Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
Factors affecting the property in 1996*
- Financial resources
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Illegal activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Mining
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Lack of Management Plan;
- Lack of funding;
- Poaching;
- New railway;
- Mining;
- Proposed reduction of the protected area;
- Refugees from Liberia
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1996
Total amount approved : 325,382 USD
Missions to the property until 1996**
November 1988; June-July 1992: UNESCO field visit; May 1993: joint UNESCO/UNDP/IUCN mission; 1994: 2nd expert mission
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The site was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 because of negative impacts from a proposed iron-ore mining project and threats due to the arrival of a large number of refugees from neighbouring countries.
The Ministry for Energy and Environment in collaboration with the "Mission Française de Cooperation et d'Action Culturelle" is organizing a Round Table on Mount Nimba which will be held in Conakry (Guinea) on 17 and 18 April 1996. A preparatory meeting was held at the French Ministry for Cooperation in Paris on S April 1996 with participation from the Secretariat; a member from the Secretariat was also present at the Round Table in Conakry. The Round Table included representatives of the following donors countries and organizations: France, Germany, Japan, Canada, the Wallonian Region of Belgium, The World Bank, UNDP, the European Union, and USAID. The main recommendation is that UNESCO considers the establishment of a working group to create an "International Foundation for Mount Nimba".
Action Required
The Bureau commended the States Parties for their efforts. However, given the uncertainties concerning the adequate management of the site, and the shortcomings with regard to the on-site management, the Bureau recommended to the Committee to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The site was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 because of negative impacts from a proposed iron-ore mining project and threats due to the arrival of a large number of refugees from neighbouring countries.
The Ministry for Energy and Environment, in collaboration with the "Mission Française de Coopération et d'Action Culturelle", organized a Round Table on Mount Nimba which was held in Conakry, (Guinea) , on 17 and 18 April 1996 with participation from the Secretariat. The Round Table included representatives of the following donor countries and organizations: France, Germany, Japan, Canada, the Wallonian Region of Belgium, The World Bank, UNDP, the European Union, and USAID. The recommendations included that UNESCO consider the establishment of a working group to create an "International Foundation for Mount Nimba". Preliminary discussions of a reflection group began, including legal aspects of such a foundation.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1996
20 BUR IV.7
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Côte d'Ivoire)
The Bureau recalled that the site was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 because of negative impacts from a proposed iron-ore mining project and threats due to the arrival of a large number of refugees from neighbouring countries.
The Bureau took note of a Round Table on Mount Nimba which was held in Conakry (Guinea) on 17 and 18 April 1996 organized by the Ministry for Energy and Environment in collaboration with the "Mission Française de Cooperation et d'Action Culturelle". The Round Table included representatives of the following donor countries and organizations: France, Germany, Japan, Canada, the Wallonian Region of Belgium, The World Bank, UNDP, the European Union, and USAID. The Bureau took note of the recommendation that UNESCO considers supporting the establishment of a working group to create an "International Foundation for Mount Nimba".
The Bureau commended the States Parties for their efforts. However, given the uncertainties concerning the adequate management of the site, and the shortcomings with regard to the on-site management, the Bureau recommended to the Committee to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
20 COM VII.C.17/19
SOC: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Cote d'Ivoire)
VII.17 Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Cote d'Ivoire)
The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 because of negative impacts from a proposed iron-ore mining project and threats due to the arrival of a large number of refugees from neighbouring countries.
The Ministry for Energy and Environment, in collaboration with the "Mission Francaise de Cooperation et d'Action Culturelle", organized a Round Table on Mount Nimba which was held in Conakry (Guinea) on 17 and 18 April 1996 with participation from the Secretariat. The Round Table included representatives of the following donor countries and organizations: France, Germany, Japan, Canada, the Wallonian Region of Belgium, The World Bank, UNDP, the European Union, and USAID. The recommendations included that UNESCO consider the establishment of a working group to create an "International Foundation for Mount Nimba". Preliminary discussions of a reflection group began, including legal aspects of such a foundation, which are to be considered by the Legal Advisor of UNESCO.
The Committee discussed the threats to the site (mining proposal, refugees, lack of management) as well as the question of training of staff.
The Committee commended the states Parties for their efforts. However, given the uncertainties concerning the adequate management of the site, and the shortcomings with regard to the on-site management, the Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee may wish to adopt the following:
"The Committee commends the States Parties for their efforts. However, given the uncertainties concerning the adequate management of the site, and the shortcomings with regard to the on-site management, the Committee decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger."
Côte d'Ivoire 
Guinea
Exports
* :
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.
