Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves
Factors affecting the property in 1996*
- Illegal activities
- War
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Armed conflict
- Poaching
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1996
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1996**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 as it was affected by civil disturbances. The Committee at its nineteenth session recalled that a peace agreement was signed on 9 October 1994 and that it had encouraged the authorities to implement it and to undertake all efforts to safeguard the site. In 1995 a dialogue was established between the parties, which has paved the way for a return to a normal situation and may allow for a detailed evaluation of the state of conservation of the site as well as the development of an action programme for the recovery of the site.
An IUCN project is underway to assist in re-establishing the management regime. A report from the project may be available in time for the Bureau meeting.
Action Required
The Bureau may wish to examine the report that will be provided by IUCN on the site and subsequently may wish to consider whether the site should remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 as it was affected by civil disturbances. The Committee at its nineteenth session recalled that a peace agreement was signed on 9 October 1994 and that it had encouraged the authorities to implement it and to undertake all efforts to safeguard the site. In 1995 a dialogue was established between the parties, which has paved the way for a return to a normal situation and may allow for a detailed evaluation of the state of conservation of the site as well as the development of an action programme for the recovery of the site.
The Bureau at its twentieth session took note of information provided by IUCN, that an IUCN project of 1 Million US$ is underway to assist in re-establishing the management regime. A written progress report on this project is expected in time for the extraordinary session of the Bureau.
In their letter of 22 July 1996, the Ministry of Education informed the Centre that the site faces severe problems and that other conditions have been aggravated since 1992. In the information they provide the following problems are indicated: insecurity, poaching and deforestation, as the local population lives mainly from products from the Reserve.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1996
The Committee may wish to examine the report that will be provided by IUCN on the site and subsequently, despite the significant national and international effort being made to re-establish a management regime, decide whether the site should remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1996
20 BUR IV.7
Aïr-et-Ténéré Reserve (Niger)
The Bureau recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 as it was affected by civil disturbances and that a peace agreement was signed on 9 October 1994. In 1995 a dialogue was established between the parties, which has paved the way for a return to a normal situation and may allow for a detailed evaluation of the state of conservation of the site as well as the development of an action programme for its recovery.
The Bureau was informed that an IUCN project of 1 Million US$ is underway at the site to assist in re-establishing the management regime and that a report from the project will be available in August 1996. The Delegate of Niger underlined that a mission would be necessary to evaluate the situation.
The Bureau recommended that the 20th extraordinary session of the Bureau in November 1996 may wish to examine the report that will be provided by IUCN on the site, and subsequently may wish to consider whether the site should remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
20 COM VII.C.19/21
SOC: Air and Tenere Reserve (Niger)
VII.19 Air-et-Tenere Reserve (Niger)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 at the request of Niger as it was affected by civil disturbances. The Committee recalled that a peace agreement was signed on 20 April 1995 and that it had encouraged the authorities to strengthen their efforts to safeguard the site. In 1995 the dialogue established between the Parties, allowed for a detailed evaluation of the state of conservation of the site as well as the development of an action programme for the recovery of the site.
The Committee took note of additional information provided by IUCN, that an IUCN/WWF project, which had already implemented US$ 6 million over the past ten years, continues at a reduced level to assist in re-establishing the management regime. This IUCN/WWF project will resume with funding from DANIDA and the Swiss Cooperation, when the security situation allows. A mission to the site by project staff is planned in February 1997.
The Secretariat informed the Committee of a meeting in Niger in October 1996, during which an encounter was arranged with the Minister of Environment and the Advisor to the President on the Air et Tenere region. At this meeting information was provided that the itinerary of the Rally Paris-Dakar (January-February 1997) would cross through the World Heritage site. Upon return, the organizer of the rally was contacted and an alternative route was proposed in coordination with the Permanent Delegation of Niger to UNESCO. A meeting was organized in the World Heritage Centre on 8 November 1996 and as a re suit, a new itinerary was agreed upon which does not enter the World Heritage site.
The Committee commended Niger and the Secretariat for this success to avert threats from the Rally to the area. The Delegate of Niger reiterated the request that a mission be organized to the Air et Tenere Region in February 1997 to evaluate the situation of the site inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. He also indicated that the situation in the Air et Tenere Region has improved since the peace agreement was signed.
The Committee decided to retain for the time being the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Niger
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.
