Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information.

i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
State of Conservation Air and Ténéré Natural ... 2023

Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves

Niger
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
  • Civil unrest
  • Erosion and siltation/ deposition
  • Forestry /wood production
  • Human resources
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Illegal activities
  • Invasive/alien terrestrial species
  • Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
  • Management activities
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Mining
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Political instability and civil strife (issue resolved)
  • Poverty
  • Management constraints (lack of human and logistical means)
  • Ostrich poaching and other species
  • Soil erosion
  • Demographic pressure
  • Livestock pressure
  • Pressure on forestry resources
  • Gold panning
  • Illegal activities (increase in poaching threats and timber harvesting)
  • Proliferation of the invasive exotic species (Prosopis juliflora)
  • Insecurity
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

The region having recently suffered from military conflict and civil disturbance, the Government of Niger requested the Director-General of UNESCO to launch an appeal for the protection of the site

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

In progress

Corrective Measures for the property

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/325  

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

In progress

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023

Total amount provided to the property: USD 300,000 foreseen from the contribution of the Government of Norway to the World Heritage Fund.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Requests approved: 8 (from 1999-2019)
Total amount approved : 202,316 USD
2019 Elaboration d’un Plan d’aménagement et gestion ... (Approved)   29,994 USD
2013 Mission d'évaluation de la réserve naturelle nationale ... (Approved)   29,872 USD
2002 Confection des plaques de commémoration de 2 sites ... (Approved)   450 USD
2000 Préparation d’un dossier d'inscription du site de l’Aïr ... (Approved)   15,000 USD
1999 Financial support for the implementation of the ... (Approved)   75,000 USD
1999 Action plan for the implementation of Urgent ... (Approved)   12,000 USD
1999 Action plan for the implementation of Urgent ... (Approved)   20,000 USD
1999 National Sensitising Seminar for the Personnel Charged ... (Approved)   20,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2023**

May 2005 and February 2015: IUCN Reactive Monitoring missions 

2015 Rapport de la mission de suivi réactif UICN, Réserve naturelle nationale de l’Aïr et du Ténéré (République du ...
2001 Rapport de la mission d'évaluation rapide de la faune des Réserves naturelles de l'Aïr et du Ténéré
2001 Donor mission Report, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves
1998 WHC / IUCN mission report, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves
1997 Mr. André Bourgeot mission report, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves
1995 Preliminary report on Aïr et Ténéré, WHC
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023

On 31 January 2022, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/573//documents/, which contains the following elements:

  • The implementation of the corrective measures continues, in particular with the structuring of the management of the property, the protection and ecological monitoring of the characteristic species of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and the fight against the main threats weighing on the property;
  • The development and management plan, the emergency surveillance plan, the strategy to combat invasive alien species and the proposal of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) are being finalized with international assistance funds. Additional financial resources are needed for their implementation, and an international assistance request was submitted on 28 October 2021;
  • Collaboration with valley chiefs and local communities continues;
  • The abundance of illegal activities is decreasing thanks to monitoring, awareness-raising and the involvement of local actors. The patrols make it possible to control illegal gold panning in the property, which is mainly developing outside the property. Only three offenses related to logging have been reported;
  • The State Party will assign forestry officers to strengthen the management staff of the property;
  • 30 ha invaded by the species Prosopis juliflora have been restored;
  • Four ecological monitoring missions have been carried out and confirm the presence of Dama and Dorcas gazelles and Barbary sheep. The addax has not been observed in the property for more than 20 years. The cheetah and the spotted hyena have not been observed but their presence is reported by members of the local communities. About fifty species of birds have been observed but the numbers of Nubian bustards are decreasing sharply;
  • A conservation and reintroduction strategy has been developed for the red-necked ostrich;
  • The State Party has not granted any exploration or mining permits within or in the immediate surroundings of the property. Exploration and exploitation permits for gold, uranium and oil have been granted at more than 100 km from the property, and have been subject to regulatory procedures and regular monitoring of operations by the competent authorities under the Environmental and Social Management Plans.

Following the state of conservation report, the State Party submitted a draft DSOCR on 9 March 2022, and the 2022-2024 Development and Management Plan on 14 April 2022.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023

The State Party continues its efforts to operationalize the management body of the property, to collaborate with the local authorities to improve surveillance and awareness for the protection of the property and to combat the main threats to the property. It is recommended to congratulate the State Party on the finalization of the 2022-2024 Development and Management Plan (PAG), which provides an in-depth analysis of the state of conservation of the property and the main threats, and recommends emergency measures. The World Heritage Centre is currently in discussion with the State Party and the NGO Wild Africa Conservation to support the implementation of the PAG with funding from the Government of Norway.

Noting that the property has been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger for 30 years, the development of a draft DSOCR is welcomed. The draft is currently being studied by IUCN and it is recommended that the State Party finalize the DSOCR as soon as the comments from IUCN are transmitted by the World Heritage Centre so that the Committee can adopt it at its next session.

The report does not provide information regarding the status of the development of the surveillance contingency plan and the strategy to combat invasive alien species, funded through international assistance, and whether these documents are being finalized or have been integrated into the PAG. Actions to control the Prosopis juliflora species and desertification are carried out but no details are provided. It is recommended to coordinate these actions with the PAG. Furthermore, in 2021 the World Heritage Centre did not receive the request for International Assistance mentioned by the State Party in the annual report submitted.

Despite the Committee’s requests, the information provided regarding illegal activities is not precise enough to assess the state of conservation of the property. It is recommended to reiterate the request to provide maps showing the location of the main threats, as well as indications of their severity and extent. This information is partly detailed in the PAG and must be synthesized and shared. Regular patrols and reduced sighting of illegal activities are positive, however detailed information on patrol efforts and the area covered is not provided. While the annual report mentions only three offenses related to logging, the PAG mentions many illegal activities in the property, including artisanal gold panning and poaching. The commitment of the State Party to assign additional forest officers is welcomed and it is also recommended to strengthen the collaboration with the chiefs of the valleys and to urgently implement the actions detailed in the PAG.

The ecological monitoring missions have reconfirmed the presence of certain antelope species without, however, specifying the state of their populations; and several emblematic species characteristics of the OUV were not observed. Noting that some species remain critically endangered, such as the dama gazelle for which the property contains one of the four remaining populations, the State Party is encouraged to urgently implement surveillance and ecological monitoring actions presented in the PAG to ensure the effective management and recovery of these species, in consultation with the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Antelope Specialist Group, as appropriate. While noting the assertion by the State Party that the exploration or exploitation permits for gold, uranium and oil are located more than 100 km from the property and have been subject to regulatory procedures and regular monitoring of operations by the competent authorities, the PAG documentation includes a map showing several permits on the south-eastern limit of the property. It is therefore recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide more information regarding the nature and status of these permits.

Finally, it is recommended that the Committee retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7A.12
Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) (N 573)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.48 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
  3. Takes note of the efforts made by the State Party to implement the corrective measures, and requests it to continue their implementation;
  4. Welcomes the finalization and quality of the 2022-2024 Development and Management Plan (PAG), and requests the State Party to urgently implement the actions detailed therein, and to provide clarifications concerning its financing, the partnership mentioned with a non-governmental organization and the link with the emergency surveillance plan as well as the strategy for the fight against invasive alien species (IAS);
  5. Thanks the donors supporting the conservation of the property, in particular the Government of Norway for its support in the implementation of the PAG through the World Heritage Centre;
  6. Once again regrets that the report does not provide detailed information on poaching, illegal gold panning and excessive logging in and around the property, as well as on the actions implemented to combat these threats, and reiterates its request that the State Party provide maps showing the location of the main threats identified, as well as indications of their severity and extent, and of the control actions carried out, partially available in the PAG;
  7. Notes with satisfaction the State Party's commitment to assign additional forestry officers and requests it to recruit sufficient staff and strengthen collaboration with the valley chiefs to ensure the effective management of the property and implement the PAG;
  8. Welcomes the proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and requests the State Party to finalize it based on the recommendations of IUCN and to transmit it to the World Heritage Centre for adoption at the 46th session;
  9. Takes note of the actions taken to combat the proliferation of the Prosopis juliflora species and mitigate desertification, and requests the State Party to provide details on these actions and include them in the PAG for the property;
  10. Reiterates its concern that some flagship species of the OUV remain highly threatened or endangered, and urges the State Party to develop a monitoring and recovery plan for the signature antelope species in consultation with the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Antelope Specialist Group and implement the actions detailed in the PAG;
  11. While noting the assertion by the State Party that the exploration and exploitation permits for gold, uranium and oil are located more than 100 km from the property and have been subject to regulatory procedures and regular monitoring of operations by the competent authorities, reiterates its concern about the proliferation of exploration and exploitation permits, noting in particular the permits located at the south-eastern limit of the property. It thus requests the State Party to provide more information concerning the nature and status of these permits and to ensure that the impacts of exploitation projects on the OUV of the property are assessed within the framework of environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA), in accordance with the Guidance and Toolkit on Impact Assessments in a World Heritage context;
  12. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session;
  13. Decides to retain Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
45 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/23/45.COM/7A, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.3, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4),
  2. Having examined the recommendations of the Advisory Bodies, decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 45 COM 7A.51)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 45 COM 7A.52)
  • Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 45 COM 7A.55)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 45 COM 7A.18)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.3)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 45 COM 7A.26)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.1)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.15)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 45 COM 7A.27)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.28)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 45 COM 7A.29)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 45 COM 7A.31)
  • Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 45 COM 7A.10)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 45 COM 7A.33)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 45 COM 7A.34)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 45 COM 7A.35)
  • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 45 COM 7A.36)
  • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 45 COM 7A.37)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 45 COM 7A.11)
  • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 45 COM 7A.22)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 45 COM 7A.23)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 45 COM 7A.24)
  • Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 45 COM 7A.2)
  • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 45 COM 7A.53)
  • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 45 COM 7A.12)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 45 COM 7A.39)
  • Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 45 COM 7A.38)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 45 COM 7A.19)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 45 COM 7A.20)
  • Romania, Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Decision 45 COM 7A.56)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.13)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 45 COM 7A.57)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 45 COM 7A.16)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 45 COM 7A.40)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 45 COM 7A.41)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 45 COM 7A.42)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 45 COM 7A.43)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 45COM 7A.44)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 45 COM 7A.45)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.14)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.17)
  • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 45 COM 7A.54)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 45 COM 7A.21)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 45 COM 7A.47)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 45 COM 7A.49)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 45 COM 7A.50)
3.    Recalls that the following properties were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 18th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2023):
  • Lebanon, Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.1)
  • Ukraine, The Historic Centre of Odesa (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.2)
  • Yemen, Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3)
Read more
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7A.12

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A,
  1. Recalling Decision 44COM 7A.48, adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
  2. Takes note of the efforts made by the State Party to implement the corrective measures, and requests it to continue their implementation;
  3. Welcomes the finalization and quality of the 2022-2024 Development and Management Plan (PAG), and requests the State Party to urgently implement the actions detailed therein, and to provide clarifications concerning its financing, the partnership mentioned with a non-governmental organization and the link with the emergency surveillance plan as well as the strategy for the fight against invasive alien species (IAS);
  4. Thanks the donors supporting the conservation of the property, in particular the Government of Norway for its support in the implementation of the PAG through the World Heritage Centre;
  5. Once again regrets that the report does not provide detailed information on poaching, illegal gold panning and excessive logging in and around the property, as well as on the actions implemented to combat these threats, and reiterates its request that the State Party provide maps showing the location of the main threats identified, as well as indications of their severity and extent, and of the control actions carried out, partially available in the PAG;
  6. Notes with satisfaction the State Party's commitment to assign additional forestry officers and requests it to recruit sufficient staff and strengthen collaboration with the valley chiefs to ensure the effective management of the property and implement the PAG;
  7. Welcomes the proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and requests the State Party to finalize it based on the recommendations of IUCN and to transmit it to the World Heritage Centre for adoption at the 46th session;
  8. Takes note of the actions taken to combat the proliferation of the Prosopis juliflora species and mitigate desertification, and requests the State Party to provide details on these actions and include them in the PAG for the property;
  9. Reiterates its concern that some flagship species of the OUV remain highly threatened or endangered, and urges the State Party to develop a monitoring and recovery plan for the signature antelope species in consultation with the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Antelope Specialist Group and implement the actions detailed in the PAG;
  10. While noting the assertion by the State Party that the exploration and exploitation permits for gold, uranium and oil are located more than 100 km from the property and have been subject to regulatory procedures and regular monitoring of operations by the competent authorities, reiterates its concern about the proliferation of exploration and exploitation permits, noting in particular the permits located at the south-eastern limit of the property. It thus requests the State Party to provide more information concerning the nature and status of these permits and to ensure that the impacts of exploitation projects on the OUV of the property are assessed within the framework of environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA), in accordance with the new Guidance and Toolkit on Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context;
  11. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session;
  12. Decides to retain Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2021
Report year: 2023
Niger
Date of Inscription: 1991
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(ix)(x)
Danger List (dates): 1992-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/23/45.COM/7A
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2022) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2022
arrow_circle_right 45COM (2023)
Exports
Previous 2021

* : 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.


top