The Administration of Cultural World Heritage Sites and Their Contribution to the Economic Empowerment of Local Communities in Africa

Government support plays a central role in the nomination of cultural heritage sites to the World Heritage List (WHL) and in the management of sites that are proclaimed as World Heritage Sites. National governments lay down the necessary national policies, strategies for implementation, the legal and institutional frameworks and heritage conservation regulations. They also establish local development plans for the conservation of cultural World Heritage Sites at a local level; they develop management tools, set up and manage the local conservation and they also work with the local communities in and around the sites. In this chapter, we present and discuss reasons why many African States Parties do or do not support the management of their cultural World Heritage Sites. The management issues that many African States Parties grapple with when managing their cultural World Heritage Sites are also explored. While it is shown that there are diverse reasons why many African countries generally fail to manage their cultural World Heritage Sites, it is also demonstrated that the scenario is not all doom and gloom, because some African governments are working very hard towards the safeguarding and appropriate management of their cultural World Heritage Sites.KeywordsAfrican governmentsCultural world heritage sitesNon-Governmental organisationsAfrican states partiesCultural heritage sites

The nomination of a World Heritage site generally focuses on the tangible heritage assets, and intangible heritage is given less attention in the site management. There is also a lack of awareness of the complicated relationship between tangible and intangible heritage assets, the meanings and values of the site to its local community, and the complexity of space in the World Heritage Site in the management of cultural heritage sites. This paper discusses grounded theory to investigate the relationship between local communities and their cultural heritage in George Town World Heritage Site, Malaysia. The methodology employed an ethnographic approach for the observational work and semi-structured interviews. The findings demonstrate a deep and rich knowledge of the links between the World Heritage designation and its local communities, including how local people interact and contribute meaning to the site. This study may encourage other researchers to apply grounded theory to understand social phenomena on other World Heritage Sites of similar context for heritage management purposes.

The paper Heritage Impact Assessments as an Advanced Tool for a Sustainable Management of Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites: From Theory to Practice interprets UNESCO’s decisions to include the concepts of cultural landscapes and historic urban landscapes and to use cultural heritage as a pillar of sustainable development as a paradigm shift with regard to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. Instead of focusing on the conservation of isolated monuments, ensembles or natural areas devoid of people, preservation strategies now have to concentrate on inhabited areas on a large scale. Such complex cultural World Heritage properties often face considerable pressure to change. In this context, Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) are increasingly applied to assess transformations in cultural World Heritage properties. However, such studies still show highly variable qualities when implemented in praxis. Against this background, it is argued that there is a need to link both heritage management and HIAs closely to strategies of urban and regional planning and related governance policies. Consequently, the theoretical starting point of the paper is that HIAs need to be combined closely with planning processes and participation strategies in order to avoid failures in assessment processes and to fully explore their potential to support the sustainable development of complex World Heritage properties. Both present shortcomings and potentials in the practical application of HIAs are shown on the basis of several case studies. Finally, an outline of necessary future steps in research and education with regard to the practical use of HIAs in cultural UNESCO World Heritage properties is provided.

This article reflects on how the management of African cultural World Heritage Sites can contribute to sustainable development in Africa. Although the number of African sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List (WHL) has grown considerably over the last decade, their contributions to economic growth, social well-being, peace and security of the populations living nearby the sites remain particularly weak. With the publicity following their listing on the WHL, many sites become prime destinations for global tourism. However, multifaceted management problems including poor legislation, physical degradation, pollution, illegal predation activities on sites causing deliberate destruction, lack of security and political instability, lack of coordination between different ministries’ departments, poor infrastructure and difficult access to sites are persistent. As a result, a great deal of time, effort and resources are still devoted to preservation and restoration. Today, it is critical that African cultural World Heritage Sites be managed such that they bring economic, social and environmental benefits to the local communities. To be developmental, management strategies should take into account present environmental, sociocultural and political settings of the site, and its complex linkages with modern communities and their own aspirations for a better present and future. It is argued that a utopian approach, which envisions the future differently than the past and present and, which is inclusive of all stakeholders can be particularly productive.KeywordsAfricaCultural World Heritage SitesManagementSustainable developmentLocal community

The capacity to adapt to climate change at heritage sites—The development of a conceptual framework

This paper explores the case of the Khami archaeological site, whose degradation by the local communities in recent years was as a result of socio-economic problems caused by the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy combined with the inability of the Zimbabwean government to support the site. We argue that the negative attitude by the local communities towards the management of cultural heritage sites is embedded in the colonial history of the country, and has been driven by the socio-economic difficulties emanating from the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy in recent years. We begin by explaining the history of Khami, its architecture, and the local communities residing around it. We then show and assert that the subsequent degradation of Khami and the landscape around it by the local communities is linked to the socio-economic problems of the country and poverty, which emanated from the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy. In the end, we contend that the economic constraints are part of the reasons why the local communities have from time to time failed to respect the importance of protecting cultural heritage sites in the country.

This chapter provides a context for the volume by summarising the history of the nomination of cultural World Heritage Sites in Africa, from the initiation of the World Heritage Convention in 1972 to its fortieth anniversary in 2012. It compares the status of African States Parties signatory to the Convention and the number of properties that have been inscribed, briefly summarises the nomination procedures, summarises the criteria used for cultural and mixed properties that have been inscribed, analyses the number of sites in different categories on the Tentative List, and highlights the expectations of the Convention for management of cultural World Heritage Sites throughout the African continent.

Africa has numerous World Heritage Sites that are often viewed as catalysts for development. However, the development paradigms that are in place in the continent are exploitative and exclude those communities who have a stake in the heritage places. African governments are rarely decentralised and direct development towards catering for tourists instead of the local communities that own the World Heritage Sites. This chapter examines these development issues using two case studies in Zimbabwe (Great Zimbabwe and Khami) and one case study in Kenya (Kaya Forests) to show how the development of cultural World Heritage Sites can or cannot be used to benefit local communities.KeywordsWorld HeritageCommunitiesCultureManagementSustainabilityTourismDevelopmentAfrica

There is a need for the use of digital twins of cultural heritage sites, especially for those that are affected by natural hazards, for documentation, monitoring and management. This study examines the use of digital twins through the EXCELSIOR and TRIQUETRA project for the use of 3D digital volumentric reporesentation model and Augmented Reality applications by creating a digital twin for monitoring natural hazards in archaeological settings. The EXCELSIOR H2020 Widespread Teaming project under Grant Agreement No 857510 and the TRIQUETRA project Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement No. 101094818 will study the effects of climate change and natural hazards on cultural heritage and remediation using state-of-the-art techniques.  Through the TRIQUETRA project, Choirokoitia, Cyprus is used as one of the pilot studies using these techniques. Choirokoitia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the best-preserved Neolithic sites in the Mediterranean. The project will also examine the potential risk of rockfall at the Choirokoitia site, as the topology of the site is vulnerable to movements as a result of extreme climate change as well as of daily/seasonal stressing actions. Rockfall poses a significant danger to visitor safety as well as damage to cultural heritage sites. Digital twins provide a dynamic visualization of the site and can also be used to monitor any changes resulting from natural hazards. A digital twin model can also be shared with visitors in order to provide an alternative approach and a visualization experience for viewing the site.

The Musi Rawas Regency is home to significant historical remnants, including the Ulak Lebar Site, an artifact from the pre historic era, along with the Bingin Jungut Site and the Tingkip Site, which are remnants of the Hindu-Buddhist period. These cultural treasures represent a valuable legacy from our ancestors, offering clear evidence of human civilization during both the pre historic and Hindu-Buddhist eras. This study aims to address the lack of local historical knowledge by introducing the history of Musi Rawas Regency through the effective management of cultural heritage sites, utilizing them as valuable sources for historical learning. The absence of a comprehensive understanding of history has resulted in these cultural heritage sites appearing foreign to the public and students alike. Therefore, leveraging cultural heritage sites as educational tools becomes crucial in addressing this knowledge gap. The research employs the historical method, focusing on locations such as Lubuklinggau, Bingin Jungut Village, Sungai Kijang Village, and SMA Negeri 2 Lubuklinggau. Education emerges as a proactive measure for preserving historical heritage in Musi Rawas Regency, emphasizing the utilization of cultural heritage sites as well-managed learning resources. This approach seeks to generate creative and innovative educational materials, aligning with the primary goal of capturing students' interest in history. Simultaneously, it aims to instill awareness of and appreciation for local history, fostering a deeper understanding of cultural heritage in Musi Rawas Regency. This initiative aspires to cultivate a community that values and preserves local history, ensuring the survival and maintenance of the original value of historical sites. By doing so, it anticipates the development of individuals who are not only knowledgeable about the region's history but are also actively engaged in safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations.

Different monitoring approaches and techniques have been adopted to estimate and prevent soil erosion and its corresponding phenomena at cultural heritage sites. Remote sensing plays a crucial role in detecting and monitoring soil erosion events by providing a wealth of geospatial data and information that helps to better understand and respond to the mechanisms of soil erosion and mitigate or reduce its impacts. The main aims of this review are to (1) provide an overview of remote sensing methods, applications, and sensor types, (2) discuss the role of remote sensing in the estimation of soil erosion at cultural heritage sites, and (3) present a bibliometric analysis of soil erosion studies at cultural heritage sites covering the period from 1994 to 2025. The results of this study provide insights into the yearly scientific production, methods employed, topics, and trends in this field. This research offers valuable information for future research and the development and promotion of policies and strategies for the effective and sustainable management of cultural heritage sites.

PurposeThe study aims to analyze the development of Omani heritage legislation against the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (WHC), 1972 and WHC Operational Guidelines (WHC-OGs) to predict the possible effects of the recent developments on the management of the World Heritage Site in Oman.Design/methodology/approachThis study discusses the development of the heritage protection legislation in Sultanate of Oman since 1970; it analyses the Omani Cultural Heritage Law 35/2019 against the recommendations of the UNESCO WHC as well as the requirements of the World Heritage Operational Guidelines. Moreover, the research investigates the possible effects of the recent heritage legislation developments on the management of Bahla Fort and Oasis in Oman, which is the first Omani World Heritage Site and the only site with special management regulations.FindingsThe paper outlines the effects of both the Omani Cultural Heritage Law 35/2019 and the Special Management Regulations 81/2019 on the implementation of the Bahla Management Plan. Additionally, the research establishes how the customization of heritage legislation as a special heritage management regulation facilitates the implementation of national legislation to solve specific local problems.Originality/valueThe study establishes the significance of developing comprehensive legislation to protect and manage the rich Omani cultural heritage and World Heritage Sites in alignment with the WHC and the WHC-OGs.

On-site heritage interpretation plays a vital role in cultural heritage sites in conveying the significance and multiple heritage values to the visitors. In an era where the world is transforming with innovative digital applications, the heritage sites are also being integrated with digital interpretation techniques to deliver a better interpretation and new dimensional experience to the visitors. Though multiple digital solutions are available, not all the techniques are appropriate, applicable and feasible to every site. Besides, neither proper worldwide principles nor framework has been exerted for these digital heritage interpretation developments. Therefore, this study is focused on building a generic conceptual framework to select the most appropriate digital interpretation technique(s) that fit the context of the heritage site, giving special reference to the six Cultural World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. The relevant qualitative and quantitative data were gathered via in-depth interviews, field observation, literature survey and a visitor survey questionnaire. The main themes and sub-themes derived through the thematic analysis were adopted as the theoretical framework for the research to analyze the collected data of the six Cultural World Heritage Sites and the selected digital techniques. Based on the results, the study recommends appropriate digital techniques for each Cultural World Heritage Sites of the country. Further as aimed, the study presents a conceptual framework for on-site digital interpretation developments for cultural heritage sites by categorizing the 24 criteria derived for data analysis under five phases namely ‘Prepare’, ‘Assess’, ‘Design’, ‘Implement’ and ‘Sustain’.

In the context of global sustainable development, tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior is recognized as a critical means of enhancing the protection of cultural heritage resources and environmental quality. Grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory, this study seeks to examine how the cultural ambiance of heritage sites influences tourists’ satisfaction and their environmentally responsible behavior, while also exploring the moderating role of awe in this process. Using survey data from 430 tourists at the Nanyue Scenic Area in Hunan Province, China, this study employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for empirical analysis. The results reveal significant positive effects of cultural ambiance (β = 0.280, P = 0.000) and satisfaction (β = 0.494, P = 0.000) on tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior, and confirm the moderating role of awe (β = -0.116, P = 0.000). These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of the drivers of environmentally responsible behavior and offer practical insights for the sustainable management of cultural heritage sites, supporting the development of effective policies to ensure the long-term sustainability of tourist destinations.

The article highlights the problems of exploitation of cultural heritage objects, which characterizes the subject area of the study. The classification of objects of cultural heritage and features of their definition in different countries are presented. The analysis of statistical data on cultural heritage sites in the Russian Federation, including those included in UNESCO, was carried out. The features of management, as well as the problems of monitoring the state of cultural heritage objects are considered. A separate and fundamental issue of management of cultural heritage sites is security activities, which are based on unique models formed by different countries based on their experience. A mechanism for managing cultural heritage objects in a digital environment and a universal conceptual model for introducing digital technologies into the system of real estate operation are proposed.