CONSERVATION of World Heritage Sites not only serves to keep history for mankind, but also could be the only resort left to combat the effects of global warming, climate change and land erosion. These are dangerous situations that threaten the globe.
The Director General for the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), Dr
Mechtild Rossler, thus said Unesco will see ways of making people who
live near, around or within World Heritage Sites in Tanzania and the
rest of the world are improved in tandem with area conservations.
Dr Rossler made the statement during the
ongoing Unesco International Conference on ‘Safeguarding African World
Heritage as a Driver of Sustainable Development.’ More than 200
par-five-day event in Arusha.
Dr Rossler pointed out that many
naturally occurring and man-made disasters have been diverted due to the
presence of tightly guarded world heritage sites that dot the globe.
They are now serving as guardian angels.
She was of the view that the only areas
that humanity and world history has preserved are mapped within World
Heritage Sites. They are also being conserved.
Such sites help to reduce the effects of
soil erosion and deforestation. Thus, they play a crucial role in
reducing global warming and climate change. Tanzania is among the
countries that host World Heritage Sites.
The nation has seven of these precincts,
in addition to its own 16 National Parks and 20 Game Reserves plus
innumerable forest reserves. But challenges have started to rise in
connection with these treasures. Deputy Minister for Agriculture,
Livestock and Fisheries, Mr William Ole Nasha, has however stressed that
it was a good idea to protect heritage sites.
This should not be at the expense of
native people in the areas. “The first and foremost thing should be to
ensure that people living in or near heritage sites are empowered
economically,” said Ole Nasha, who also happens to be the Member of
Parliament (MP) for Ngorongoro constituency.
The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the
Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, Major General Gaudence
Milanzi, said: “Unesco has its own guidelines that relate to World
Heritage Sites, but again individual countries also have their own laws
pertaining to conservation.
“Some conflict with those of the United
Nations body.” According to the PS, there is a need to harmonise laws
and policies that protect our Natural Resources and World Heritage sites
with those of Unesco.
“The upshot here is mutual understanding
and cooperation in conservation efforts.” This weekend, the United
Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation will be making a
special announcement from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority
(NCAA) during the climax of the International Conference.
The Unesco International Conference on
‘Safeguarding African World Heritage as a Driver of Sustainable
Development has been jointly organised by the Tanzanian government and
the Unesco through its World Heritage Centre.
Tanzania apparently has seven properties
that have been listed in the Unesco World Heritage List and these
include the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Mount
Kilimanjaro, Selous Game Reserve, the Stone Town of Zanzibar, the Ruins
of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara as well as the Kolo Rock Arts
of Kondoa.
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