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To the World Heritage Committee and State Parties Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo: World Heritage Property in Danger

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To the World Heritage Committee and State Parties Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo: World Heritage Property in Danger JOINED POSITION OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANIASATIONS: POSITION PAPER JUNE 2012 - TO THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMIttEE AND STATE PARTIES Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo: World Heritage Property in Danger 1 © SANDRA MBANEFO To the World Heritage Committee and State Parties O BIAGO / WW From June 24th till July 6th, you will be gathering in St Petersburg F for the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee. The conservation -CANON status of our most precious places on earth will be discussed and decisions will be made to safeguard those places for future generations. Oil companies As non-governmental organisations (SacOil) and the United Kingdom (SOCO We are deeply concerned that Africa’s that share the values of the Convention International and Ophir Energy) have oldest national park, established in 1925 and are dedicated to protecting the been granted concessions overlapping the and protected since then by the efforts environment, we would like to draw your park. To date, none of these companies of multiple organisations and attention to a World Heritage Site in have stated publicly that they will refrain mechanisms, including those associated severe danger: Virunga National Park in from operating in the Park and thereby with the World Heritage Convention, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). respecting the park’s World Heritage is threatened by oil development. This Oil concessions have been designated status. Neither have they indicated that contravenes its protected area status covering 85% of the park, despite the they will respect the provisions of the and poses an overwhelming risk to the fact that oil development in the Park is Congolese constitution, which recognises integrity of the Park. incompatible with its World Heritage the supremacy of international treaty Drilling in Lake Edward, where most status and forbidden under Congolese obligations (in this instance the World of the oil reserves are believed to be law. Oil companies based in Convention Heritage Convention) over its own located, would bring a huge influx State Parties France (Total), South Africa national legislation. of workers and equipment as well as infrastructure development into the Park. This increases human pressure through illegal hunting, farming, fishing, and charcoal production. Contamination of the lake, which is a A Hippopotamus about to plunge into a mudbath at the banks of the Rutshuru River, Virunga National Park. vital source of fresh water and protein for local human populations, as well as one of the sources of the great Nile River, would Oil companies It is deplorable to see a protected indirectly the cultural and natural have a huge impact on food- and water area that has survived years of armed heritage referred to in Articles 1 and security for millions of people. SOCO International and Total – the conflict threatened by the activities 2 situated on the territory of other of commercial companies. Increased State Parties to this Convention’ (as The most famous residents of Virunga main operators in the key oil blocs economic activity as well as new vested per Article 6 (3)). Member States in National Park are the critically – have failed so far not only to declare interests and power holders in the area, which oil companies like Total, SacOil, endangered mountain gorillas, of Virunga National Park a “no go” area are likely to lead to increased conflict SOCO International and Ophir Energy which only 786 individuals remain for oil development, but also to respect both with local community members are based, also have an international in Democratic Republic of the Congo, the decision by the DRC Government and with the Park’s wildlife. legal duty to ensure respect of the Rwanda and Uganda. While the habitat (a State Party to the WHC) to suspend Convention and hold these companies of Virunga National Park’s 200 petroleum exploration activities to account. If the oil companies are mountain gorillas does not currently pending a Strategic Environmental Responsibilities as Committee to proceed with exploration activities fall within an oil concession, Assessment. This was outlined in the within the current boundaries of development in the park could Kinshasa Declaration between the Members and States Parties to the Park, we would argue that the negatively affect their security. In DRC Government Prime Minister Mr the World Heritage Convention governments of the countries where addition, development in the buffer Adolphe Muzito and the UNESCO Director General, Mrs Irina Bokova, those companies are based will be just zones outside the Park will likely have a We recognise that, pursuant to Article announced in March 2011. This as culpable for the failure to respect direct effect on the World 4 of the Convention, the government assessment is in process, with the initial the terms of the Convention and for Heritage values of the Park. of the DRC is primarily responsible scoping study completed but will not be whatever consequences might for the protection and maintenance Allowing illegal activities, such as oil finalised for several months to come. follow in terms of social and operations, to be conducted in the of the Outstanding Universal Value of environmental damage. park fundamentally undermines the If SOCO follows through on its repeated Virunga National Park. However, in authority of park managers, and will intention to explore for oil on the your capacity as members of the World make it difficult for them to guard ground within the park, the company Heritage Committee and as nominated against intrusion by others seeking to will be breaching national laws and as representatives of States Parties, it is exploit its land, trees and animals. well as resulting in the potential breach your responsibility not to countenance by the DRC of the provisions of the the taking of ‘any deliberate measures World Heritage Convention. which might damage directly or 2 3 • V 100% IRUNGA NA RECYCLED T IONAL P ARK P O S I T ION P A P ER 2012 National Park, Virunga Mountains, Rwanda RECOMMENDATIONS 1 We urge the World Heritage Committee to vote in favour of the draft This Position Paper is a joined Decisions 36 com 7A.36 and 36 COM 7A.4. publication of: 2 We urge the DRC Government to ensure that the provisions of the World WWF Heritage Convention are upheld, and to explore alternative development www.panda.org models for Virunga area which do not rely on oil exploration and Greenpeace development inside the current boundaries of Virunga National Park. www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/ 3 We urge the State Parties of France, the United Kingdom and South campaigns/Forests-hub Africa to commit to upholding their treaty obligations under the World Wildlife Conservation Society Heritage Convention and to take all possible measures to ensure that http://www.wcs.org/ companies headquartered in their territories do not conduct oil exploration COVER I or extraction activities inside the current boundaries of Virunga National Lukuru Foundation M Park nor inflict any indirect or direct damage to the cultural and lukuru.org AGE:© NA natural heritage of the park. Frankfurt Zoological Foundation T 4 We urge all States Parties to the Convention, to impress this http://www.zgf.de URE P responsibility upon the State Parties of France, the United Kingdom L. Fauna & Flora International C O and South Africa. M www.fauna-flora.org / A Why we are here NDY For further information, please contact Ms. Anneke Galama, If there is no URL To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and R OU Campaign Coordinatorto build a Virunga, future in WWF which and humans present live at in the harmo ny and nature. S World Heritage Committee Meeting. E / WW F email [email protected] or +31648938156 P THI OR ANDA.ORG/ S P SAVE AGE: © MAR Why we are here VIRUNGA To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and T to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. IN With URL - Regular H ARVEY / WW panda.org V IRUNGA © 1986 Panda symbol WWF – World Wide Fund For Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund) F -CANON ® “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademark. WWF, Avenue du Mont-Blanc, 1196 Gland, WWF Network Switzerland – Tel. +41 22 364 9111 Fax +41 22 364 0332. For contact details and further information, Working to save Virunga please visit our international website at www.panda.org 4.
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