Lakes of Ounianga
Factors affecting the property in 2014*
- Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
- Erosion and siltation/ deposition
- Housing
- Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
- Solid waste
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Threats identified at the time of inscription of the property in 2012:
- urban development and infrastructures;
- waste management;
- pollution;
- transboundary road traffic;
- agricultural development;
- tourism development;
- silting of the lakes/reduction in water supply;
- absence of an adequate management plan;
- human pressure.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2014
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2014**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2014
The State Party has not submitted a state of conservation report on the property despite the request made by the Committee at its 36th session (Saint Petersburg, 2012). However, it has submitted a revised 10-year management plan, in conformity with the recommendation of Decision 36 COM 8B.7.
Although the Lakes of Ounianga are not seriously threatened due to their distance from large urban centres, thus having a reduced population with less developed economic activities, various current or potential threats do exist. The human and natural factors must be taken into consideration, including waste management, water wastage, truck traffic, infrastructural development and tourism, silting, erosion of the banks and human pressure. Consequently, the implementation of concrete measures foreseen in the management plan remains crucial.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2014
It is recommended that the Committee reiterate the conditions and recommendations made at the time of inscription. The property is located in an extremely sensitive geo-climatic conditions; any action linked to excessive development and/or poor management of human activities around the lakes could have a significant impact with very limited possibilities for restoration.
Therefore, it is important to fully implement the management plan, including ensuring efficient functioning of the management unit and its long-term funding. The management plan was developed in a participatory process in accordance with the Committee recommendations. It contains a certain number of expected actions expressed in general terms that should be defined and confirmed in the annual budgets and planning.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2014
38 COM 7B.88
Lakes of Ounianga (Chad) (N 1400)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7B.Add,
- Recalling Decision 36 COM 8B.7 adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
- Regrets that the State Party has not submitted a state of conservation report that was requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012), but welcomes the publication of a management plan for the property for 2014-2023, as requested by the Committee;
- Requests the State Party to implement the management plan for the property and to provide adequate staffing and resources to this end;
- Also reiterates its request to the State Party to implement the recommendations contained in Decision 36 COM 8B.7, adopted at the time of inscription of the property;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, a report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the recommendations adopted at the time of inscription of the property, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.
Draft Decision: 38 COM 7B.88
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 8B.7 adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted a state of conservation report that was requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012), but welcomes the publication of a management plan for the property for 2014-2023, as requested by the Committee;
4. Requests the State Party to implement the management plan for the property and to provide adequate staffing and resources to this end;
5. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to implement the recommendations contained in Decision 36 COM 8B.7, adopted at the time of inscription of the property;
6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, a report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the recommendations adopted at the time of inscription of the property, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.
Chad
* :
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.
