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Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves

Niger
Factors affecting the property in 2009*
  • Civil unrest
  • Erosion and siltation/ deposition
  • Forestry /wood production
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Illegal activities
  • Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:

    Poverty

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Political instability and civil strife;

b) Poverty;

c) Management constraints;

d) Ostrich poaching;

e) Soil erosion;

f) Demographic pressure;

g) Livestock pressure;

h) Pressure on wood resources.

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Political instability and civil strife. 

Corrective Measures for the property

The following corrective measures were identified during the 2005 IUCN mission and adopted by the Committee at its 29th session (Durban, 2005):

a) Re-establish physical presence of the management authority in Iférouane and provide adequate resources to allow better control of natural resource use within the property;

b) Establish Land Commissions (Commissions foncières) in the four Municipalities and clarify respective land-use and resource access rights for local residents;

c) Significantly improve monitoring and surveillance of the property in order to address poaching and illegal natural resource extraction;

d) Immediately halt all commercial collection of timber and thatch from the property;

e) Initiate soil and vegetation stabilization actions to control soil erosion, and measures to reduce destabilization of soils by motorized traffic.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2009
Requests approved: 6 (from 1999-2002)
Total amount approved : 142,450 USD
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2009

The political instability and civil conflict, as a result of the Touareg uprising in the early nineties, has prevented effective management presence and facilitated increased poaching by armed nationals and foreigners. As a result of impacts on its Outstanding Universal Value and integrity, the property was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. At the time, poaching by military personnel was identifed as the primary threat to the biodiversity values of the property. Other threats included poisoning of wildlife and destruction of trees for fodder and fuel. An IUCN reactive monitoring mission visited the property in 2005 and confirmed continued threats from poaching. The mission also noted that soil erosion caused by loss of vegetation cover was threatening the fragile ecosystem as a result of livestock pressure, excessive wood collection and unsustainable agricultural practices. In addition, the mission identified critically low populations of threatened wildlife species including Addax, Dama Gazelle and Red-necked Ostrich. In 2006, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/ Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project “Co-management of Natural Resources in the Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves and adjacent areas” (COGERAT) started to address the pressures on the natural resources. Unfortunately, since 2007, renewed fighting in the north of Niger is once again causing political instability in the region where the property is located. The COGERAT project is continuing despite on-going security problems and has adapted its implementation strategy by giving more responsibility for project activities directly to the local communities.

On 2 March 2009, a report on the state of conservation of the property was submitted by the State Party to the World Heritage Centre, which notes the following progress in implementing certain corrective measures and the need for increased international support:

 

a) Re-establish physical presence of the management authority in Iférouane and provide adequate resources to allow better control of natural resource use within the property

With a gradual return of security, the conservation team of the property was able to return to its base in Iférouane and is conducting daily activities in the property including limited surveillance. They have also been equipped with an all terrain vehicle, communication equipment and navigation tools. It is not clear from the report what part of the Reserve is covered by these surveillance activities. In the framework of COGERAT, four project units have been established in the municipalities of Gougaram, Iférouane, Tabelot and Timia.

b) Establish Land Commissions (Commissions foncières) in the four municipalities and clarify respective land-use and resource access rights for local residents

Two land commissions have been established at the regional level in Tchirozéine and Bilma and a first commission has been established at the municipality level in Tabelot. Members of this first village commission were trained in i) evolution of Land Policy in Niger, ii) legal framework and relevant legal codes, iii) implementation of the Rural Code and role of land commissions and stock management, iv) natural resource management and local stakeholder perceptions, and v) the principles and approaches of COGERAT project implementation and administration. It is not clear from the report what has been the impact so far of the commissions that were established in clarifying land use and access rights.

c) Significantly improve monitoring and surveillance of the property in order to address poaching and illegal natural resource extraction

The State Party has begun building surveillance capacity in the municipalities of Timia and Tabelot. Eleven community brigades are involved in surveillance in the property to support the conservation team and COGERAT units to combat poaching and illegal wood harvesting. To support these surveillance activities an action plan for the different municipalities for sustainable resource management of the property was developped and 20 environmental co-management committees and 4 local co-management bodies were established in the Timia municipality. No information is provided on the impacts of these efforts to curb illegal resource use.

An ecological and socio-economic monitoring network is being established using observation sites where climate, environmental and socio-economic information is being collected. No information was provided on the data that were collected so far. The COGERAT project is also conducting research on local knowledge regarding changes in the property.

d) Immediately halt all commercial collection of timber and thatch from the property

COGERAT has conducted studies on wood and thatch use. The research has identified zones of harvesting, harvesting methods used, users and the flow of the resource. The results of these studies are being used to develop an action plan for management of thatch and wood resources. The results have also been used on a regional level to increase stakeholder awareness on the need for conservation of the property’s ecosystem. The State Party reports that alternative technologies to adress the excessive wood and thatch collection will be popularized at household level during the coming years.

e) Initiate soil and vegetation stabilization actions to control soil erosion, and measures to reduce destabilization of soils by motorized traffic

The COGERAT project aims to restore 55,000 ha of degraded habitat within the property. A restoration action plan for degraded land has been developed and is now being implemented. The achievements so far include the following results: restoration and seeding of 406 ha of degraded lands; stabilization of 30 ha of moving dunes; protection of 75 ha of naturally regenerated areas; construction of 3 dikes, protecting 520 m of banks of seasonal streams (koris) to prevent their undercutting and collapse; construction of infiltration areas to support groundwater restoration establishment of 40 ha of plantations; development of 2000 m of hedges as demonstration area and biological protection of 1500 m of koris banks. The report notes that these restoration activities are being intensified this year.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN welcome the efforts of the State Party to start implementing the corrective measures. Unfortunately, the report provides no clear information on the current security situation in the property and the impacts on the conservation activities. The report also provides little information on the impacts of the efforts to implement the corrective measures on the state of conservation of the property, in particular when comparing them to the scale of the property. The World Heritage and IUCN note that the ecological restoration of degraded lands so far only covers a small percentage of the targetted 55000 ha, which in itself is small compared to the size of the property (7.7 Million ha). More support will therefore be needed to accomplish this task and to achieve this the international community needs to be encouraged to expand its support for the full implementation of these corrective measures.

The World Heritage and IUCN further note that the State Party report mentions the development of a number of strategies for the recovery of the property (action plan for sustainable resource management of the property, restoration action plan for degraded land), as well as studies on wood and thatch use and recommends that the State Party provides copies to the World Heritage Centre for information.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN note that no additional information was provided on the status of the biodiversity of the property. Data provided in the 2008 State Party report indicated a serious decline in the populations of critical wildlife species. According to the IUCN Redlist of threatened species review in 2008, key species in the property continue to decline or be found in very low levels. The critically endangered Addax is limited to small isolated groups based on sporadic reports from the field. The 2008 State Party Report concluded that Addax was extinct in the property. IUCN encourages the State Party to clarify the status of this species and to discuss the feasibility of establishing an Addax recovery plan with IUCN’s Species Survival Task Force and the Antelope Specialist Group in particular. IUCN also notes that the critically endangered Dama Gazelle may also still be present in the property. The wild population is now around 500 individuals globally.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN therefore reiterate their recommendation that a comprehensive wildlife survey be undertaken to establish the presence and absence of key species and the need for specific wildlife restoration and encourages the State Party to discuss the results with IUCN species specialists. Such a study would be a basis for defining the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

IUCN also notes that the UNDP/GEF project “Integrating the Sustainable Management of Faunal Corridors into Niger’s Protected Area System” was approved in November 2008 and encourages the State Party to provide information on the activities of this project that are relevant for the conservation of the property.

 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2009
33 COM 7A.10
Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) (N 573)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.10, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Welcomes the fact that in spite of the continuing security problems, the implementation of the corrective measures has now started with support of the Co-management of natural resources of Aïr-Ténéré and its surrounding areas project (COGERAT), but notes that given the size of the property it will take time before a positive impact on the recovery of the Outstanding Universal Value can be registered;

4. Urges the State Party to continue and increase its efforts to fully implement all the corrective measures and other recommendations of the 2005 monitoring mission;

5. Calls upon the international community to increase their support for the implementation of the corrective measures;

6. Requests the State Party to provide copies to the World Heritage Centre of the strategic documents that have been developed for the recovery of the property (action plan for sustainable resource management of the property, restoration action plan for degraded land) as well as the studies on wood and thatch use;

7. Reiterates its request to the State party to organize before the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2010 and, in cooperation with the IUCN Species Survival Commission and its relevant specialists groups, a comprehensive survey of the property, in particular populations size and distribution of threatened species, to evaluate the status of its Outstanding Universal Value and develop population recovery and rehabilitation programmes;

8. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and a proposal for the desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

9. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN mission to the property  as soon as the comprehensive survey mentioned above is available and before the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2011, to assess its state of conservation and progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures in view of establishing the desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, update the corrective measures and set a timeframe for their implementation;

10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the corrective measures and other recommendations of the World Heritage Committee, an overview of current and projected budgets for the management of the property, status of anti-poaching activities, and information on trends in wildlife populations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

11. Decides to retain Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

33 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Following the examination of the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-09/33.COM/7A, WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add and WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Corr),

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

  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 33 COM 7A.20)
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, (Decision 33 COM 7A.21)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 33 COM 7A.1)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 33 COM 7A.28)
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 33 COM 7A.2)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 33 COM 7A.3)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 33 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 33 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 33 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 33 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 33 COM 7A.8)
  • Ecuador, Galápagos Islands (Decision 33 COM 7A.13)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 33 COM 7A.15)
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 33 COM 7A.9)
  • India, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Decision 33 COM 7A.12)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 33 COM 7A.16)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 33 COM 7A.17)
  • Islamic Republic of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Decision 33 COM 7A.22)
  • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 33 COM 7A.18)
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 33 COM 7A.10)
  • Pakistan, Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Decision 33 COM 7A.23)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 33 COM 7A.29)
  • Philippines, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Decision 33 COM 7A.24)
  • Senegal, Niokolo Koba National Park (Decision 33 COM 7A.11)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 33 COM 7A.27)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 33 COM 7A.14)
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 33 COM 7A.30)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 33 COM 7A.19 )
Draft Decision: 33 COM 7A.10

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.10, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Welcomes the fact that in spite of the continuing security problems, the implementation of the corrective measures has now started with support of the Co-management of natural resources of Aïr-Ténéré and its surrounding areas project (COGERAT), but notes that given the size of the property it will take time before a positive impact on the recovery of the Outstanding Universal Value can be registered;

4. Urges the State Party to continue and increase its efforts to fully implement all the corrective measures and other recommendations of the 2005 monitoring mission;

5. Calls upon the international community to increase their support for the implementation of the corrective measures;

6. Requests the State Party to provide copies to the World Heritage Centre of the strategic documents that have been developed for the recovery of the property (action plan for sustainable resource management of the property, restoration action plan for degraded land) as well as the studies on wood and thatch use;

7. Reiterates its request to the State party to organize before the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2010 and, in cooperation with the IUCN Species Survival Commission and its relevant specialists groups, a comprehensive survey of the property, in particular populations size and distribution of threatened species to evaluate the status of its Outstanding Universal Value and develop population recovery and rehabilitation programmes;

8. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value including the conditions of integrity and a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

9. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN mission to the property as soon as the comprehensive survey mentioned above is available and before the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2011 to assess its state of conservation and progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures in view of establishing the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, update the corrective measures and set a timeframe for their implementation;

10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the corrective measures and other recommendations of the World Heritage Committee, an overview of current and projected budgets for the management of the property, status of anti-poaching activities, and information on trends in wildlife populations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

11. Decides to retain Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

 

Report year: 2009
Niger
Date of Inscription: 1991
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(ix)(x)
Danger List (dates): 1992-present
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 33COM (2009)
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.