NATURAL LANDSCAPE, DESERT (5 WHS)

Air and Ténéré
El Pinacate
Namib Sand Sea
Tassili n'Ajjer
Wadi Rum

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/categories/category42.html

My selection

Air and Ténéré
El Pinacate
Namib Sand Sea

I note that Wadi Rum has been assigned 2 "Categories" - this plus "Archaeological site Near Eastern". One of its major assets is all its rock art - but we haven't been so specific as to assign it to that category also! It was nominated as a Cultural Landscape (CL) also but, I suspect because of the "strange" circumstances in which it was inscribed (ICOMOS wanted a deferral and various extra actions before it would agree to a CL) this isn't officially recorded by UNESCO. Hence presumably why it isn't recognised as such on this site (Els??). But it surely is?

Tassili n'Ajjer on the other hand also gets 2 categories - this plus Rock Art. I notice also that it has no reviews on this Web site and only 6 recorded visits - so it is a potentially a bit "friendless"! It is iscribed as "Mixed" on 4 criteria

I cannot believe that we won't include Wadi Rum even if only because of its iconic scenic and historic value. Whether we do this here or elsewhere I guess doesn't matter -but we need to be aware that it will not be being assessed as a CL

Potential issues with Tassili are
a. Comparison with other Saharan sites. Air and Tenere ("Natural landscape - Desert") and Lakes of Ounianga ("Natural landscape - River and Lake" - though perhaps it should really have been assigned the same as Air and Tenere since its Saharan aspect "plus water" is its main claim to fame ) are the only solely "Natural" Saharan WHS. Are these enough? Does Tassili really overlap them?
b. Comparison with Rock Art sites - one of which, Tadrat Acacus, is just next door and indeed abuts Tassili. We are going to have the same problem with the 2 Sundarbans inscriptions. In a sensible world they would have been combined and we could happily include it as a single site. But, given that they are not, what do we do?
My view would be that one of Tadrat Acacus and Tassili should be included - and I say that assuming that at least Air and Tenere (primarily mountainous) will get chosen too.

Yes you're right (Wadi Rum Mission Report from 2014 confirms this). I will change it.

My selection:

Namib Sand Sea
Wadi Rum

My selection:

Air and Ténéré
El Pinacate - For its biodiversity. The Mexican-Texan desert is the richest, generally well preserved desert in the world in biodiversity.
Namib Sand Sea
Wadi Rum

El Pinacate (Best of all the California, Arizona, Sonora deserts in one massive preserve)

Namib Sand Sea (Stunning and iconic)

I thought I'd cull more, but this is such a well-represented short list that I'm only able to drop one (and I'm in agreement with Assif's selections):

1. Air and Ténéré -- The Sahara is the world's largest desert and should be represented
2. Namib Sand Sea -- This represents coastal deserts well, and has some pretty impressive sand dunes
3. Wadi Rum -- This is an excellent example of an Arabian desert, with some mountainous regions; if you've seen The Martian, you've seen Wadi Rum. I loved my visit there.
4. El Pinacate -- I don't know much about this site, but it looks like it highlights the North American desert environment well, and I'll take Assif's word on its significance

Summarizing the above, I think this is the first category that we can close.

Air and Ténéré - representing the Sahara, the world's largest desert
El Pinacate - highlights the North American desert environment, noted for its biodiversity
Namib Sand Sea - represents coastal deserts, plus iconic sand dunes
Tassili n'Ajjer - not here, but gets its second chance in the Rock Art category
Wadi Rum - excellent example of an Arabian desert, iconic scenic and historic value

I will add these to the summary list that I hope to publicize later today.

My selection:

Namib Sand Sea
Wadi Rum

Already in bold, so no change.