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Serengeti National Park

United Republic of Tanzania
Factors affecting the property in 2006*
  • Illegal activities
  • Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
  • Water infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Potential impacts of a hydro-electric project in Kenya;

b) Poaching.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2006
Requests approved: 4 (from 1989-1999)
Total amount approved : 59,500 USD
Missions to the property until 2006**

No monitoring missions. Various missions under the “Enhancing Our Heritage” project have been undertaken, including one in September 2005. 

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2006

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN are aware of plans to develop a new five-star, 120-room tourist lodge, “Bilila Lodge”, within the World Heritage property, at some 30 km from Seronera towards Lobo. This development is linked to a proposal for a similar lodge by the same developer within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The World Heritage Centre wrote to the State Party on 18 October 2005 regarding this issue, but at the time of writing this report no response had been received.

IUCN has received reports of concern from its network noting that the proposed tourist development is likely to have detrimental effects on the integrity of the property, notably by increasing tourism pressure, including on limited water resources, and interfering with the natural migration of animals. The lodge is apparently planned on a wildlife corridor of critical importance, particularly for wildebeest migration across the Mara Serengeti ecosystem. IUCN urges the State Party to ensure that any tourist development at the property is in line with the property’s management plan and does not have any adverse impacts on the integrity of the property.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN are in touch with the Institute of Resource Assessment of the University of Dar es Salaam. The institute is charged with carrying out the EIA currently underway on behalf of the lodge developers. IUCN and the World Heritage Centre have requested in a letter to the State Party (16 February 2006) that they be fully consulted and allowed to review the preliminary outcomes of the EIA.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN note that a revised general management plan (2005-2015) has been approved for the property. It has been well received by all stakeholders and may act as a model for other Parks in Tanzania. It is, however, important that it is fully implemented and used for all planning within the property. In addition, the UNESCO-IUCN-UNF Enhancing Our Heritage Project has assisted in developing an ecological monitoring programme for the Park as part of the general management planning process.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2006
30 COM 7B.7
State of Conservation (Serengeti National Park)

The World Heritage Committee,

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

2. Commends the State Party for the recent approval of the general management plan (2005 to 2015) for the property and the development of the ecological monitoring programme for the property under the UNESCO-IUCN-UNF Enhancing Our Heritage project;

3. Urges the State Party to consult widely, including with IUCN and the World Heritage Centre, on the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) relating to the proposed new lodge development at Bilila, and to carefully consider alternative options so that there are no adverse impacts on the integrity of the property;

4. Notes with concern the lack of response from the State Party to the World Heritage Centre's request for information on the lodge development;

5. Requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2007 on this issue for examination by the Committee at its 31st session in 2007.

Draft Decision: 30 COM 7B.7

The World Heritage Committee,

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

2. Commends the State Party for the recent approval of the general management plan (2005-2015) for the property and the development of the ecological monitoring programme for the property under the UNESCO-IUCN-UNF Enhancing Our Heritage project;

3. Urges the State Party to consult widely, including with IUCN and the World Heritage Centre, on the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) relating to the proposed new lodge development at Bilila, and to carefully consider alternative options so that there are no adverse impacts on the integrity of the property;

4. Notes with concern the lack of response from the State Party to the World Heritage Centre’s request for information on the lodge development;

5. Requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2007 on this issue for examination by the Committee at its 31st session in 2007. 

Report year: 2006
United Republic of Tanzania
Date of Inscription: 1981
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(x)
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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