Waja

Evaluation of Yankari Game Reserve Towards UNESCO WORLD

Heritage Listing.

David A. Aremu and Abiola Ibirogba
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract
The paper examines Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State, towards UNESCO World
Heritage Listing. It evaluates the natural and cultural resources in Yankari that
qualifies the site for listing as a World Heritage. It is a haven for varieties of natural
and cultural heritage sites and resources. It hosts the largest number of game reserves
in West Africa. It has sixty-nine (69) types of indigenous wildlife, more than 350
species of birds 26 species of fishes, seven amphibians and seventeen species of
reptiles. It also contains over 100 standing and base of furnaces from four sites and
about 139 wells at Dukkey Wells. The paper highlights the need for effective
management of the site for the development of its tourism potentials. It points out the
role of stakeholders in the tourism development and UNESCO Listing of Yankari as a
Wortld Heritage Site. The text discusses the world heritage natural and cultural
criteria in Yankari for acceptability as a UNESCO World Heritage. It also identifies
the benefits the upgrading will promote in Bauchi and its environment in Nigeria.