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State of Conservation (SOC)

Ichkeul National Park (1985)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1981-1981)
Total Amount Ap proved: 30,000USD

1981   Study on Ichkeul National Park   30,000  USD
Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

[Oral report]

The critical situation of this park, as reported to the Bureau at its 9th session (see text below) had not altered and IUCN noted that if compensatory measures to re-establish the water regime of this Park were not taken very soon, the property would lose its international importance for migratory wildfowl.

 

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9BUR: The Bureau was informed that this internationally important wetland site is subject to a number of threats, including air and water pollution, grazing by domestic stock and hunting, but a large water resource development project may result in very significant impacts on the integrity of the area. The scheme calls for the construction of dams on all six rivers that feed the Ichkeul wetland. The plan is now underway with one dam completed and another in the process of filling. This diversion of freshwater will take about 75% of the inflow to the park which will lose its ability to support the vast numbers of wintering waterfowl for which it is now famous. Compensatory management schemes include a sluice but costs are very high and no formal decisions have been made. To exacerbate the problem, it has been reported that the budget for the park has been reduced from $18,000 in 1984 to $ 7, 000 in 1985. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to contact the Tunisian authorities to initiate the process for inscription on the list of World Heritage in Danger.

Conclusion

IUCN therefore strongly recommended the inclusion of this Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The Tunisian authorities had not responded to the Secretariat's request for further information, however, the representative of Tunisia informed the Committee that he would take up this matter at the highest level and he would inform the Secretariat and IUCN of the results of this enquiry.

Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

09COMXIII.B
Link to the decision

Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia: The critical situation of this park, as reported to the Bureau at its 9th session had not altered and IUCN noted that if compensatory measures to re-establish the water regime of this Park were not taken very soon, the property would lose its international importance for migratory wildfowl. IUCN therefore strongly recommended the inclusion of this Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Tunisian authorities had not responded to the Secretariat's request for further information, however, the representative of Tunisia informed the Committee that he would take up this matter at the highest level and he would inform the Secretariat and IUCN of the results of this enquiry.

 

No draft decision proposed

Ichkeul National Park
State Party:
Tunisia
Date of Inscription: 1980
Nomination records (Year): 1978
Category: Natural
Criteria: (x)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2010
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
1989
1987
1986
1985
Threats*
  • Water infrastructure
  • Air pollution
  • Livestock farming/grazing of domesticated animals
  • Subsistence hunting
  • Water
  • Other Threats:
Documents
SC.85/CONF.008/09
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1537
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 1996 -2006
Threats to the Site:

The Park was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger during the 20th session of the Committee (1996) as a result of significant deterioration in the characteristics for which the site was inscribed.

The construction of three dams on rivers supplying Lake Ichkeul and its marshes has cut off almost all inflow of fresh water, causing a destructive increase in the salinity of the lake and marshes.

Reed beds, sedges and other fresh-water plant species have been replaced by halophytic plants, with a consequent sharp reduction in the migratory bird populations dependent on the habitat the lake formerly provided. According to IUCN, all reed-dependent species such as purple heron, purple gallinule and reed warblers have disappeared.


* : 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.