The Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve (French: Réserves naturelles de l'Aïr et du Ténéré) is a protected area in Niger. It includes several different types of protected areas and is named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reserve covers the eastern part of the Aïr Mountains and the western part of the Ténéré desert.

BirdLife International has identified this area as an Important Bird Area. The mountains are a key location for birds that migrate between Africa and Europe and Asia.

The Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves UNESCO World Heritage Site was created in 1991. It was added to the World Heritage in Danger list in 1992. It was named under criteria VII, IX, and X and is listed as #573. The reserve covers 77,360 square kilometers (29,870 square miles), making it the second largest nature reserve in Africa and the fourth largest in the world.

UNESCO’s Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves include two parts:

In 2023, UNESCO reported that the reserve is under threat due to political conflicts and mining. Although illegal activities continue to harm the reserve, local efforts have helped reduce illegal gold mining.

The 2023 UNESCO report described four ecological studies. These studies found that Dama and Dorcas gazelles and Barbary sheep are still present in the reserve. Addax have not been seen for 20 years. Bird observations showed 50 species, with a sharp decline in Nubian bustards. Originally, 165 bird species were recorded in the UNESCO listing. The loss of biodiversity is one reason the reserve remains on the World Heritage in Danger list, as the area’s unique wildlife is central to its "outstanding universal value."

Geography

Aïr is, in terms of geography, an area with plant and animal life typical of the Sahel region, surrounded by the Sahara Desert. This area has ancient ecosystems that have remained over time, along with mountain and flat landscapes that are of great scientific and beauty value. These features explain why Aïr was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The moving dunes in the Ténéré area change the landscape quickly by moving sand and depositing it in new places. The region also has mountains made of blue marble, which have a special beauty that stands out in this environment.

Fauna

The reserve has natural areas that help three animals in danger of disappearing: the dorcas gazelle, the rhim gazelle, and the addax.

The reserve is home to 40 types of mammals, 165 types of birds, 18 types of reptiles, and 1 type of amphibian.