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State of Conservation Comoé National Park 2014

Comoé National Park

Côte d'Ivoire
Factors affecting the property in 2014*
  • Civil unrest
  • Fire (widlfires)
  • Illegal activities
  • Land conversion
  • Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Conflict and political instability;
  • Lack of management control and access;
  • Poaching;
  • Encroachment: human occupation and agricultural pressure;
  • Bush fires.
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Unrest in Côte d’Ivoire is having an adverse effect on the site
  • Poaching of wildlife and fires caused by poachers
  • Over-grazing by large cattle herds
  • Absence of effective management
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1050

Corrective Measures for the property

Adopted, see pages https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1050  and https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4336

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

Adopted, See page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1050

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2014

Total amount granted: USD 50,000 from the UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme and Rapid Response Facility

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2014
Requests approved: 3 (from 1988-1999)
Total amount approved : 97,000 USD
1999 Strengthening the Protection of the Comoe National Park (Approved)   50,000 USD
1993 Purchase of an all-terrain vehicle for Comoe National ... (Approved)   30,000 USD
1988 Purchase of a vehicle for Comoe National Park (Approved)   17,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2014**

January 2013: IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission; June 2006: Joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN monitoring mission

2013 Rapport de mission, Mission de suivi réactif au Parc national de la Comoé, Côte d'Ivoire, 19‐26 janvier 2013
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2014

On 26 January 2014, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report on the property, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/227/documents. The State Party reported on the following:

  • Steps have been taken vis a vis the Ministry of Mining and Energy to identify the mining exploration permits allowing encroaching the property.
  • Since 2010, several projects implemented within the property have considerably decreased threats.  Other projects are foreseen in 2014, including sustainable management, local measures and boundary marking of the property.
  • The surveillance patrol missions have observed the presence of wildlife on several occasions in the property, including elephant. The presence of chimpanzees and lions in the perimeter of the property remains to be confirmed.
  • The aerial inventory of the property was unable to be carried out in 2013; it is foreseen in March 2014. A biological monitoring methodology is being developed. The indicators proposed for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger will be reviewed on the basis of the results of the inventory.

The report also informs on the progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures:

  • Important rehabilitation efforts as regard the control posts, trails and boundary markings are mentioned as well as theavailability of equipment.
  • The updated management plan, including the rehabilitation plan, is not yet available. The establishment of the zoning and the boundaries of the property was not carried out in 2013, but should be effected in 2014, with UNESCO’s financial support.
  • The Village Conservation and Development Associations (VCDA) were established for most of the 25 neighbouring villages surrounding the property. In 2013 the villagers were involved in approximately 20% of the surveillance patrols and their involvement in the management of the property will be further strengthened in 2014.
  • Awareness raising activities have been carried out to seek a sustainable solution as regards illegal grazing pressure within the property. Further, several agricultural occupants have accepted to abandon 100.62 ha of illegally used land, and natural regeneration of this land is progressing.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2014

Further progress has been made in the security situation and management of the property. Numerous indications of animal activity have been reported by the State Party including information concerning the presence of elephants within the property. In the absence of an updated inventory, it is however impossible to confirm this information and establish a monitoring procedure. The census requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013) is an absolute priority. The results of this inventory should then permit the identification of indicators for the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger. Also, the monitoring activities to be established following this inventory will enable a record of progress accomplished in the achievement of these indicators.

It is, however, unfortunate that the updating of the management plan and notably the rehabilitation plan, to be implemented together, has not been carried out in accordance with the foreseen timetable. This is also another priority objective to efficiently coordinate all the control, rehabilitation, inventory and monitoring activities.

It is also unfortunate that despite the urgent request of the World Heritage Committee, the State Party has not yet provided information on the granting of mining exploration permits within the property. Also, the State Party has provided no information on the result of the impact studies on mining research permits granted for the northern sector of the property. Further, it is recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to provide all the necessary official information on these two issues.

Finally, it is considered that, although important progress has been achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures and other priority actions, the rehabilitation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and in particular the wildlife populations, is taking time.  The results of the inventory will enable to specify the proposed indicators for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger and to establish a realistic timetable. It is recommended consequently that the property remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2014
38 COM 7A.35
Comoé National Park (Côte d’Ivoire) (N 227)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.2, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
  3. Commends the State Party for the efforts undertaken in the implementation of the corrective measures and the actions carried out with the local populations in establishing the Village Conservation and Development Associations (VCDA) and their involvement in surveillance patrols;
  4. Notes with concern the delay in carrying out the wildlife inventory to enable the identification of value indicators for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger and requests the State Party to give priority to this inventory;
  5. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, in consultation with IUCN, a proposal for the value indicators for the Desired state of conservation, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
  6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to officially confirm as soon as possible, that no mining research or exploitation permit, industrial or artisanal, affects the property and to submit to the World Heritage Centre the results of the impact studies on mining research permits granted in the northern part of the property on its Outstanding universal value, in conformity with the IUCN’s World Heritage advice note on Environmental Assessments;
  7. Further requests the State Party to urgently update the management plan and the establishment of the rehabilitation plan so as to coordinate efficiently all the control, rehabilitation and monitoring actions;
  8. Furthermore requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the corrective measures and the above-mentioned issues, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
  9. Decides to retain Comoé National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
38 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (retained sites)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-14/38.COM/7A and WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add),
  2. Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 38 COM 7A.14)
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 38 COM 7A.15)
  • Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 38 COM 7A.31)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.34)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 38 COM 7A.21)
  • Colombia, Los Katíos National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.32)
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.35)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.36)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.37)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.38)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.39)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.40)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.41)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 38 COM 7A.1)
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.43)
  • Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 38 COM 7A.16)
  • Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 38 COM 7A.17)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.33)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 38 COM 7A.28)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 38 COM 7A.2)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 38 COM 7A.3)
  • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 38 COM 7A.4)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 38 COM 7A.44)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 38 COM 7A.24)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 38 COM 7A.25)
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 38 COM 7A.45)
  • Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 38 COM 7A.5)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 38 COM 7A.20)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 38 COM 7A.22)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.46)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 38 COM 7A.18)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 38 COM 7A.29)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 38 COM 7A.26)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 38 COM 7A.19)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.30)
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 38 COM 7A.23)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 38 COM 7A.13)
Read more
Draft Decision:  38 COM 7A.35

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,

2.  Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.2, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),

3.  Commends the State Party for the efforts undertaken in the implementation of the corrective measures and the actions carried out with the local populations in establishing the Village Conservation and Development Associations (VCDA) and their involvement in surveillance patrols;

4.  Notes with concern the delay in carrying out the wildlife inventory to enable the identification of value indicators for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger and requests the State Party to give priority to  this inventory;

5.  Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, in consultation with IUCN, a proposal for the value indicators for the Desired state of conservation, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;

6.  Reiterates its request to the State Party to officially confirm as soon as possible, that no mining research or exploitation permit, industrial or artisanal, affects the property and to submit to the World Heritage Centre the results of the impact studies on mining research permits granted in the northern part of the property on its Outstanding universal value, in conformity with the IUCN’s World Heritage advice note on Environmental Assessments; 

7.  Further requests the State Party to urgently update the management plan and the establishment of the rehabilitation plan so as to coordinate efficiently all the control, rehabilitation and monitoring actions;

8.  Furthermore requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the corrective measures and the above-mentioned issues, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;

9.  Decides to retain Comoé National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Previous 2013 Next 2015
Report year: 2014
Côte d'Ivoire
Date of Inscription: 1983
Category: Natural
Criteria: (ix)(x)
Danger List (dates): 2003-2017
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC-14/38.COM/7A
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2014) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 38COM (2014)
Exports
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* : 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.


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