Dja Faunal Reserve
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
- Commercial hunting
- Forestry /wood production
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Commercial logging in adjoining natural forests
- Poaching
- Mine exploration phase (issue resolved)
- Logging roads used for the transportation bushmeat
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
Total amount approved : 84,700 USD
| 1997 | Sub-Regional workshop on Strengthening Biodiversity ... (Approved) | 29,900 USD |
| 1992 | Financial contribution for a training workshop on the ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1989 | Contribution to field training in Dja National Park (Approved) | 4,800 USD |
| 1987 | Contribution to the adoption and implementation of the ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2003**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003
WHC:
Dja Faunal Reserve is one of the World Heritage sites that has been reported in the last years to be heavily impacted by wildlife extraction as bush meat, and encroachment on the buffer zone by timber concessions. The Committee at its twenty-fifth session was informed by the Centre and IUCN of the new Forest Initiative for African World Heritage (AWHFI) of UNESCO/FAO, which was under preparation for submission to United Nations Foundations in which Dja is included. The Committee was furthermore informed of the Bush Meat Task Force Initiative and the organization in Yaounde, Cameroon in 2001 of a workshop on "Links between Biodiversity Conservation, Livelihoods and Food Security and the Use of Wild Meat".
The State Party submitted a state of conservation report to the Centre, dated 16 February 2003. Additionally, the State Party requested international assistance for organizing a training workshop in order to prepare a Management Plan for Dja Faunal Reserve. The report received indicates that since October 2002, the "Conservation Service of Cameroon", funded by the Ecosystèmes forestiers d'Afrique centrale (ECOFAC/UE), has been working on preparation of the Management Plan for the site. The first phase has been completed. A consultation meeting was held with the Minister for Environment and Forestry on 14 February 2003. The draft management plan was presented and approved by the Minister. The second phase of the project consist of organising a series of restitution training workshops to be held in strategic "four corners" of the Dja Faunal Reserve for administrative personnel, the representatives of the communities on the periphery of the site, to be followed by one national inter-ministerial seminar for the validation of the management plan. The World Heritage Centre secured the support from the Netherlands Funds In Trust, amounting to US$60,000, to be used towards the rapid assessment of biodiversity of Dja Faunal Reserve. This support will enable finalization of the rapid assessment task and organisation of the above mentioned workshop. The State Party has already submitted a preliminary biodiversity assessment report.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7B.1
Dja Faunal Reserve (Cameroon)
The World Heritage Committee [1],
1. Recalling that requests have been made by the Committee and its Bureau to the State Party to take urgent actions to stop illegal poaching in the Reserve and to implement the recommendations of the Sangmelima workshop ("Participative Management and Sustainable Development", 23 - 26 March, 1998, organised by World Heritage Centre),;
2. Noting that the State Party has renewed efforts to improve the management of Dja Faunal Reserve by drafting a management plan,;
3. Welcomes the actions being undertaken by the State Party to implement the recommendations of the Sangmelima workshop, requested by various sessions of the Committee and the Bureau within the framework of the Periodic Report;
4. Requests the State Party to submit a copy of the draft management plan to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN by 1 February 2004 for their review in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 28th session in 2004;
5. Expresses appreciation for the support provided under the Netherlands Funds- iIn- Trust agreement with UNESCO to assist Cameroon to undertake actions recommended by the Committee for the protection of Dja Faunal Reserve, including the rapid assessment of biodiversity of the property.
[1] Decision adopted without discussion
Draft Decision: 27 COM 7 (b) 1
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Recalling that requests have been made by the Committee and its Bureau to the State Party to take urgent actions to stop illegal poaching in the Reserve and to implement the recommendations of the Sangmelima workshop;
2. Noting that the State Party has renewed efforts to improve the management of Dja Reserve by drafting a Management Plan;
3. Welcomes the actions being undertaken by the State Party to implement the recommendations of the Sangmelima workshop requested by various sessions of the Committee and the Bureau within the framework of the periodic report,
4. Requests the State Party to submit a copy of the draft Management Plan to the Centre and IUCN for their review,
5. Expresses appreciation for the support provided under the Netherlands Funds In Trust agreement with UNESCO to assist Cameroon undertake actions recommended by the Committee for the protection of Dja Faunal Reserve, including the rapid assessment of biodiversity of the site.
Cameroon
* :
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.
