Natural Heritage Resources Research Articles

The Status of Urban Heritage Conservation: Competency of Local Government in the Western Cape Province

The National Heritage Resources Act was promulgated in the efforts of establishing effective conservation principles that would meet the needs of all South Africans. The Act makes provision for each level of government to have authority over its respective heritage resources. Donaldson (2005) anticipated that the acting authority in the Western Cape province, Heritage Western Cape, was likely to come under pressure soon. This was owing to the fact of increasing heritage resources (the phenomenon of aging) and that the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority oversaw both Grade II and III heritage resources since no local municipality was deemed fully competent. This research aimed to assess the capacity and competency of local government in the field of built heritage conservation of non-metropolitan municipalities in the Western Cape, South Africa. A qualitative research method was implemented in the form of a questionnaire with informal interviews to assist in the explorative nature of this paper. By mapping and recording the current state of heritage conservation practices in the province, it was found that two local municipalities were deemed competent, while several others had made strides towards conserving local heritage resources.

Decolonising archaeology in South Africa: two decades after the National Heritage Resources Act of 1999

Twenty-four years ago, the National Heritage Resources Act, No. 25 of 1999 (NHRA) was enacted in South Africa. This was a moment of change, when the heritage of those marginalised during the colonial and Apartheid eras would finally be given its rightful place on the national heritage list. There was a sense of optimism amongst politicians that the African past was finally to be recognised in an inclusive and representative future. This was echoed in archaeology, given its central role in uncovering and telling the story of precolonial South Africa. The discipline slowly opened its doors to academics of all ethnic groups and new perspectives were identified. But an examination of the practical consequences and impact of this progressive legislation for transforming officially declared heritage in the past 24 years shows surprisingly little change in the overall body of recognized, listed heritage. Recent studies of transformation in South African archaeology have focussed on institutional transformation; possible transformation of the types and frequency of sites declared as national and provincial heritage sites has not yet been examined. It is this issue which our paper addresses. The paper presents analysis that relies on the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS) database covering the period 1936 to mid-2022. Whilst sites associated with European colonialism still predominate, there has been a change in the frequency of types of heritage declared since 1999, with an increase in sites associated with the Black liberation struggle. Yet the list remains very unbalanced, with only a single heritage site connected to the precolonial past of Black South Africans having been declared as a national heritage site since 1999. We discuss and classify the types of heritage declared since 1999 and suggest reasons for the distortion.

Gaze and Narratives on Heritage Values: Discarding the Views of Host Communities in Africa

There has been a conflict of perceptions on heritage values. This has stalled the development of some natural heritage resources in parts of Africa. This study argues that the host perception is paramount in the responsive development of heritage resources within their localities. However, this study investigated the values of undeveloped natural heritage resources in Abia State, Nigeria, from a rural gaze and narratives. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions and detailed observation were employed for the study. Findings showed that these natural heritage resources have domestic, agricultural, leisure and protective values according to the host, who also supports possible development programmes for these resources. This has posited rural gaze and narrative as focal in understanding the values of undeveloped heritage resources. The study further proposed the concept of the Rural Heritage Approach (RHA). This concept is focused on a prior understanding of the peculiar nature of heritage values in traditional African societies through rural gaze and narratives before development initiatives. This study has implications for responsible rural tourism development in most African communities.

Tourism Competitiveness in Eastern Africa: RCA and TTCI

Eastern Africa is home to strikingly beautiful landscapes, unique wildlife and exotic cultural heritage that create outstanding tourism appeal. Unfortunately, these attractive features do not always translate to high tourism revenues. This paper focuses on analyzing the relationships between tourism performance indicators—arrivals, revenues and the revenue-based revealed comparative advantage (RCA)—and compare them to the components of destination facilities and endowments measured by the Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Index (TTCI). The analysis concentrates on Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, using secondary data from 2005 to 2017. The methodology applies correlation analysis and panel regression. As the results show, the TTCI and RCA are negatively correlated, but the components of the TTCI have different relationships to the RCA. Natural heritage positively influences the RCA, while cultural resources do not. The higher RCA values are also enhanced by better tourism services and better ground travel infrastructure. Similar analyses have been performed for Europe and some Asian countries, but not for Eastern Africa. The novelty of the present research is the fact that natural heritage resources can contribute considerably to tourism revenues, while cultural resources are not utilized to their full potential in terms of tourism success.

Reviewing the experience with the repatriation of sacred ceremonial objects: A comparative legal analysis of Canada and South Africa

AbstractRecent global interest in preserving cultural identity and heritage for the future of previously colonized Indigenous groups has prompted the resuscitation of local and Indigenous cultures from the brink of extinction. The pertinence of protecting and managing cultural heritage as an endowment that transcends generations of people and serves as a ligature between their past, present, and future cannot be overstated. In this respect, the repatriation or restitution of sacred ceremonial objects (SCOs) and cultural artifacts constitutes an integral aspect of reviving Indigenous people’s cultural and living heritage, which has been eroded by colonialism and other forms of occupation. In Alberta, Canada, the First Nations Sacred Ceremonial Objects Repatriation Act is the foremost legislation that provides a formal mechanism for the return of SCOs to the First Nations. Thus far, it has successfully facilitated the repatriation of several hundred repatriated several SCOs. In contrast, South Africa’s primary heritage legislation, the National Heritage Resources Act, lacks direction and detail on the restitution of SCOs, specifically to cultural communities. With the aid of a comparative approach, this article critically examines one successful approach to the repatriation of specific sets of heritage objects in Canada and analyzes South Africa’s legal frameworks that consider SCOs as a component of its national estate within its framework for restitution and the promotion of cultural revival in cultural communities.

Management guidelines for the conservation of heritage resources in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga

Conservation of heritage resources, both architectural and cultural, focuses on the important of historical context, identity and to provide livelihoods for people. Management and stakeholder engagement are fundamental for conservation. This article describes the contribution of stakeholder perceptions in the development of management guidelines for the conservation of heritage resources in the town of Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga. The concept of conservation is usually used with reference to the natural heritage; however, this should also include architectural and cultural conservation, in the same location, as is done in many other parts of the world. The study of the combined architectural and cultural heritage in Wakkerstroom is one of the first of such studies in South Africa. The natural heritage resources were identified and a stakeholder map developed after conducting interviews with 27 participants in the township of Esizameleni and 15 participants in the town. Resources identified included the provincial heritage sites of the Wakkerstroom Wetland, the Paul Kruger Bridge, St Mark’s Anglican Church and the Old Courthouse Building. Heritage value definitions in the town area were centred on inheritance, whilst township stakeholders valued the identity aspect of heritage. A lack of communication, participation and awareness around heritage conservation was identified as a key issue amongst the communities. In addition, unlike natural heritage conservation, where the Wakkerstroom Natural Heritage Association takes care of the wetland, no organisation was found to be responsible for cultural heritage conservation in the town. The municipality urgently needs to address these concerns by developing an integrated management plan for heritage resource conservation. Conservation implications: Conservation includes more than just the conservation of natural heritage. The Wakkerstroom Natural Heritage Association (WNHA) manages natural heritage, but there is no organisation managing cultural heritage. Heritage conservation would benefit from the development of an integrated management plan lead by Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality together with the identified stakeholders.

The cultural historical significance of Pretoria’s jacaranda trees

Pretoria is well-known for its jacaranda trees, which has earned the city the nickname “Jacaranda City”. Jacarandas, however, are alien trees, which were brought to South Africa during the 19th century. The trees are frequently in danger when development projects are undertaken, usually resulting in a public outcry, as these trees have a special meaning for the people of this city. The aim of this article is to investigate this issue to determine whether jacarandas have cultural heritage significance. In order to do this the history of these trees, with specific reference to Pretoria, was studied. Background research related to heritage management was also done in order to be able to measure the possible cultural significance of these trees. The National Heritage Resources Act (no 25 of 1999), as well as international heritage protocols, refer to natural features and specifically those of cultural significance. Thus, natural heritage issues are considered as well, in drawing a conclusion. Historical research shows that jacarandas were imported to South Africa round about 1830 and that the first ones were planted in Pretoria in 1888. They were first planted as street trees in the town during 1906, and only after 1911 this was done on a larger scale. Over the years there have been many interventions, to either protect or remove these trees. Jacaranda trees are believed to have cultural, historical, aesthetic and social values for the inhabitants of Pretoria.

A RISK BASED APPROACH TO HERITAGE MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract. The management of heritage resources within the South African context is governed by the National Heritage Resources Act, act 25 of 1999 (NHRA). This legislation calls for an integrated system of heritage management that allows for the good governance of heritage across the three tiers of government. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), as the national body responsible for heritage management, is mandated to compile and maintain an inventory of the national estate. The South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS) was designed to facilitate this mandate as well as provide a management platform through which the three-tiers of governance can be integrated. This vision of integrated management is however predicated on the implementation of the three-tier system of heritage management, a system which to date has not been fully implemented, with financial and human resource constraints being present at all levels. In the absence of the full implementation of this system and the limited resources available to heritage authorities, we argue that a risk based approach to heritage management will allow under resourced heritage authorities in South Africa to prioritise management actions and ensure mitigations are in place for at risk heritage resources. The aim of this paper is to position the inventory of the national estate as the key driver in the production of risk analysis models for an informed approach to heritage management.

Linking Heritage Preservation and Community Development: An Assessment of Grassroots Heritage Based Projects as Vehicles for Socio-Economic Development and Sustainable Heritage Preservation in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT This paper engages the practical aspects of linking heritage, in particular, archaeological heritage, with both individual and community economic development. In recent years, there has been growing realisation that culture, inclusive of cultural heritage, can be both a driver and an enabler of economic development, especially in developing countries. However, few documented examples demonstrate the validity of such arguments. The paper explores some practical examples of how, at the grassroots level, individuals and communities are attempting to exploit archaeological heritage sites as well as other cultural and natural heritage resources for income generation in Zimbabwe. The major thrust of the paper is to assess the manner of use and the viability of such ventures. Since the ability of archaeological heritage to generate revenue and support people around the sites has a direct effect on long-term survival of such heritage, ultimately, the paper contributes to the discourse on linking heritage and economic development as well as the theme of sustainable heritage preservation.

Factors of attracting and resisting investment in the tourism industry in Algeria

This study deals with the factors attracting investment in tourism and itsconstituents in Algeria, which possesses a tourist wealth of natural resources,historical, cultural, in addition to the security stability. These constituentsrepresents one of the most important fields of investment in tourism, which isexpected to achieve the economic benefits, social, cultural, andenvironmental, and for the benefit of the community. That's why the tourismindustry attracted the attention of the Algerian Country, the Government hastaken many procedures to support and encourage this vital industry,especially with important attraction points where issued many laws anddecisions that created a whole legislative structure to make tourisminvestment in Algeria attracting a lot of capitals in order to obtain thegreatest return through global tourism.The study aims to encourage tourism investment in the cultural and naturalheritage resources in Algeria economically by creating tourist projects, suchas investment in accommodation services, hotels, restaurants, parks inaddition to promoting tourism-related industries such as handicrafts.A descriptive method has been used for this study, also on the touristdevelopment strategy principles that was adopted by the AlgerianGovernment in sustainable tourism development Act 2003.One of the most important results of the study that the basic infrastructurefor the advancement of the development process of the tourist investment isavailable and this encourages investment and tourism projects in Algeria andthis will enhance the contribution of tourism to GDP and in foreign currency.
 
 

SUMMARISING THE NATIONAL INVENTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE PUBLIC AND ITS APPLICATION IN HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

Abstract. This paper will focus on the national inventory of South Africa and application in heritage management. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is mandated to compile and maintain an inventory of the national estate, defined as heritage resources of cultural and other significance as per Sections 3 and 39 of the National Heritage Resources Act. No.25 of 1999. This inventory is presented in a form of a database facilitated through the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS). SAHRA is also mandated to produce a summary and analysis of this inventory of the national estate at regular intervals as per Section 39(7) of the NHRA. This inventory and its subsequent publication facilitate accountability for the institution, access to the data by the public as well as public awareness. The national inventory is populated through numerous digitisation projects by various heritage institutions namely museums, galleries, Provincial Heritage Resources Authorities (PHRA’s) and the public at large.

A narrative interpretation of the cultural impressions on water of the communities along the Vaal River, Parys, Free State

This article is about the significance of the Vaal River for the communities inhabiting the area. Using the interpretation of narratives and rituals, the extent of the connection or disconnection between the communities and the aquatic environment is described. Traditional rituals, religious practices and beliefs associated with the river form an important part of the lives of people living in the area. Results show that industrial development and urbanisation have direct implications not only on the environment but also on the cultural lives and practices of the communities in the areas where these occur. Because of its impact on the environment, development has a direct impact on the people who depend on the environment for both their physical and spiritual well-being. Any form of sustainable development needs to put these factors into consideration for development to truly be sustainable. In addition to forming a part of Environmental Impact Assessment prior to any development, the infringement of the cultural significance and the meanings that local communities have attached to aquatic landscapes should come with stringent legal consequences.Significance of work: Over the past years, the cultural connection between communities in Parys and the Vaal River area has been influenced by the effects of industrialisation, urbanisation and other anthropogenic factors that stem from these. This study found that there is a range of cultural rituals and beliefs that form part of the everyday lives of many residents of the communities in Parys. The significance of this study lies in recognising the importance of aquatic environments for the cultural health of communities and that, prior to development, developers who aim for sustainable development need to adhere to the National Heritage Resources Act, Act No. 25 of 1999. The Act includes the protection of sites of cultural significance to a community, and this involves the Vaal River. In addition to forming a part of the Environmental Impact Assessment prior to any development, infringement of the cultural significance and the meanings that local communities attach to aquatic landscapes should come with stringent legal consequences. The study also emphasises that it is important to realise that one cannot continue to isolate natural science from social science in debating what is sustainable.

Using SAHRIS a web-based application for creating heritage cases and permit applications

Abstract. Since the inception of the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS) in 2012, creating heritage cases and permit applications has been streamlined, and interaction with South African Heritage Authorities has been simplified. SAHRIS facilitates applications for development cases and mining applications that trigger the South African National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999) and is able to differentiate between cases that require comment only, where the heritage process is subsidiary to environmental or mining law (Section 38(8)), and those where the heritage authority is the deciding authority (Section 38(1)). The system further facilitates cases related to site and object management, as well as permit applications for excavation, invasive research techniques and export of materials for research abroad in the case of archaeological or palaeontological specimens, or for sale or exhibition in the case of heritage objects. The integrated, easy to use, online system has removed the need for applicants to print out forms, take documents from one government department to the next for approval and other time-consuming processes that accompany paper-based systems. SAHRIS is a user friendly application that makes it easy for applicants to make their submissions, but also allows applicants to track the progress of their cases with the relevant heritage authority, which allows for better response rates and turnaround times from the authorities, while also ensuring transparency and good governance practice.

SAHRIS: using the South African Heritage Register to report, track and monitor heritage crime

Abstract. South Africa has experienced a recent increase in thefts of heritage objects from museums and galleries around the country. While the exact number of incidences is not known, the increase in thefts is nonetheless apparent, and has revealed the weaknesses of the systems currently in place to respond to these crimes. The South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS) is an integrated, online heritage resources management tool developed by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) in 2011 in terms of Section 39 of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA), No. 25 of 1999. The system’s combined heritage resources and site and object management functionality has been expanded to provide an integrated, responsive tool for reporting heritage crimes and tracking the progress of the resultant cases. This paper reviews existing legislative frameworks and crime reporting and monitoring systems relevant to fighting heritage crime, and identifies current gaps in those responses. SAHRIS is presented as an innovative tool to combat heritage crime effectively in the South African context by offering a centralised, consolidated platform that provides the various stakeholders involved in reporting heritage crimes and locating and retrieving stolen objects with a means to coordinate their responses to such instances.

Instauration of Geopark Pilot: Preliminary Approach in Implementation Process of Geoconservation at Isalo National Park, Madagascar

Although Madagascar has long been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot for conservation, very little is yet known about its diverse endemic fossils and the original beauty of its geotopes. The richness and endemicity of geodiversity constitute nonrenewable natural resources, which deserve to be valorized and protected. Protection of natural heritage resources, aligned with geotourism, can provide a sustainable way for the population to rise out of poverty. The main purpose of this work is the instauration of Geopark, a long-term project in Madagascar National Parks to support geotourism and sustainable development. Given its outstanding landscape and its unique bio- and geo-diversity, we adopt Isalo Park as a pilot site, and suggest that this specific area is suitable for a Geopark. Following our field investigation, inventory and geodiversity assessments within the park are now underway, which will contribute to the implementation of Isalo Geopark.

ECO-EFFICIENT RESORT PLANNING AND DESIGN A practical case study of Marina el-Alamien

Egypt is a country that is endowed with one of the world’s richest and most spectacular environment suitable for different types of tourism. Despite the diversity and richness of those natural heritage resources, the industrial and economic situation of the country is in turmoil. Such a situation leads the country to intensively rely on developing, and extensively using, its resources to satisfy its economic demands and requirements without much care to the environment. Since the eve of the seventies until now, unsustainable forms of tourism development have been initiated upon the natural and historical dimensions of the country’s heritage. Consequently, the country’s resources have been inefficiently consumed to a degree that the country has lost a number of its sensitive sites and resources. The paper deals with one of the natural heritage resources of the country, the coastal areas. Egypt endows more than 2450 km of highly scenic outstanding beaches overlooking the Mediterranean and the Red sea, and has adopted a highly intensive resort tourism industry, both on the national and international tourism markets. The types of resort development that took place have exerted deep negative impacts on the ecological integrity and stability of such highly sensitive coastal areas. The paper provokes the importance to adapt and promote the concept of eco-efficient design for promoting a sustainable form of resort development. Based on theoretical and practical analysis an eco-meter for eco-efficient resort planning and design is innovated. The eco-meter is tested and applied on the case study of Marina al-Alamien Resort, to be used as a guideline for promoting sustainability among existing and future resort designs.

Building a Cultural Heritage Corridor Based on Geodesign Theory and Methodology

Geodesign is a type of methodology that integrates dynamic environment modeling based on GIS with planning and design in order to support relevant decision making. It has substantially changed the dominant ways of thinking in planning and design, and has solved spatial issues relating to cultural and natural resources from a new perspective. Taking the Qionglai section of the Southern Silk Road as an example, the present study implemented geodesign theory and methods to investigate the technical approach to building a cultural heritage corridor based on GIS spatial analysis and overlay analysis. Firstly, we analyzed the various data layers of the cultural and natural features in the planning region. We organized all the data based on the principle of classification, organizing it into categories such as natural, cultural, and recreational data. Therefore, we defined the theme of the Southern Silk Road as a historical cultural heritage corridor. Secondly, based on the background, the heritage corridor boundary was defined according to its natural, cultural, and administrative spatial characteristics, with the three thematic boundaries overlaid in order to define a boundary location area covering about 852 square kilometers. Next, we divided all of the resources into three categories: natural heritage resources, cultural heritage resources, and intangible heritage resources and recreational spaces. The elements which could be used to build up the cultural heritage corridor were selected by evaluation and spatial analysis. In this way, we obtained some conclusive spatial information, such as element structures, the heritage density distribution, and the heritage number distribution. Finally, within the heritage boundary, we connected the tangible and intangible heritage resources to form various kinds of linear spaces, with the aim of obtaining the spatial pattern of the heritage corridor.

江苏省自然遗产地生态网络的构建与优化

自然遗产地是生物的重要栖息场所,而生态网络是连接自然遗产地的有效途径,如何有效和合理地构建自然遗产地之间的生态廊道,连接破碎生境,对保护自然遗产地生物多样性和区域生态安全具有重要意义.在ArcGIS 9.3的技术支持下,通过合理估算阻力阈值,采用最小耗费距离模型分析方法,构建江苏省省域范围内的自然遗产地生态网络保护体系,并在网络连通性指数分析方法的基础上对生态网络的连通性和有效性进行评价,针对性地提出自然遗产地生态网络的优化措施.研究结果表明:78.28%的林地、88.70%的滩涂滩地、94.37%的草地是自然遗产地生态网络的主要景观组成结构;自然遗产斑块本身对生态网络的构建有较大影响,其中面积较大、长条型的斑块对维持景观连通性的重要性程度贡献较大;研究区现状整体生态连通性指数仅0.001-0.003,连通性水平较差,通过构建生态网络,整体连通性水平可提高到0.044-0.046,可能连通性水平可达到0.074,表明自然遗产廊道的构建可提高景观的连通性水平;在现有生态网络结构的基础上,增加破碎斑块间的生态连接是优化生态网络体系的可行性策略.;Natural heritage sites are important habitats for fauna and flora, and assist in maintaining ecosystem service functions. Often however, human activities and natural threats have damaged the integrity of such sites, and large habitats have become increasingly fragmented. As a result, regional biodiversity conservation has been seriously threatened. To change this situation, ecological networks are being considered as an effective way to re-connect important natural heritage sites. Within a rational ecological network, the flow of material, energy and information among various areas can be ensured and the quality of natural ecosystems can be improved. The effective setting up of ecological corridors and connecting fragmented habitats are crucial actions in the protection of the biodiversity of natural heritage sites, and in the maintenance of regional ecological security. This is especially true in rapidly urbanizing areas: taking natural heritage sites as the core of an ecological network, constructing these networks and undertaking research on ecological values are particularly important actions in this type of developing area. Jiangsu province is located in the coastal area of eastern China where land resources are limited, and has a high population density and a well-developed economy. Human activities have however disturbed the ecological balance seriously, so there is a need to implement regional ecological networks, to integrate natural heritage resources, and to promote the sustainable development of regional ecosystems. For the present study, natural heritage core-areas were firstly selected based on the theory and principles of Landscape Ecology and Conservation Biology, and the different cost values of different landscape types decided with the help of GIS technology. Second, taking Jiangsu Province as an example allowed quantitative simulation of the establishment of natural heritage sites for potential ecological networks using a minimum cumulative resistance model, and the analysis of network connectivity using an integral index of connectivity and probability of connectivity. Third, the main natural heritage corridors in Jiangsu Province were studied, which allowed the determination of suitable optimization measures on the basis of the current corridors. The results show that, in Jiangsu Province, about 78.28% of the forested area, 88.70% of the beach area, and 94.37% of the grassed area together make up the major part of the natural heritage ecological network. These ecological cores have great influence on the establishment of ecological networks. The study also found that the habitats with larger area and greater length have a higher degree of importance in maintaining landscape connectivity. However, the current integral index of connectivity of the study area ranges between 0.001 and 0.003, which indicates poor connectivity. These values would increase to between 0.044 and 0.046, and the possibility of connectivity could go as high as 0.074, if the construction of the proposed ecological networks were achieved. The increment of these values indicates that the construction of natural heritage ecological corridors improves the level of landscape connectivity significantly. Based on the existing ecological network structure, increasing connections between fragmented ecological sites is thus a feasible strategy to optimize the overall ecological network system. Lastly, suggestions on how to achieve optimization of the ecological network are put forward. Overall, the results in this paper provide an important reference point for the sustainable development of natural heritage and biodiversity protection, and also provide useful information for the implementation of natural heritage protection measures.

THE USE OF SAHRIS AS A STATE SPONSORED DIGITAL HERITAGE REPOSITORY AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract. SAHRA has developed versions 1 and 2 of the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS – http://www.sahra.org.za) in 2012 and 2013. The system has been rolled out since May 2012 to the national and provincial heritage authorities in South Africa in line with the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999). SAHRIS was developed using Drupal and Geoserver, both of which are free open source software packages. The three core functions of SAHRIS include: an online application system for developments that is integrated with a commenting module for public participation; a national sites archive of heritage sites; and a comprehensive collections management system for objects. With Geoserver, Openlayers and GMAP, users are provided with an online GIS platform that is integrated with most of the content types on SAHRIS. More than 21000 sites have already been migrated into SAHRIS along with over 4300 objects. The media and reports archive has already grown to 500 gigabytes, data storage is offered free of charge and so far 96 Terabytes of replicated storage have been installed. The distribution and dissemination of this content is facilitated by the adoption of The Creative Commons South Africa license. Lessons learnt from previous attempts to develop SAHRIS are covered briefly in light of the opportunities that have been opened up by the relatively recent maturation of FOSS content management systems. The current uptake of SAHRIS and the solutions to the challenges faced thus far are discussed before concluding with the implications for E-governance in South Africa.

Assessment of Aesthetic Valeus of Old Oyo National Park

The assessment of aesthetic values and a wide range of cultural and natural heritage resources in the Old Oyo National Park were investigated. These resources were classified into four ecotourism features. Their aesthetic values were carried out through objective (Expert 's judgement) and subjective (public preference) methods of landscape assessment. Descriptive inventory was carried out through transects walk wh ile public preference involves administration of questionnaires to the tourists. On the basis of objective method, the four classified features were subdivided into four characters and tabulated against tourist elements. The ecotourism features scored on the tourist elements were analyzed using chi-square test of homogeneity; it was concluded that the ecotourism features do not score equally on the various tourist elements. The result of subjective method revealed that the fauna resources have the highest scenic attractions supporting diverse ecotourism activ ities. Ho wever, the result of the descriptive inventory revealed that the hydrological features consisting of Dam Lake, Rivers and their tributaries and hand dug well scored highest on the seven categories of tourism elements compared with other ecotourism features. This research output will assist the management of Old Oyo Nat ional Park in integrating aesthetic value assessments and imp lementation as part of the planning process.