In Favor of Reintroducing the Niger Ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus) into the Aïr-Ténéré Reserve (Aïr-Niger massif) - article ; n°4 ; vol.94, pg 17-25

Isabelle Ciofolo, Karine Alvès, Franck Giazzi

Description

Revue de géographie alpine - Année 2006 - Volume 94 - Numéro 4 - Pages 17-25
The last population of red-necked ostriches in West Africa was estimated at 1,600 individuals in 1990, in the Air and Té- néré Nature Reserve, Niger. This population, which was already threatened because of the loss of its habitat, was faced with severe poaching ending in extermination during the conflict that opposed Tuareg rebels and the Nigérien armed forces from 1992 to 1997. The relationship between man and ostrich is ancestral and dates back several centuries in Niger. Cave drawings in the Air region also exhibit the cultural dimension this animal played within Tuareg society. Even today, traditional use of a great number of this animal's ducts demonstrates the noteworthy economic role of the ostrich at the local level. Moreover, the Nigérien government has been reforming its development policy over the past several years. Environmental preservation and natural resource management are essential aspects of this policy. A project with the aim of reintroducing the ostrich in the Aïr region is therefore justified for both its safeguard and preservation role and for local development. These elements have helped us to define the main lines of a future project to reintroduce the ostrich into the Aïr-Ténéré Reserve.
9 pages

Sujets

• Sciences et techniques

Informations

• Publié par: REVUE_DE_GEOGRAPHIE_ALPINE
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2006
• Nombre de lectures: 22
• Langue: English

Extrait

M. Franck Giazzi

Isabelle Ciofolo

Karine Alvès

Accent Mondial

In Favor of Reintroducing the Niger Ostrich (Struthio camelus

camelus) into the Aïr-Ténéré Reserve (Aïr-Niger massif)

In: Revue de géographie alpine. 2006, Tome 94 N°4. pp. 17-25.

Abstract

The last population of red-necked ostriches in West Africa was estimated at 1,600 individuals in 1990, in the Air and Té- néré

Nature Reserve, Niger. This population, which was already threatened because of the loss of its habitat, was faced with severe

poaching ending in extermination during the conflict that opposed Tuareg rebels and the Nigérien armed forces from 1992 to

1997. The relationship between man and ostrich is ancestral and dates back several centuries in Niger. Cave drawings in the Air

region also exhibit the cultural dimension this animal played within Tuareg society. Even today, traditional use of a great number

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government has been reforming its development policy over the past several years. Environmental preservation and natural

resource management are essential aspects of this policy. A project with the aim of reintroducing the ostrich in the Aïr region is

therefore justified for both its safeguard and preservation role and for local development. These elements have helped us to

define the main lines of a future project to reintroduce the ostrich into the Aïr-Ténéré Reserve.

Citer ce document / Cite this document :

Giazzi Franck, Ciofolo Isabelle, Alvès Karine, Accent Mondial. In Favor of Reintroducing the Niger Ostrich (Struthio camelus

camelus) into the Aïr-Ténéré Reserve (Aïr-Niger massif). In: Revue de géographie alpine. 2006, Tome 94 N°4. pp. 17-25.

doi : 10.3406/rga.2006.5587

http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/rga_0035-1121_2006_num_94_4_5587