Niokolo-Koba National Park
Factors affecting the property in 2017*
- Drought
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Illegal activities
- Invasive/alien terrestrial species
- Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
- Mining
- Translocated species
- Water infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Poaching, capture and relocation of wildlife
- Drying up of ponds and invasive species
- Illegal logging
- Livestock grazing
- Road construction project
- Potential dam construction
- Potential mining exploration and exploitation
- Loss of chimpanzee habitat
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Poaching
- Livestock grazing
- Dam construction project at Sambangalou
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/4087
Revised (finalization of indicators) in 2015, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6232
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6232
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6232
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2017
Total amount approved : 206,799 USD
| 2017 | Mise à jour du plan de gestion du Parc national de ... (Approved) | 29,674 USD |
| 2015 | Dénombrement de la grande et moyenne faune mammalienne, ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 2004 | Extension du Site du PM du Niokolo Koba (Senegal) à la ... (Approved) | 9,984 USD |
| 2002 | Derby Eland Monitoring Programme (Approved) | 29,296 USD |
| 1991 | Purchase of 2 all-terrain vehicles to improve ... (Approved) | 45,000 USD |
| 1990 | Consultancy services for environmental and ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1986 | Additional cost of radios ordered in 1985 for ... (Approved) | 6,196 USD |
| 1985 | Purchase of 4 portable radios for protection programme ... (Approved) | 9,618 USD |
| 1982 | Vehicles, camping equipment and radio communication ... (Approved) | 27,031 USD |
Missions to the property until 2017**
2001, 2007 and 2010: Joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN Reactive Monitoring missions. 2015: IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2017
On 31 January 2017, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/153/documents/, and provided information on the implementation of the corrective measures, as follows:
- Assignment of additional officers, deployment of a third mobile brigade and construction of five guard posts;
- Increased surveillance effort: there was an increase in arrests, including gold miners, poachers, illegal breeders and loggers;
- Training offers to agents of the property, including environmental monitoring and application of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART);
- Annual removal of Mimosa pigra, as part of the restoration of the ponds;
- Continued provision of material and financial resources for the rehabilitation of the trails;
- Request for international assistance submitted to the World Heritage Centre to support the updating of the management plan;
- Implementation since 2016 of an ecological monitoring programme to be integrated into the management plan. The annual report for 2016 is appended to the State Party's report;
- Work on densification of speed bumps on the RN7 national road is under way;
- On 14 July 2016, a mining concession was granted to the Mako gold prospection project for the period 2016-2027. As part of the project's mitigation measures, an intervention area of 1,700 km² was identified in the southeastern part of the property where the large mammalian fauna is concentrated. The NGO Panthera, contracted by the Pétowal Mining Company, has proposed an intensified protection project for this area for the period 2016-2027
In addition, the State Party indicated the following:
- The permanent closure of the Mansadala basalt quarry is planned for late 2018. Several impact mitigation measures are being implemented;
- The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA, annexed to the State Party report) of the Sambangalou dam, dating from 2007, was approved by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development in February 2015. A specific evaluation of the project's impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property has not yet been carried out. However, impacts on the hydrological regime of the property are likely to have negative impacts on the park's habitats and the flora and fauna that depend on it.
On 11 May 2017, a meeting was held with the State Party, the World Heritage Centre, IUCN and the company Toro Gold, during which the company explained the current state of implementation of the Mako gold prospection project.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2017
It is recommended that the Committee welcome the State Party's efforts to implement the corrective measures. Progress has been made, particularly with regard to strengthening the anti-poaching mechanism and the capacities of the property's staff. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to continue these efforts. It is also recommended that the Committee take note with satisfaction of the State Party's confirmation that the basalt quarry at Mansadala will be permanently closed in 2018.
The updating and implementation of the ecological monitoring programme, as well as the intention to integrate it into the management plan of the property, is noted. The updating of the management plan, which remains a priority for the property, was the subject of a request for international assistance submitted by the State Party in 2016, for which the recommendations of the evaluation panel are positive.
The State Party has not provided information on the status of other corrective measures or progress made to achieve the Desired state of conservation with a view to the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), in particular the improvement of the property’s boundary marking and the improvement of the development of grazing and land watering points in the village territories around the property to minimize the encroachment of livestock inside the property. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide information on the implementation of all corrective measures and to provide more information on progress towards the achievement of the state of conservation indicators with a view to the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) in its next report to the Committee.
There is no mention of any new elements concerning the current state of development of the Sambangalou dam project. An evaluation of the impacts of the project on the OUV of the property has not yet been made, despite repeated requests from the Committee. It is therefore recommended that the Committee reiterate this request and express once again its deep concern about the potential impacts of the project on the OUV of the property, in particular the foreseeable impacts on the reduction of the area of the forest galleries and the Ronier Palm stands, the river fording by the great fauna and on the insufficient water supply of the flood basins and the ponds in the property. In addition, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide more details on the current status of the project. If the project is implemented, there is a risk that the continued drying up of the ponds, which is already a problem, is likely to accelerate, which in turn would further facilitate the proliferation of the Mimosa pigra invasive species.
It is also worth recalling the concerns expressed by the Committee at its 40th session in 2016 about the potential impacts of the gold prospection project at Mako, in particular that they could exacerbate existing problems such as poaching, illegal gold panning and habitat fragmentation. The intensified protection project proposed by the NGO Panthera, which will cover the southeastern area of the park adjacent to the gold prospection project, is therefore a very pertinent initiative, which is welcomed. However, it is highly regrettable that a mining concession has been granted without the Committee's requests being implemented, notably that the project's ESIA be revised to take account of the Committee's concerns and to identify an alternative design and location of the project that would not adversely affect the OUV of the property. In addition, no mitigation measures have yet been identified for the permanent loss of chimpanzee habitat outside the property, and works have started before an adaptive management was introduced to mitigate the impacts (direct and indirect, expected and unforeseen) as implementation of the project proceeds, as confirmed by the company Toro Gold at the meeting of 11 May 2017. It is therefore recommended that the Committee strongly regret the allocation of a mining concession and request that the State Party take all necessary precautions to avoid any impact of the project on the OUV of the property. The granting of a mining concession at Mako would make it unrealistic, as long as the project is operational, to implement the corrective measure requiring a "prohibition of any extractive (traditional or industrial) activity within the property, as well as outside the property insofar as such activity could have a negative impact on the OUV including the conditions of integrity".
For all the above reasons, it is recommended that the property be retained on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2017
41 COM 7A.16
Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) (N 153)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decisions 39 COM 7A.13 and 40 COM 7A.46, adopted respectively at its 39th (Bonn, 2015) and 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016) sessions,
- Welcomes the State Party's efforts to implement the corrective measures, in particular as regards strengthening the anti-poaching mechanism and the capacities of the property staff, and requests the State Party to continue these efforts;
- Also welcomes the intensified protection project prepared, discussed and implemented following a Memorandum of Understanding concluded between the National Parks Directorate (DPN), Petowal Mining Company (PMC) and the NGO Panthera, covering the southeastern part of the property adjacent to the mining concession in Mako;
- Also recalling its concern about the potential impacts of the gold prospection project at Mako that could exacerbate existing problems, such as poaching, illegal gold-mining and habitat fragmentation, and its request to the State Party that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the project be monitored and implemented to reflect this concern;
- Regrets that a mining concession was granted to the Mako gold prospection project for the period 2016-2027;
- Also requests the State Party to take all necessary precautions to avoid any impact of the project on the OUV of the property, including the permanent loss of chimpanzee habitat outside the property, considered as having a direct impact on its OUV;
- Considering that the exploitation of the mine is underway, requests the State Party to take all necessary measures to ensure that this exploitation has no negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property to enable the implementation of all corrective measures adopted by the Committee in its Decision 39 COM 7A.13;
- Also regrets that an evaluation of the impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the OUV of the property has still not been carried out, despite repeated requests from the Committee and, once again expressing deep concern about the potential impacts of the project on the OUV of the property, in particular on the reduction of the areas of gallery forests and Ronier Palm stands, on the river fording by the great fauna and on the insufficient water supply of the flood basins and the ponds in the property, reiterates its request to the State Party to submit a specific study on the impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the OUV of the property in accordance with the IUCN World Heritage Advice Note: the Environmental Assessment, before any decision on its construction, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, and also to provide updated information on the status of this project;
- Notes the updating and implementation of the ecological monitoring program and its foreseen integration in the management plan of the property, while recalling that updating and implementing the management plan remains an urgent priority;
- Takes note with satisfaction of the State Party's confirmation that the basalt quarry at Mansadala will be permanently closed in 2018;
- Further requests the State Party to provide in its next report information on the implementation of all corrective measures and on the progress made towards achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
- Requests moreover that the State Party submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
- Decides to retain Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
41 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/17/41.COM/7A, WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add and WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add.2),
- Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 41 COM 7A.54)
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 41 COM 7A.55)
- Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 41 COM 7A.2)
- Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 41 COM 7A.23)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.4)
- Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 41 COM 7A.24)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 41 COM 7A.6)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.7)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.8)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 41 COM 7A.9)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.10)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.11)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 41 COM 7A.32)
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 41 COM 7A.3)
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 41 COM 7A.18)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 41 COM 7A.33)
- Iraq, Hatra (Decision 41 COM 7A.34)
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 41 COM 7A.35)
- Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 41 COM 7A.36)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 41 COM 7A.37)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 41 COM 7A.38)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 41 COM 7A.39)
- Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 41 COM 7A.40)
- Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 41 COM 7A.41)
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 41 COM 7A.14)
- Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 41 COM 7A.28)
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 41 COM 7A.29)
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 41 COM 7A.30)
- Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 41 COM 7A.56)
- Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 41 COM 7A.15)
- Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 41 COM 7A.42)
- Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 41 COM 7A.43)
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 41 COM 7A.25)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 41 COM 7A.26)
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.16)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 41 COM 7A.21)
- Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 41 COM 7A.19)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 41 COM 7A.44)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 41 COM 7A.45)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 41 COM 7A.46)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 41 COM 7A.47)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 41 COM 7A.48)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 41 COM 7A.49)
- Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 41 COM 7A.31)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 41 COM 7A.22)
- United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 41 COM 7A.17)
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.1)
- Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 41 COM 7A.57)
- Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 41 COM 7A.27)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 41 COM 7A.51)
- Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 41 COM 7A.52)
- Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 41 COM 7A.53)
Draft Decision: 41 COM 7A.16
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decisions 39 COM 7A.13 and 40 COM 7A.46, adopted respectively at its 39th (Bonn, 2015) and 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016) sessions,
- Welcomes the State Party's efforts to implement the corrective measures, in particular as regards strengthening the anti-poaching mechanism and the capacities of the property staff, and requests the State Party to continue these efforts;
- Also welcomes the intensified protection project submitted by the NGO Panthera, covering the southeastern part of the property adjacent to the mining concession in Mako;
- Also recalling its concern about the potential impacts of the gold prospection project at Mako that could exacerbate existing problems, such as poaching, illegal gold-mining and habitat fragmentation, and its request to the State Party that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the project be revised to reflect this concern and to identify an alternative design and location of the project that would not have a negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, strongly regrets that a mining concession was granted to the Mako gold prospection project for the period 2016-2027;
- Also requests the State Party to take all necessary precautions to avoid any impact of the project on the OUV of the property, including the permanent loss of chimpanzee habitat outside the property, considered as having a direct impact on its OUV;
- Considers that the corrective measure in paragraph 4.i) of Decision 39 COM 7A.13 cannot be implemented as long as the mining concession in Mako exists and is operational;
- Also regrets that an evaluation of the impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the OUV of the property has still not been carried out, despite repeated requests from the Committee and, once again expressing deep concern about the potential impacts of the project on the OUV of the property, in particular on the reduction of the areas of gallery forests and Ronier Palm stands, on the river fording by the great fauna and on the insufficient water supply of the flood basins and the ponds in the property, reiterates its request to the State Party to submit a specific study on the impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the OUV of the property in accordance with the IUCN World Heritage Advice Note: the Environmental Assessment, before any decision on its construction, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, and also to provide updated information on the status of this project;
- Notes the updating and implementation of the ecological monitoring program and its foreseen integration in the management plan of the property, while recalling that updating and implementing the management plan remains an urgent priority;
- Takes note with satisfaction of the State Party's confirmation that the basalt quarry at Mansadala will be permanently closed in 2018;
- Further requests the State Party to provide in its next report information on the implementation of all corrective measures and on the progress made towards achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
- Requests moreover that he State Party submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
- Decides to retain Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
SenegalDocuments examined by the Committee
41COM (2017)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.
