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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 'Montagnes bleus' in Aïr | |
 Interactive map of Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves | |
| Location | Aïr Mountains,Ténéré,Arlit Department,Niger |
| Includes |
|
| Criteria | Natural: (vii), (ix), (x) |
| Reference | 573 |
| Inscription | 1991 (15thSession) |
| Endangered | 1992 – |
| Area | 7,736,000 ha (29,870 sq mi) |
| Website | http://www.cons-dev.org/consdev/niger/PARCAIR/ParcAir.html |
| Coordinates | 18°N9°E / 18°N 9°E /18; 9 |
  Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve Aïr & Ténéré Natural Reserves in Niger | |
TheAïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve (French:Réserves naturelles de l'Aïr et du Ténéré) is a national nature reserve inNiger. It includes several overlapping reserve designations, and is designated aUNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers both the eastern half of theAïr Mountains and the western sections of theTénéré desert.
It has been identified byBirdLife International as anImportant Bird Area.[1] The mountains are an important spot forafrotropical andpalaearctic migratory birds.
The Aïr and Ténéré Natural ReservesUNESCO World Heritage Site was established in 1991, and designated as asite in danger in 1992. It was designated under criteria vii, ix, x, and is designated #573. The entire reserve covers 77,360 square kilometres (29,870 sq mi), which made it the second largest nature reserve in Africa, and the fourth largest in the world.[2]
UNESCO's Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves include two parts:
In 2023, UNESCO reported that the reserve was under threat due to civil unrest and mining.[4] Though illegal activities continue to threaten the reserve, local involvement has helped control gold panning.[4]
The 2023 UNESCO report told of four ecological missions. These missions confirmed Dama and Dorcas gazelles and Barbary sheep were still present on the reserve. The addax has not been sighted in 20 years. As for birds, 50 species have been observed with the number ofNubian bustards showing a sharp descrease. In contrast, 165 species of birds were observed in the initial UNESCO listing. The declining biodiversity in the reserve is one of the reasons it is listed on the World Heritage in Danger list due to the flagship species significance in the "outstanding universal value" of the site.[4]
Aïr is, geographically speaking, an island ofSahelian-type fauna and flora, isolated in a Saharan desert environment. It therefore constitutes a set of exceptionalrelict ecosystems combined with mountain and plain landscapes of exceptional interest and aesthetic value, justifying its inclusion on the UNESCO world heritage list.
The living dunes of the Ténéré quickly modify the landscape by displacement and deposition of sand. The region contains mountains of bluemarble presenting a unique aesthetic interest in this environment.
The reserve includes natural habitats important for the survival of threethreatened species: thedorcas gazelle, therhim gazelle, and theaddax.[5]
In total, 40 species ofmammals, 165 species ofbirds, 18 species ofreptiles and oneamphibian species have been identified in the reserve.[5]
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
