The Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve (RNNAT) is one of the largest Protected Areas in Niger and Africa in general. The RNNAT was created by decree No. 88-019/PCMS/MAG/E of 22 January 1988 and covers an area of approximately 6,451,000 ha km2 and a perimeter of 1,218 km, i.e. 5.09% of the national territory, which extends between the mountains of Aïr (peaks at 2200 meters) and the Ténéré Desert.

The Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve straddles the eastern facade of the Aïr massif and the western part of the sandy plain of the Erg du Ténéré and the Ténéré du Tafassasset, is thus at the crossroads of paleontology, prehistory, protohistory, and the history of Central Sahara, Central Sudan and the Republic of Niger (Giazzi, 1996).

The RNNAT has been registered as a natural property on the World Heritage List since 1991, then was classified as World Heritage in Danger in 1992 following the armed rebellion that broke out in the area. The RNNAT has also been a Biosphere Reserve since 1997 and a Wetland of international importance thanks to the Gueltas, Koris and Oasis it contains.