Taï National Park

Poaching, gold prospection, tree-felling, and subsequent encroachment

As reported to the Committee on five previous occasions, this park has lost much of its integrity since it was inscribed in 1982. The number of elephants for example is now down to less than 100 from 1800 in 1979. Build-up of human population pressures in the buffer zone, gold mining, illegal forest cutting, and poaching continue although a major new WWF project is attempting to improve the situation. IUCN reiterates its concern over the future of this park and again recommends that the Government of Côte d'Ivoire considers nominating Taï for the List of World Heritage in Danger.

At its Twelfth Session, the Committee requested IUCN to report back to the Committee on longstanding concern that this park has lost much of its integrity since its inscription in 1982. IUCN reported to the Bureau in June 1989 that the number of elephants, for example, is now down to less than 100 from 1800 in 1979 and human population pressures on the park and its surrounds continue.

IUCN notes that the Committee had requested the Ivoirian authorities to propose its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger. In June 1989, the Bureau noted that the Secretariat had contacted the Ivoirian authorities, but that only recently a response had been obtained in the form of a request for preparatory assistance in order to prepare a technical cooperation request for an integrated project addressing the need for increased protection of the natural values of this Park and also the socio­economic problems. The contribution of the World Heritage Fund would be used in a catalytic manner adding on to other funding sources. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to follow this matter and consult with IUCN in the preparation of the integrated project for technical cooperation.

In the meantime, a WWF International project has the objective of long-term conservation of the park with particular reference to resolving threats posed by poaching, logging, farming and gold-mining. Some results have been achieved to 30 September 1989 with boundary marking begun and enforcement resulting in five poachers and three illegal gold-miners being imprisoned and a start made on a programme of environmental awareness and education. WWF sees a need for the Ivoirien authorities to be persuaded to support rural development programmes around the park rather than concentrate on boundary demarcation and law enforcement.