Decision : 36 COM 7A.11
Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) (N 573)

The World Heritage Committee, 

1.   Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7A,

2.   Recalling Decision 35 COM 7A.11, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),

3.   Regrets the absence of  precise information in the reports submitted by the State Party on the implementation of the corrective measures and their impact, in response to the decisions of the Committee;

4.   Reiterates its deep concern concerning the deterioration of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property based on reports received indicating that several species of antelope and other large mammals have disappeared from the property, or are on the point of disappearing, following important poaching activities within and around the property due to the insecurity situation;

5.   Reiterates its request to the State Party to clarify the information concerning the existence of an oil concession in the property, and recalls that the Committee adopted several years ago a clear position regarding the issue of mining and oil exploitation and exploration within inscribed properties, judging these activities incompatible with the World Heritage status;

6.   Also reiterates its request to the State Party to organize, before the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee (in June-July 2013), and in cooperation with the IUCN Species Survival Commission, an inventory of the remaining large fauna, in order to assess the state of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and prepare rehabilitation programmes and re-establishment of the populations;

7.   Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property, as soon as the inventory is available to update the corrective measures and establish a timetable for their implementation and develop the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;

8.   Strongly urges the State Party to continue and reinforce its efforts to fully implement all the corrective measures, and in particular the anti-poaching measures, as well as the other recommendations proposed by the 2005 monitoring mission and invites the international community to increase its support to the property;

9.   Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, and in particular on the implementation of corrective measures and their impact on the restoration of integrity of the property, the inventory of fauna, an update on security in the property, and the existence of an oil concession likely to affect the property, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013;

10.  Decides to retain the Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.