Tanzania elected to World Heritage Committee

By The guardian reporter

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Adelhelm Meru

 Tanzania has defeated 10 other countries and has been elected member of the World Heritage Committee, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Adelhelm Meru announced yesterday in Dar es Salaam.

 

He said the country’s election took place during the 20th World Heritage Committee General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

 

The assembly was convened during the 38th session of the General Conference of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, France on 18th -20th November, 2015.

 

“Members from Tanzania not only bring respect to our country but will also help and advice other African counterparts in all matters concerning world heritage,” said Dr Meru.

 

Tanzania was represented by the Director of Antiquities Division at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Donatius Kamamba assisted by Dr James Wakibara from Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and Dr Mohammed Juma from the Ministry of Urban Planning in Zanzibar, all experts in natural and cultural heritage.

 

The meeting also elected Tanzania the Vice Chair for the World Heritage Committee, African continent. 

 

The election took place after the end of the four-year term of nine committee members. The four outgoing countries are Algeria, Colombia, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Senegal and Serbia.

 

According to Dr Meru, members of the World Heritage Committee comprise of expert members from 21 countries among the 193 World Heritage members.  

Other new members alongside Tanzania are Angola, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Indonesia, Kuwait, Tunisia, Azerbaijan and Zimbabwe.  They will serve at the committee from 2015-2018.  

 

Dr. Meru explained that the 21 members have a duty to oversee implementation of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention and also to oversee UNESCO’s World Heritage Fund.

 

The committee has mandate to include or exclude areas in the world heritage list and review annual reports on the status of world heritage sites as well as to advice member countries on appropriate conservation measures to take. 

 

Dr Meru said there are a total of 1031 world heritage sites in 163 countries and in Tanzania they include Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, Selous Game Reserve, Kilwa Kisiwani/Songomnara ruins, Kondoa rock art sites and Zanzibar Stone town.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN