Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve

Threats to the Site (1992)

The Reserve was inscribed on the List of the World Heritage in Danger as a result of two factors: a proposed iron-ore mining concession to an international consortium and the arrival of a large number of refugees to areas in and around the Guinean part of the site. The granting of the concession was announced in 1992 and included portions of the WH site.

When the WH Committee expressed its concern about the mining venture, it was informed by the State Party that there had been an error in the definition of the boundary of Mount Nimba Nature Reserve at the time of the nomination of the site to the World Heritage List and that the area proposed for the mining project was not considered as part of the WH site. An expert mission in May 1993 recommended a corrected and revised boundary which would ensure the site's integrity and incorporate an area of 17,749 ha. This recommendation was adopted by the Government of Guinea in late November 1993 and subsequently registered by the World Heritage Committee at its seventeenth session.

In response to the concern expressed by the World Heritage Committee regarding the impact of the mining project, the influx of refugees as well as other threats to the site, the Guinean Ministry for Energy and Environment has established a Management Centre, "Centre de Gestion de l'Environnement des Monts Nimba (CEGEN)", responsible for all environmental and legal questions, for the monitoring of the water quality in the region and integrated rural development and socio-economic studies.

History - List in Danger

• 1992