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State of Conservation Serengeti National Park 2023

Serengeti National Park

United Republic of Tanzania
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
  • Air transport infrastructure
  • Drought
  • Ground transport infrastructure
  • Illegal activities
  • Major linear utilities
  • Water (extraction)
  • Water infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Potential impacts of a hydro-electric project in Kenya
  • Reduced and degraded water resources
  • Water infrastructure
  • Potential impact of optical cables’ installation
  • Air transport infrastructure
  • Ground transport infrastructure
  • Illegal activities, including poaching
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023

N/A

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Requests approved: 4 (from 1989-1999)
Total amount approved : 59,500 USD
1999 Project Planning Workshop for Strengthening ... (Approved)   7,500 USD
1999 UNESCO'S Toyota LandCruisers originally destined for ... (Approved)   10,000 USD
1990 Additional contribution towards the purchase of a ... (Approved)   12,000 USD
1989 Purchase of a film-van and accessories for Serengeti ... (Approved)   30,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2023**

November 2010: Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission

2010 Reactive Monitoring Mission to Serengeti National Park (United Republic of Tanzania), 30 november - 8 December 2010
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023

On 13 February 2023, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/156/documents, with the following information:

  • A Water Allocation Plan (WAP) for Tanzania for the Mara River, including an Environmental Assessment flow, has been finalized and approved in 2020. It is envisaged that the WAP will be harmonized with that of Kenya by developing a Joint Water Allocation Plan (JWAP). This will be coordinated through the East Africa Community by the established Lake Victoria Basin Commission Secretariat (LVBC);
  • The State Party of Tanzania has no further update on planned dam development in Mara River Basin in Kenya;
  • The proposal to annex the Speke Gulf to the Serengeti National Park has been approved. The boundary modification and compensation to the affected communities will be done in accordance with the Committee’s decision and subject to prevailing Tanzania Laws regarding the matter;
  • The documents requested in Decision 44 COM 7B.36 will be made available during the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission requested in 2018 and 2021;
  • Re-confirmation that the stretch of the northern road crossing the Serengeti National Park from Tabora B to Klein’s gate in the property will remain under the management of TANAPA and will be maintained as a gravel road;
  • Renewed commitment to subject any major development project planned to an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), taking into account cumulative short and long term impacts;
  • Readiness to welcome the requested Reactive Monitoring mission after confirming the dates and agreeing on Terms of Reference (ToR). The State Party also remains ready to invite the State Party of Kenya to join the mission as requested;
  • Willingness to cooperate with the State Party of Kenya for the nomination of “The African Great Rift Valley – The Maasai Mara”, included in the tentative list of Kenya.

On 14 March 2023 the World Heritage Centre transmitted to the State Party third party information received regarding the construction of a golf course near Fort Ikoma in the vicinity of the property. According to the information received, the golf course was under construction and part of the project was completed. To date, no reply has been received from the State Party.

On 15 March 2023, the World Heritage Centre sent a letter to the State Party requesting an invitation letter to conduct the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission. On 6 June 2023, the State Party sent an invitation letter to the World Heritage Centre to undertake the mission. The World Heritage Centre is discussing with IUCN to determine the dates for this mission.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023

The ongoing efforts by Tanzania and Kenya to develop a Joint Water Allocation Plan (JWAP) for the Mara River basin are welcomed. However, it is of concern that no update is available on the status of all dam projects in the Mara River basin, in particular the different projects proposed in Kenya. It needs to be recalled that the water of the Mara River and its tributaries are vital for the survival of the wildlife in the property, to maintain the ecological functioning of the wider Serengeti ecosystem and the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of both the property and the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley World Heritage property. Already water levels in the Mara river are reported to be low because of the recent drought in Kenya, which is likely linked to climate change. It is therefore recommended that the Committee reiterate its concern on the proposed dam project and urge again not to make any decisions on infrastructure development that could affect the water flow into the Mara River before the JWAP is agreed and the impacts on the OUV of the property are thoroughly assessed. The assessment of the status of the dam projects and their potential impact on the OUV of the property will be a focus of the requested Reactive Monitoring mission, hence it is crucial for the State Party of Kenya to provide the update on the status of the dam projects ahead of the mission and to ensure their inclusion in the mission.

The approval of the planned inclusion of Speke Gulf into the park is welcomed as it would provide wildlife in the property with a crucial access to the permanent water supply of Lake Victoria in the event of drought. Once the inclusion in the National Park is completed, it is recommended that the State Party prepare an extension of the World Heritage property to reflect the new area of the park.

It is regrettable that the State Party did not submit the documents requested by the Committee, regarding: (1) the approved 2014-2024 Management Plan for the property, including details of any changes to the zonation of the property, (2) the Route Option Selection Report for the southern bypass route and the feasibility study and preliminary design, including a map of the proposed alignments and (3) the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and the Comprehensive Transport and Trade System Development Master Plan. It is important that these documents are transmitted to the World Heritage Centre in advance of the planned Reactive Monitoring mission.

The State Party report also does not provide an update on the status of the southern bypass route as an alternative to develop the northern road crossing the northern part of the property. While it is welcomed that the State Party had re-confirmed its commitment that the stretch of the northern road crossing the Serengeti National Park in the property will remain under the management of TANAPA and will be maintained as a gravel road, it did not specify its previous commitment to reserve the road mainly for tourism and administrative purposes (Decision 35 COM 7B.7) as requested in the previous decision.

The information that a golf course is under construction near Fort Ikoma is concerning. This location is part of the Ikoma Wildlife Management Area and while not included in the property, it is situated on the main migration route of the wildebeest. It is therefore likely that this development would further hamper the migration. There is increasing evidence that the wildebeest divert their migration patterns to avoid anthropogenic infrastructure. The increasing density of lodges, tented camps and other tourism infrastructure in the property and along the migration routes in the wider Serengeti ecosystem is therefore likely to impact the wildebeest migration, one of the main attributes of the OUV. Given its potential to impact OUV, the golf course development should be subject to a full ESIA, in line with the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context.

Noting that the State Party invited the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission as requested by the Committee (Decision 44 COM 7B.15 ) on 6 June 2023, it is recommended that the mission takes place as soon as possible.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7B.76
Serengeti National Park (United Republic of Tanzania) (N 156)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
  2. Recalling Decisions 35 COM 7B.7, 38 COM 7B.94, 42 COM 7B.96 and 44 COM 7B.[86] adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 38th (Doha, 2014), 42nd (Manama, 2018) and its extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) sessions respectively,
  3. Expresses its continued concern about the proposed dam projects upstream of the property in the Mara River basin, which could have a negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Serengeti National Park and Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley World Heritage properties;
  4. Welcomes the ongoing efforts by the States Parties of the United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya to develop a Joint Water Allocation Plan (JWAP) for the Mara River basin but notes with concern that no update is available on the status of all dam projects in the Mara River basin, in particular the different projects proposed in Kenya;
  5. Reiterates its request to the States Parties of the United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya to submit to the World Heritage Centre as soon as possible, and before the requested Reactive Monitoring mission takes place, an update on the status of all dam projects proposed in the Mara River basin and urges them again not to make any decisions on infrastructure development that could affect the water flow into the Mara River before the JWAP is agreed and the impacts on the OUV of the property are thoroughly assessed;
  6. Also welcomes the approval by the State Party to expand the Serengeti National Park to include the ecologically important Speke Gulf and encourages the State Party to submit a boundary modification to reflect this extension on the World Heritage property in line with the provisions in the Operational Guidelines as soon as the proces of the extension under national law is completed;
  7. Regrets that in spite of its previous request, the State Party did not submit the various documents requested in Decision 42 COM 7B.96 and also urges again the State Party to submit the following documents as soon as possible, and before the requested Reactive Monitoring mission:
    1. The approved 2014-2024 Management Plan for the property, including details of any changes to the zonation of the property,
    2. The Route Option Selection Report and the feasibility study and preliminary design, including a map of the proposed alignments,
    3. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and the Comprehensive Transport and Trade System Development Master Plan;
  8. While noting the confirmation that the State Party will maintain the northern road traversing the property as a gravel road under Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) management, reiterates its request to the State Party to confirm its previous commitment to reserve the road mainly for tourism and administrative purposes (Decision 35 COM 7B.7) and to abandon the construction of the proposed northern highway (Decision 38 COM 7B.94);
  9. Expresses concern about the reported construction of a golf course in the Ikoma Wildlife Management Area, adjacent to the property and a key main migration corridor for the wildebeest, and requests the State Party, given its potential impact on the OUV of the property, to pause the further development of this project until a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, is submitted to the World Heritage Centre and reviewed by IUCN, in line with the requirements of the Operational Guidelines;
  10. Also notes with concern that the increasing density of lodges, tented camps and other tourism infrastructure in the property and along the migration routes in the wider Serengeti ecosystem is increasingly likely to impact the wildebeest migration, one of the main attributes of the OUV;
  11. Further notes that the State Party finally invited the requested joint Word Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission and also requests that the mission be undertaken as soon as possible to review the state of conservation of the property, including all the threats and issues cited above, as well as to assess the implementation of the previous Committee decisions and mission recommendations; 
  12. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session.
Read more
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7B.76

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
  2. Recalling Decisions 35 COM 7B.7, 38 COM 7B.94, 42 COM 7B.96 and 44 COM 7B.15 adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 38th (Doha, 2014), 42nd (Manama, 2018) and its extended 44th (Fuzhou/Online, 2021) sessions respectively,
  3. Expresses its continued concern about the proposed dam projects upstream of the property in the Mara River basin, which could have a negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Serengeti National Park and Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley World Heritage properties;
  4. Welcomes the ongoing efforts by the States Parties of the United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya to develop a Joint Water Allocation Plan (JWAP) for the Mara River basin but notes with concern that no update is available on the status of all dam projects in the Mara River basin, in particular the different projects proposed in Kenya;
  5. Reiterates its request to the States Parties of the United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya to submit to the World Heritage Centre as soon as possible, and before the requested Reactive Monitoring mission takes place, an update on the status of all dam projects proposed in the Mara River basin and urges them again not to make any decisions on infrastructure development that could affect the water flow into the Mara River before the JWAP is agreed and the impacts on the OUV of the property are thoroughly assessed;
  6. Also welcomes the approval by the State Party to expand the Serengeti National Park to include the ecologically important Speke Gulf and encourages the State Party to submit a boundary modification to reflect this extension on the World Heritage property in line with the provisions in the Operational Guidelines as soon as the proces of the extension under national law is completed;
  7. Regrets that in spite of its previous request, the State Party did not submit the various documents requested in Decision 42 COM 7B.96 and also urges again the State Party to submit the following documents as soon as possible, and before the requested Reactive Monitoring mission:
    1. The approved 2014-2024 Management Plan for the property, including details of any changes to the zonation of the property,
    2. The Route Option Selection Report and the feasibility study and preliminary design, including a map of the proposed alignments,
    3. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and the Comprehensive Transport and Trade System Development Master Plan;
  8. While noting the confirmation that the State Party will maintain the northern road traversing the property as a gravel road under Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) management, reiterates its request to the State Party to confirm its previous commitment to reserve the road mainly for tourism and administrative purposes (Decision 35 COM 7B.7) and to abandon the construction of the proposed northern highway (Decision 38 COM 7B.94);
  9. Expresses concern about the reported construction of a golf course in the Ikoma Wildlife Management Area, adjacent to the property and a key main migration corridor for the wildebeest, and requests the State Party, given its potential impact on the OUV of the property, to pause the further development of this project until a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), in line with the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, is submitted to the World Heritage Centre and reviewed by IUCN, in line with the requirements of the Operational Guidelines;
  10. Also notes with concern that the increasing density of lodges, tented camps and other tourism infrastructure in the property and along the migration routes in the wider Serengeti ecosystem is increasingly likely to impact the wildebeest migration, one of the main attributes of the OUV;
  11. Further notes that the State Party finally invited the requested joint Word Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission and also requests that the mission be undertaken as soon as possible to review the state of conservation of the property, including all the threats and issues cited above, as well as to assess the implementation of the previous Committee decisions and mission recommendations;
  12. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session.
Previous 2021
Report year: 2023
United Republic of Tanzania
Date of Inscription: 1981
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(x)
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add
arrow_circle_right 45COM (2023)
Exports
Previous 2021

* : 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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