Aïr and Ténéré nature reserve

Aïr and Ténéré nature reserves
UNESCO world heritage
	Map of the nature reserve
National territory:	Niger
Type:	nature
Criteria :	vii, ix, x
Surface:	7,736,000 ha
Reference No .:	573
UNESCO region :	Africa
	History of enrollment
Enrollment:	1991 (session 15)
Red list :	since 1992

The Aïr and Ténéré nature reserve was established in the state of Niger in 1988 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 . Due to unrest and political conflicts, it was put on the Red List of World Heritage in Danger as early as 1992 . With an area of 7.7 million hectares, it is the largest protected area in Africa. It encompasses diverse, dry landscapes, which are characterized by the sandy Ténéré desert and the rocky Aïr mountains.

fauna

One sixth of the area is primarily used to protect the rare Mendes antelope (Addax reserve). Only a little more than 100 of these endangered antelopes can be found in the southeast of the area. Other large mammal species that survive in the nature reserve are the Dorcas gazelle , whose population is given as 12,000 animals, and the maned sheep , which is estimated at around 3500 animals. The Dama gazelle is much rarer with only around 170 specimens. The saber antelope was last detected in 1983, the dune gazelle was first sighted in the area. Most large carnivores, such as lions and wild dogs, were wiped out by the beginning of the 20th century. However, some cheetahs and striped hyenas survive to this day and feed mainly on feral house-elves. In addition, smaller predators such as African gold wolves , fenneks , ruff foxes , desert lynxes and sand cats occur in larger populations. Also Bandiltisse are detected. Around 70 green baboons and 500 hussar monkeys are found in the reserve. Other distinctive mammals are rock hyrax , porcupines and desert hedgehogs .

The once native ostriches , the population of which was estimated at 800 to 2000 animals around 1990, appear to have recently been exterminated through poaching. It was the last major population of the North African subspecies Struthio camelus camelus . The typical bird species in the area include black grouse , pigeons , bearded birds and larks . The Nubian bustard and the eagle owl also occur. A total of around 40 species of mammals, 165 species of birds and 18 species of reptiles live in the protected area. A species of amphibian has been identified, but no species of fish.

Témet dunes at the transition between Aïr and Ténéré
Black hedge warbler ( Cercotrichas podobe ) in Iferouane

Movie

Air and Ténéré (Niger). No man's land in sand and rocks. Documentary, Germany, 2000, 14:52 min., Script and director: Albrecht Heise, production: SWR , series: Treasures of the World - Heritage of Mankind, table of contents with online video and picture gallery from SWR.

Web links

Commons : Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Entry on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).

Individual evidence

↑ Inventory: Protected Areas and World Heritage: Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves Niger. ( Memento from January 25, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) In: UNEP , WCMC , last status: February 2007, (PDF file, 10 pages, 355 kB).

19 9.8333333333333Coordinates: 19 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N , 9 ° 50 ′ 0 ″ E

[1] Inventory: Protected Areas and World Heritage: Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves Niger. ( Memento from January 25, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) In: UNEP , WCMC , last status: February 2007, (PDF file, 10 pages, 355 kB).