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State of Conservation Niokolo-Koba National Park 2018

Niokolo-Koba National Park

Senegal
Factors affecting the property in 2018*
  • 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 http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4087
Revised (finalization of indicators) in 2015, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6232  

Corrective Measures for the property

Adopted, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6232 

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

Adopted, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6232

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2018
Requests approved: 9 (from 1982-2017)
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 2018**

2001, 2007 and 2010: Joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN Reactive Monitoring missions. 2015: IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission

2015 Rapport de la mission UICN au Parc national du Niokolo-Koba (Sénégal), 10-17 mai 2015
2015 Rapport de mission: Inventaire de la grande faune du Parc National du Niokolo Koba au Sénégal, 7-20 avril 2015
2010 Rapport de mission, Parc national de Niokolo-Koba (Sénégal), 4 - 11 mai 2010
2007 Mission Report UNESCO/IUCN Joint Monitoring Mission to Niokola-Koba National Park, Senegal, 21-27 January 2007
2001 Rapport de la mission de suivi conjointe Centre du patrimoine mondial/l’UICN au Parc national du Niokolo Koba, ...
1992 IUCN / Senegal National Park Service / University of Dakar joint mission report, Niokolo-Koba National Park
1989 World Bank mission report, Niokolo-Koba National Park
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2018

On 31 January 2018, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report for the property, available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/153/documents/ and provided information on the implementation of Decision 41 COM 7A.16, as follows:

  • Creation of four new guard posts, with four other posts in the process of being created. Twenty-two posts are operational, as well as three zonal and mobile brigades, which have been strengthened with staff, logistics and equipment. 226 km of the trails in the strategic zones have been rehabilitated;
  • Results of the 2016 and 2017 ecological monitoring indicate viable populations of the flagship species such as the lion, wild dog, chimpanzee, Derby eland, and suggest a positive progressive tendency in numbers and rate of encounter;
  • Regular monitoring of a dozen or so ponds, most of which retain water throughout the dry season. Activities to combat invasive species continue and research is ongoing for the total eradication of the Mimosa pigra within the property;
  • Awareness-raising in the communities focused on respect of property boundaries, as well as gradual participation of the communities in its management: creation of mini borings, water holes, irrigated areas and fish ponds in the bordering villages of the property, considerably reduce the encroachment of livestock and grazing in the property;
  • Suppression of the gold-mining activities in the Mako area through a reinforced surveillance mechanism;
  • Monitoring impacts of the gold prospecting project at Mako (Pétowal Mining Company, PMC), including monthly controls of surface and underground water quality at the project site and in the surrounding area;
  • Creation of conservation areas outside the property in the bordering communities of Tomboronkoto, with support of the PMC, to compensate the impacts of its project, notably to improve the conservation of priority species such as the chimpanzee;
  • No funds are available for the construction of the Sambangalou dam. Studies are ongoing to determine the inter-connectivity of the waters of the Gambia River and the ponds located in the property.

In May 2017, the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee approved a request for International Assistance to update the Management Plan for the property, to be completed in August 2018.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2018

The State Party continues to make efforts to implement the corrective measures. Progress has been achieved in the intensified protection project area implemented by the National Parks Directorate (DPN), PMC and the NGO Panthera, covering the south-eastern part of the property. The introduction of the SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) system to monitor the efforts of the patrols is also warmly welcomed.

The State Party’s report indicates positive tendencies of the species monitored by the bio-monitoring programme. However, as the database only covers two years, more time is required to confirm these tendencies, both as regards the number of flagship species and their rates of encounter. Also, more data must be collected to confirm the downward trend in poaching. It is recommended that the State Party provide SMART data on the coverage of the property by the patrols.

Although the ongoing updating of the Management Plan, thanks to International Assistance, is welcomed, as of April 2018, activities foreseen for this activity have not yet been initiated. Therefore, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to ensure that this updating be carried out without delay.

The potential impacts of the Mako gold prospection project remain a serious concern. The efforts of the State Party and the PMC to ensure a monitoring of the impacts have been noted; however, no report resulting from this monitoring has been submitted by the State Party, except hydrological data concerning the quantity of water in the River Gambia. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre a monitoring report, including an analysis of the data on the quantity and quality of the surface and underground water above and below the Mako gold prospection project. It is also appropriate to recall that the Committee had expressed its serious concern as regards the potential impacts of the project on the chimpanzee populations within the concession. It is therefore recommended that the Committee also request the State Party to provide specific and detailed data on the monitoring of the chimpanzees (habitat utilization, areas of vital importance, etc.), to enable an assessment of the actual impacts of the project on this species, as well as an evaluation of the efficacy of the conservation areas created outside the property with a view to mitigating these impacts and improving the conservation of the species.

The current studies to determine the inter-connectivity of the River Gambia and the ponds located in the property are an important step towards assessing the impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. This project remains a potential threat to the property and must be the subject of a detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), that includes and evaluation of the impacts on the OUV of the property, in conformity with the IUCN`s World Heritage Advice Note: environmental assessment. It is further recommended that the Committee request the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of the development of this project.

It is regrettable that no information has been provided concerning the closure of the basalt quarry at Mansadala, foreseen for 2018. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to rapidly confirm whether the closure of the quarry has been effected as foreseen, recalling that this date has already been postponed several times.

Despite the progress accomplished, more time and efforts are required to ensure that the positive tendencies are maintained for at least three consecutive years, as stipulated by the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR). Consequently, it is recommended that the Committee maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.  

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2018
42 COM 7A.55
Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) (N 153)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7A.16, adopted during its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
  3. Warmly welcomes the continued efforts of the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures, in particular those concerning the anti-poaching mechanism, the ongoing updating of the Management Plan of the property and the implementation of an ecological monitoring system, the combat against invasive species, the development of grazing areas and the reduction of livestock encroachment in the property, as well as the gradual participation of the communities in the management of the property, and requests the State Party to continue its efforts;
  4. Takes note of the positive tendencies of the species monitored by the bio-monitoring programme but considers that the data base must be extended before these tendencies are confirmed, and notes a reduced level of poaching;
  5. Reiterates its concerns concerning the impact of the Mako gold prospection project on the OUV of the property and takes note of the efforts of the State Party and the Pétowal Mining Company (PMC) to ensure a monitoring of these impacts, but regrets that no monitoring report on the quality of the waters has been provided and also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre a monitoring report, including an analysis of the data on the quantity and quality of the surface and underground waters above and below the project;
  6. Recalling its deep concern as regards the potential impacts of the Mako gold prospection project on the chimpanzees, further requests the State Party to provide specific and detailed data on the monitoring of this species, to enable an evaluation of the actual impacts of the project, as well as an assessment of the efficacy of the conservation areas created outside the property with a view to mitigating these impacts and improving the conservation of this species;
  7. Also considers that the current studies to determine the inter-connectivity of the waters of the River Gambia and the ponds located in the property are an important step towards providing an assessment of the impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and reiterates its request to the State Party to develop an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the project, in conformity with the IUCN`s World Heritage Advice Note: environmental assessment, and to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of its progress, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, as requested for many years;
  8. Further requests the State Party to confirm, without delay, whether the closure of the basalt quarry at Mansadala has been effected as foreseen, recalling that the closure date has already been postponed several times;
  9. Finally, requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, 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 43rd session in 2019;
  10. Decides to retain Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
42 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/18/42.COM/7A, WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add and WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add.2),
  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 42 COM 7A.1)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 42 COM 7A.2)
  • Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 42 COM 7A.5)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 42 COM 7A.8)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.45)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 42 COM 7A.9)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 42 COM 7A.46)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.47)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.48)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 42 COM 7A.49)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.50)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.51)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 42 COM 7A.17)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 42 COM 7A.44)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 42 COM 7A.40)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 42 COM 7A.18)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 42 COM 7A.19)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 42 COM 7A.20)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 42 COM 7A.21)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 42 COM 7A.22)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 42 COM 7A.23)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 42 COM 7A.24)
  • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 42 COM 7A.25)
  • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 42 COM 7A.26)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 42 COM 7A.53)
  • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 42 COM 7A.13)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 42 COM 7A.14)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 42 COM 7A.15)
  • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 42 COM 7A.3)
  • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 42 COM 7A.54)
  • Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 42 COM 7A.27)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 42 COM 7A.29)
  • Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 42 COM 7A.28)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 42 COM 7A.10)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 42 COM 7A.11)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.55)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 42 COM 7A.6)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 42 COM 7A.41)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 42 COM 7A.30)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 42 COM 7A.31)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 42 COM 7A.32)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 42 COM 7A.33)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 42 COM 7A.34)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 42 COM 7A.35)
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 42 COM 7A.16)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 42 COM 7A.7)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 42 COM 7A.56)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.42)
  • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 42 COM 7A.4)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 42 COM 7A.12)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 42 COM 7A.37)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 42 COM 7A.38)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 42 COM 7A.39)
Read more
Draft Decision: 42 COM 7A.55

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7A.16, adopted during its 41st session (Cracow, 2017),
  3. Warmly welcomes the continued efforts of the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures, in particular those concerning the anti-poaching mechanism, the ongoing updating of the Management Plan of the property and the implementation of an ecological monitoring system, the combat against invasive species, the development of grazing areas and the reduction of livestock encroachment in the property, as well as the gradual participation of the communities in the management of the property, and requests the State Party to continue its efforts;
  4. Takes note of the positive tendencies of the species monitored by the bio-monitoring programme but considers that the data base must be extended before these tendencies are confirmed, and notes a reduced level of poaching;
  5. Reiterates its concerns concerning the impact of the Mako gold prospection project on the OUV of the property and takes note of the efforts of the State Party and the Pétowal Mining Company (PMC) to ensure a monitoring of these impacts, but regrets that no monitoring report on the quality of the waters has been provided and also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre a monitoring report, including an analysis of the data on the quantity and quality of the surface and underground waters above and below the project;
  6. Recalling its deep concern as regards the potential impacts of the Mako gold prospection project on the chimpanzees, further requests the State Party to provide specific and detailed data on the monitoring of this species, to enable an evaluation of the actual impacts of the project, as well as an assessment of the efficacy of the conservation areas created outside the property with a view to mitigating these impacts and improving the conservation of this species;
  7. Also considers that the current studies to determine the inter-connectivity of the waters of the River Gambia and the ponds located in the property are an important step towards providing an assessment of the impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and reiterates its request to the State Party to develop an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the project, in conformity with the IUCN`s World Heritage Advice Note: environmental assessment, and to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of its progress, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, as requested for many years;
  8. Further requests the State Party to confirm, without delay, whether the closure of the basalt quarry at Mansadala has been effected as foreseen, recalling that the closure date has already been postponed several times;
  9. Finally, requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, 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 43rd session in 2019;
  10. Decides to retain Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2017 Next 2019
Report year: 2018
Senegal
Date of Inscription: 1981
Category: Natural
Criteria: (x)
Danger List (dates): 2007-2024
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/18/42.COM/7A
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2018) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 42COM (2018)
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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