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Selous Game Reserve

United Republic of Tanzania
Factors affecting the property in 2006*
  • Illegal activities
  • Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Mining
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Proposed cattle driving route;

b) Poaching

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2006
Requests approved: 3 (from 1984-1999)
Total amount approved : 67,980 USD
Missions to the property until 2006**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2006

In February 2006, the World Heritage Centre and IUCN were informed of the deterioration of the Selous Game Reserve since the end of the German Government (GTZ) assistance programme in 2003. This is in contrast to the considerable improvements in the management of the property during the GTZ funded Selous Conservation Programme (1987 to 2003).

The information received provides details on a number of recent problems/trends: the management plan developed with assistance from GTZ has not been formally approved and is not being implemented; the income retention scheme (allowing for 50% of commercial hunting income to be retained for reserve management) that had underpinned the rehabilitation of the property has been significantly reduced by the government since the end of the GTZ project; recent increases in elephant poaching allegedly involving government officials; prospecting licenses have been granted by the Government to explore for precious stones inside the property; lack of implementation of the recently approved Tanzanian Wildlife Policy designed to involve local communities in the conservation and utilization of wildlife resources in the property and its buffer zones; and plans for a large dam across the Ruvu River to supply the city of Dar-Es-Salaam with water, which would result in the flooding of parts of the property.

On 2 March 2006, the World Heritage Centre wrote to the State Party requesting information on these issues. At the time of writing this report no response had been received from the State Party. The World Heritage Centre also notes that no reply has been received from the State Party to an earlier letter dated 31 March 2004 requesting information on reports received previously concerning allegedly granted licences for mineral exploration in the property.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN note with great concern the recent deterioration in the management of the property and the reduction in financial resources available to the management authority. The rapid reversal of the improved conservation status achieved during the long-term GTZ supported Selous Conservation Programme is alarming and the World Heritage Centre and IUCN consider it important for the State Party to enhance its political and financial support as to ensure the integrity of the World Heritage property.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN further note that the financial resources available to manage the property have declined significantly in recent years and recommend the State Party to seek independent financial advice on the management of the income from commercial hunting activities in the World Heritage property.

Considering the lack of a State Party response to previous requests for information on the multiple threats allegedly affecting the Selous Game Reserve, the World Heritage Centre and IUCN believe that a joint UNESCO/IUCN mission is required to assess the state of conservation of the property, in particular the implementation of the management plan and EIAs as well as the impacts of poaching, prospecting and mining activities.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2006
30 COM 7B.3
State of Conservation (Selous Game Reserve)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30.COM/7B,

2. Notes that the State Party has not responded to the previous request for information about a number of threats to the property;

3. Regrets that financial resources available from the income retention scheme from commercial hunting have decreased significantly in recent years and recommends that the State Party seek independent financial advice on the management of this income retention scheme to support conservation and management of the property;

4. Requests the State Party to commission independent EIAs of all proposed mineral mining and dam development activities that could potentially affect the integrity of the World Heritage property;

5. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission to assess the state of conservation of the property, in particular the implementation of the management plan and EIAs as well as the impacts of poaching, prospecting and mining activities;

6. Further requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with a detailed report by 1 February 2007 on the state of conservation of the property, in particular the measures taken to address key threats to the property and the progress made with the management plan and the EIAs, for examination by the Committee at its 31st session in 2007.

Draft Decision: 30 COM 7B.3

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30.COM/7B,

2. Notes with great concern that the State Party has not responded to the previous request for information about a number of threats to the property;

3. Regrets that financial resources available from the income retention scheme from commercial hunting have decreased significantly in recent years and recommends that the State Party seek independent financial advice on the management of this income retention scheme to support conservation and management of the property;

4. Requests the State Party to commission fully independent EIAs of all proposed mineral mining and dam development activities that could potentially affect the integrity of the World Heritage property;

5. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission to assess the state of conservation of the property, in particular the implementation of the management plan and EIAs as well as the impacts of poaching, prospecting and mining activities;

6. Further requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with a detailed report by 1 February 2007 on the state of conservation of the property, in particular the measures taken to address key threats to the property and the progress made with the management plan and the EIAs, for examination by the Committee at its 31st session in 2007.

Report year: 2006
United Republic of Tanzania
Date of Inscription: 1982
Category: Natural
Criteria: (ix)(x)
Danger List (dates): 2014-present
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 30COM (2006)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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