Project to support the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea) for the empowerment of local communities and the finalization of the Desired State of conservation for the removal of a property from the List of World Heritage Danger (DSCOR)

Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (RNIMN) (Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea) was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. Thereafter, the property has been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger for 29 years due to the development of mining activities (Guinea) and the influx of refugees from Liberia. Today, the property is threatened by the development of mining projects in Guinea and other human-induced pressures (expansion of the agricultural front, road development project, poaching, uncontrolled fires, invasive species and habitat fragmentation).

Transboundary cooperation as a solution to these threats has become a reality again and the two countries are working closely together to remove the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger. In order to support the States Parties in this process and in response to the request for UNESCO's support in order to empower local communities, the project aims to i) provide technical support to the site management teams (OIPR et CEGENS) and their partners in the finalisation of the proposal for the Desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) developed during the 2019 mission; and ii) Support the process of empowerment of local communities in Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea through the development of income-generating activities.

Progress made

• Online meetings with different partners organised, implementation schedule adopted
• Field visit postponed to a later date due to security reasons

Mission in January 2021

Photos: © UNESCO / Dodé Houehounha

source : RTI