The Dilemma of Zambia’s Barotse Plains Cultural Landscape Nomination: Implications for Sustainable Development

Abstract

The World Heritage Convention provides a powerful platform to develop and test new tools for sustainable development. However, the Convention comes with its own unique complications. This paper highlights the challenges inherent in nominating the Barotse Plains Cultural Landscape (BPCL) as a World Heritage property. One of the major motivations behind the proposed inscription was the potential strengthening of the cultural identity of the Lozi people and the recognition of this culture at an international level. The BPCL was submitted for World Heritage nomination in 2013 under World Heritage Criteria (iii), (v) and (vi). IUCN, in its evaluation and recommendation, stressed the importance of the natural values of the site and proposed to extend the boundary to include all key attributes. In addition, the ICOMOS evaluation found that all three proposed criteria had not been met, and there were concerns about mining explorations. The World Heritage Committee has often espoused the philosophy that World Heritage Sites, first and foremost, need to be protected, rather than be a source for economic gain. In Zambia, the authorities feel that they have to decide between conservation and development and fear that World Heritage inscription will prevent any major economically charged development. In conclusion, it is obvious that there is a major divide between development and conservation interests in the BPCL, leaving Zambia in a dilemma thereby jeopardizing its potential for nomination as a World Heritage property. Therefore, a broader integrated approach to planning for conservation and development is needed.