will strengthen the Outstanding Universal Value of this property. Criterion (x): Biodiversity and threatened species ‘Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I)’ supports some 680 species of vertebrates, including an estimated 415 species of birds, 26 species of mammals, 9 species of amphibians,REPORT 14 species of reptiles, 216 species of fish, as well as 165 species of zoobenthos. The property’s tidal flats are of exceptional importance for the conservation of the world’s migratory birds, supporting internationally significant numbers of migratory bird species, including Critically Endangered, Endangered and other IUCN Red List species. The Phase I tidal flats are significant for more than 10% of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway populations and provide critical habitat for two of the world’s rarest migratory birds – the Critically Endangered Spoon- billed Sandpiper and the Endangered Nordmann’s Greenshank, which depend on the tidal flats for their continued survival. The tidal flats also provide important migratory habitat for the Endangered Black-faced Spoonbill, Oriental Stork, Red-crowned Crane and Great Knot; the Vulnerable Chinese Egret, Dalmatian Pelican, Swan Goose, Relict Gull and Saunders’s Gull; and several Near Threatened migratory bird species, including the Red Knot, Asian Dowitcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Reed Parrotbill, Curlew Sandpiper, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover and Ruddy Turnstone. Other migratory bird that utilise the property include the Eurasian Oystercatcher, Pied Avocet, Grey Plover, Kentish plover, Far Eastern Curlew, Broad- billed Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Sanderling, Dunlin, Terek Sandpiper, Saunders’s DRAFTGull and Common Tern. Integrity The property underpins the viability of the central hub of East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the world’s most important flyways and arguably the most fragile. Large aggregations of birds depend on the coast as a stop-over, moulting, staging, wintering, foraging or breeding grounds. The two components of the property include clear boundaries for adequate protection of birds when they are on-site. The property 3 comprises large tracts of mudflats, beaches and other key stopover habitats for migrating birds. The intertidal mudflats, marshes and shallow waters are exceptionally productive and provide spawning and nursery habitat for many fish and crustacean species. In particular, the intertidal mudflats attract a high diversity and enormous number of resident and migratory birds. The main body of the marine deposition plain and mudflat was formed before 1855, when the Yellow River changed its course. This intertidal mudflat is still mainly in the process of accumulation owing to marine hydrological processes, which have shaped the crucial habitat for migratory birds, including the threatened species listed above. Large rivers (including the Yellow River, Yangtze River, Yalu River, Liao River, Luan River, and Hai River) continuously discharge sediments into the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf, accumulating to form a series of different habitat types such as mudflats, beaches, and swamps, providing habitats for various migratory birds. These globally important habitats maintain the extraordinary bird biodiversity on the East Asian- Australasian Flyway, as well as the high diversity of other species from phytoplankton to marine mammals. Protection and management requirements The two components are both state-owned and fully legally protected by law. “Ecological Red Lines”, designated by the Government of China, identify the natural coastline proposed for retention. Resource use and access in the coastal areas is severely restricted. YS-1 and YS-2 have the protection status of National Nature Reserves (with the exception of the Tiaozini area).