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State of Conservation (SOC)

Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (2004)

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1980-2001)
Total Amount Ap proved: 249,607USD

2001   Support to African countries to attend Regional Workshop on ...   20,000  USD
2000   Lutte contre le Salvinia molesta dans le delta du fleuve du ...   130,475  USD
1998   2nd International Conference on Wetlands and Development, ...   20,000  USD
1992   Purchase of redwood and other materials for repairing sluice ...   10,000  USD
1988   Financial contribution to repair sluices in Djoudj National Park   20,000  USD
1982   Equipment for biological research and surveillance at Djoudj ...   29,132  USD
1980   Joint mission to draw up a plan of protection for Djoudj National ...   20,000  USD
Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Agriculture Pressure; Lack of capacity in conservation techniques; Lack of management mechanism (including legislation); Lack of monitoring system; Lack of human or financial resources; Fundamental change/diminution of protection.

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

In its report to the 27th session of the Committee, IUCN confirmed the State Party’s statement that the proliferation of the invasive species Salvinia molesta, which lead to the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2000, had been reduced to an acceptably low level. The Centre and IUCN received a letter dated 3 March 2004 from the Director of the National Parks of Senegal, requesting the Committee to maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and referring to a number of persisting threats already reported by the State Party in 2003, namely a retreat of natural faunal habitats due to the colonization of invasive aquatic species, growing salinity in the soils resulting in increased mortality of riverine vegetation and silting up of river courses causing a reduction in the natural river flow and impacts on biodiversity. The letter also has proposed a small experts workshop in order to urgently prepare a plan of action. The letter provides no information with regard to possible benchmarks and timeframes for the possible removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

 

IUCN reiterates its observation that, although Salvinia molesta is now under control in the property, monitoring is still needed and that there is a need to asses the threat caused by another invading species, Typha australis, which is colonizing open water bodies due to changing hydrological conditions created by the upstream dam. Unlike Salvinia molesta, which was introduced from the neotropics, Typha australis is a native species that due to changes in environmental conditions has been expanding rapidly into the ecosystem. IUCN notes that, being a native species, it is impossible to control using biological methods. However, it might be managed by increasing water depth, and/or cutting stems under water. 

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

28COM15A.7
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Requests the World Heritage Centre and IUCN in co-operation with the State Party and the IUCN invasive species specialist group, to undertake a mission to the property to: assess the level of threat posed by they proliferation of Typha australis and other invasive aquatic species; assess the other problems reported by the State Party, namely the growing salinity and silting up of the rivers, and; advise on required actions and possible benchmarks and timeframes for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger and submit recommendations for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 29th session in 2005;

2. Decides to retain Djoudj Bird Sanctuary on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

28COM15C.2
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Following examination of state of conservation reports of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-04/28.COM/15A Rev),

2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

  • Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, Afghanistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.21)
  • Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.22)
  • Butrint, Albania (Decision 28 COM 15A.28)
  • Tipasa, Algeria (Decision 28 COM 15A.16)
  • Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, Azerbaijan (Decision 28 COM 15A.29)
  • Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin (Decision 28 COM 15A.14)
  • Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park, Central African Republic (Decision 28 COM 15A.1)
  • Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire (Decision 28 COM 15A.2 )
  • Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea (Decision 28 COM 15A.5)
  • Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Virunga National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Garamba National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Salonga National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Sangay National Park, Ecuador (Decision 28 COM 15A.12)
  • Abu Mena, Egypt (Decision 28 COM 15A.17)
  • Simien National Park, Ethiopia
  • (Decision 28 COM 15A.4)
  • Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras (Decision 28 COM 15A.13)
  • Group of Monuments at Hampi, India (Decision 28 COM 15A.24)
  • Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, India (Decision 28 COM 15A.10)
  • Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat), Iraq (Decision 28 COM 15A.18)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, Jerusalem (Decision 28 COM 15A.31)
  • Timbuktu, Mali (Decision 28 COM 15A. 15)
  • Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Decision 28 COM 15A.25)
  • Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger (Decision 28 COM 15A.6)
  • Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.26)
  • Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone, Peru (Decision 28 COM 15A.30)
  • Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Philippines (Decision 28 COM 15A.27)
  • Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Senegal (Decision 28 COM 15A.7 )
  • Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia (Decision 28 COM 15A.9)
  • Everglades National Park, United States of America (Decision 28 COM 15A.11)
  • Historic Town of Zabid, Yemen (Decision 28 COM 15A.20)

Draft Decision:  28 COM 15A.7

 

The World Heritage Committee,

 

1.   Requests the State Party to invite the Centre and IUCN in close co-operation with the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, to organise an expert mission to the property to assess the level of threat posed by the proliferation of Typha australis and other invasive aquatic species as well as the other problems reported by the State Party, namely the growing salinity and the silting up of rivers and to advise on required actions and possible benchmarks and timeframes for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;

 

2.   Decides to retain Djoudj Bird Sanctuary on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

 

Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
State Party:
Senegal
Date of Inscription: 1981
Nomination records (Year): 1978
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(x)
Danger List: Yes
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2011
2009
2007
2006
2005
2004
1992
1991
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
Threats*
  • Water
  • Erosion and siltation/ deposition
  • Invasive / alien freshwater species
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-04/28.COM/15A.Rev
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1368
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2000 -2006
Threats to the Site:

The sanctuary is threatened by an aquatic fern, Salvinia molesta, which proliferates across the river and invades neighboring Mauritania Diawling park. An attempt biological control - by introducing beetles eating plants supplied by South Africa - has not yielded the expected results.

The national authorities are in favor of registration to facilitate their task and to appeal to donors.

Year: 1984 -1988
Threats to the Site:

The Committee was informed by IUCN that the immediate threat posed by the earthen dam upstream from this property had been removed since the recent rains had been sufficiently abundant to wash this temporary dam away. However, the longer term threat posed by the dam to be constructed down-stream still remained and still,seriously jeopardised the future of this site.

 


* : 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.