List of national parks of Niger
Encyclopedia
Niger is home to a number of national parks and protected areas, including two UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves. The protected areas of Niger normally have a designation and status determined by the Government of Niger. Further, fourteen sites also have international designations, applied by UNESCO
and the Ramsar Convention
on wetlands protection. Protected lands in Niger are managed by a number of authorities, and the areas of authority and structure have changed a number of times since independence. Some of the first Reserves, Parks, and protected areas were designated under French Colonial rule
and much of the legal regime is based on these colonial laws. Niger is also party to a number of international agreements and participates in international ecological, conservation, and resource management programs with its neighbors, region, and worldwide.
Note: most sites have at least two overlapping designations.
Other international conventions ratified by the Nigerien government include the Convention on Biological Diversity
, the Convention on Migratory Species, CITES, the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Climate Change, the African - Eurasian Waterfowl Agreement, the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Convention on Game Hunting and the Convention on Plant Protection.
designated Important Bird Area
s (IBA). Many of these are additional designations given to existing Nigerien government, IUCN, or Ramsar designated sites.
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
on wetlands protection. Protected lands in Niger are managed by a number of authorities, and the areas of authority and structure have changed a number of times since independence. Some of the first Reserves, Parks, and protected areas were designated under French Colonial rule
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
and much of the legal regime is based on these colonial laws. Niger is also party to a number of international agreements and participates in international ecological, conservation, and resource management programs with its neighbors, region, and worldwide.
Type and number of protected areas
Protected lands in Niger fall under both national and international regulation, and are managed by elements of the Nigerien government, as well as regional bodies and international designation oversight bodies. Initial classification of lands as legally protected for conservation of flora, fauna, landscape, and resource protection was done under French Colonial rule beginning in 1936. Much of the legal framework of land management and protection is based on these original regulations. As of the late 1990s, most land management was the area of the Nigerien Natural Resource Management Unit (Cellule de Gestion des Resources Naturelles) of the Inter-ministerial Sub-committee for Rural Development (Sous-Comité Interministériel chargé de la politique de Dévelopement Rural au Niger), which includes ministries focused on environmental issues, industrial resource extraction, economic growth, and farming. Nigerien designated protected areas were administered by the Direction of Fauna, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Direction de la Faune, de la Pêche et de la Pisciculture - DFPP) of the Ministry of Hydrology and the Environment (Ministère de l'Hydraulique et de l'Environnement - MHE). Actual protection is the responsibility of the DFPP's Fauna and Apiculture Management Service (Service d'Aménagement de la Faune et de l'Apiculture - SAFA) which in 1987 had only 40 staff actually managing or guarding sites.Note: most sites have at least two overlapping designations.
National Designations
Various Nigerien government designations, administered by the "Direction de l'Environnment" office of the Ministry of Hydrology and Environment.- 4 Total Faunal Reserves, the equivalent of the World Commission on Protected AreasWorld Commission on Protected AreasThe World Commission on Protected Areas is one of six Commissions of the IUCN . WCPA is the world's premier network of protected area expertise...
/IUCN Category IV - Habitat/Species Management Area. - 1 Partial Faunal Reserve, the equivalent of the World Commission on Protected Areas/IUCN Category IV.
- 1 Faunal Reserve Buffer Zone.
- 1 National Nature Reserve, the equivalent of the World Commission on Protected Areas/IUCN Category IV.
- 1 Strict Nature Reserve, the equivalent of the World Commission on Protected Areas/IUCN Category Ia (Nature ReserveNature reserveA nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
). - 1 National ParkNational parkA national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
, the equivalent of the World Commission on Protected Areas/IUCN Category II (National Park).
- 79 Forest Reserves (Forêts Classées) totaling 212,000 ha
- 51 restoration and land protection areas totaling 69,000 ha
International Conventions and Programmes
Additionally, several sites have international designations as protected areas. As signatories of the below conventions, the Government of Niger places restrictions on use of these lands.- 12 Wetlands of International Importance (RamsarRamsar ConventionThe Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
). As a Convention signatory, Niger has agreed to establish wetlands protective areas , which may restrict use and promote "the wise use of wetlands in their territory". - 2 UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Convention siteWorld Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s, which are also the - 2 UNESCO-MAB Biosphere ReserveBiosphere reserveThe Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
s. Both are listed under Natural criteria vii, ix, x. These are:
-
- VII. "to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance";
- IX. "to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals";
- X. "to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-site conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation."
- 1 UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Convention siteWorld Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
is also on the UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
List of World Heritage in Danger.
- 1 UNESCO
Other international conventions ratified by the Nigerien government include the Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
, the Convention on Migratory Species, CITES, the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Climate Change, the African - Eurasian Waterfowl Agreement, the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Convention on Game Hunting and the Convention on Plant Protection.
Nongovernmental
A number of Nigerien sites are recognised by conservation programmes as conservation areas of special importance, even where there is no formal government convention. Notable among these are 15 BirdLife InternationalBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
designated Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
s (IBA). Many of these are additional designations given to existing Nigerien government, IUCN, or Ramsar designated sites.
Parks and Reserves
- Air and Ténéré Natural ReservesAïr and Ténéré National Nature ReserveThe Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve is a national nature reserve in the West African nation of Niger. It includes several overlapping reserve designations, and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
: This includes several overlapping designations.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site 573 criteria vii, ix, x
- World Heritage established 1991, endangered 1993
- 7,736,000 hectares
- Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve, IUCN type IV
- Established 1 January 1988
- 6,456,000 hectares
- Aïr and Ténéré Addax SanctuaryAïr and Ténéré Addax SanctuaryThe Aïr and Ténéré Addax Sanctuary is a nature reserve in the north center of the nation of Niger. The reserve forms part of the larger Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
- Strict Nature Reserve IUCN type Ia
- Established 1 January 1988
- 1,280,000 hectares
- Gadabedji Total ReserveGadabedji ReserveThe Gadabedji Total Reserve is a nature reserve in the central region of the African nation of Niger. It is a Total Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV, covering some 76,000 hectares within the northern tip of the Maradi Region, just north of the town of Dakoro, and south of the border with the Agadez...
- Gadabedji Total Reserve
- Total Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV
- Establishment 25 April 1955, by Law No. 3120/S.E. Also a 'fôret classée'
- 76,000 hectares
- Tadres Total ReserveTadres ReserveThe Tadrès Total Reserve is a nature reserve in the central north of the African nation of Niger, southwest the city of Agadez. It is a Total Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV, covering some 788,928 hectares within the Agadez Region...
- Tadres Total Reserve
- Total Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV
- 788,928 hectares
- Tamou Total ReserveTamou ReserveThe Tamou Total Reserve is a nature reserve in the southwest of the African nation of Niger. It is a Total Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV, covering some 75,600 hectares within the Tillaberi Region...
- Tamou Total Reserve
- Total Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV
- 75,600 hectares
- Termit Massif Total ReserveTermit Massif ReserveThe Termit Massif Total Reserve is a nature reserve in the southeast of the African nation of Niger.-Geography:It is a Total Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV, established 1 January 1962, covering over 700,000 hectares of the Termit Massif...
- Termit Massif Total Reserve
- Total Faunal Reserve
- 700,000 hectares
- Termit Massif Faunal Reserve Buffer Zone: This forms a half ring around the southern border of the larger Termit Massif Total Reserve.
- Faunal Reserve Buffer Zone
- W du NigerW National ParkThe W National Park is a major national park in West Africa around a meander in the River Niger shaped like a "W". The park includes areas of the three countries Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso, and is governed by the three governments...
- W du Niger
- National Park - IUCN type II
- UNESCO World Heritage Site 749 criteria vii, ix, x
- World Heritage established 1996
- 220,000 hectares
- Dosso Partial Faunal ReserveDosso ReserveThe Dosso Partial Faunal Reserve is a nature reserve in the southwest Dosso Region of the African nation of Niger. It is a Partial Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV, established 1 January 1962. The reserve covers 3,065 square kilometres in the mouth of Dallol Bosso valley, a seasonal wash and ancient...
- Dosso Partial Faunal Reserve
- Partial Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV
- Established 1 January 1962
- 306,500 hectares
Ramsar Wetland sites
- Complexe Kokorou-Namga
-
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar), Inland Wetlands
- Established 1981
- 66,829 hectares
- Dallol BossoDallol BossoThe Dallol Bosso is one of two major seasonal river valleys in southwest Niger. The Dallol Bosso valley runs from the Azaouad area in the Sahara west and south through the Dosso Region where it reaches the Niger River valley.-Human habitation:...
Wetlands
- Dallol Bosso
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- 376,162 hectares
- Dallol Maouri Wetlands
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- 318,966 hectares
- La Mare de Dan Doutchi Wetlands
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- 25,366 hectares
- Gueltas et Oasis de l'Aïr Wetlands sites
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- La Mare de Lassouri Wetlands
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- La Mare de Tabalak Wetlands
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- Lac Tchad Wetlands - Niger
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- Oasis du Kawar Wetlands
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- Parc national du "W" Wetlands - Niger
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- Zone humide du moyen Niger Wetlands - Niger
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
- Zone humide du moyen Niger II Wetlands - Niger
- Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)