Delta communities decry lack of consultation

Posted on 18th May 2012 in The monuments of world

Delta communities decry lack of consultation

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer

MAUN: Communities around the Okavango Delta have decried government’s lack of consultation on its intention to have the natural wonder listed as a World Heritage Site.

At a consultation conference held yesterday, representatives of Jao, Ditshiping and Xaxaba said they were not consulted prior to a submission being sent to UNESCO to nominate the Okavango Delta for listing. Bontsheditswe Saxago, a resident of Jao and member of Letloa Trust, said that he was hearing for the first time that there were intentions to list the Okavango Delta. He wondered whether the residents would continue enjoying the benefits that come with the natural resource if it is listed. In February the Department of National Museums and Monuments (DNMM), which is overseeing the nomination process, sent a dossier to the World Heritage Centre to nominate the Okavango Delta as an area of Outstanding Universal Value, and to have it listed as a World Heritage Site.

Nonofo Mosesane of the DNMM, who is also a member of the Site Working Committees on the listing of the delta, said out of the over 30 communities that they planned on consulting, they have managed to talk to 28, and were unable to consult with the other three concerned because of lack of access to the areas during the high-water season.

He said plans to consult the communities are ongoing. Mosesane said they decided to submit the nomination dossier, despite not consulting all communities because they needed to meet the February 2012 deadline. He argued that the majority of the communities they consulted had agreed with the intention to list. 

Out of these, 27 communities agreed, three had poor or non-attendance (Toteng, Etsha 13 and Tsao), while two (Boro and Nokaneng) refused, but for reasons unrelated to the World Heritage Convention. Boro refused because they are still ungazetted while Nokaneng residents were not happy with the positioning of the Buffalo Fence. Maun was the only village that was undecided.

Mosesane said even villages that agreed to the listing were suspicious of the project, as they are generally suspicious of government.  Villagers also were concerned about the lack of development in the area, even though the area brings in a lot of income through tourism. Officially opening the conference yesterday, Dr Ebenezario Chonguica of OKACOM, said as the largest inland delta in the world in a desert environment, the Okavango Delta is exceptional and outstanding and worthy of being listed as a World Heritage Site.  If the nomination is successful, a fact that will only be known next year, it is expected to raise the prestige of the delta and increase tourism opportunities. Other advantages expected from the listing include the fostering of social cohesion and pride in local communities, Mosesane said.

On the other hand, if it is listed, developments deemed unsustainable as well as  those that could adversely affect the value of the site  are discouraged. Residents raised concerns about whether this includes the development of schools, clinics and roads, but Mosesane assured them that it does not. “Developments will be subject to environmental impact assessments to assess how to mitigate adverse effects. What we are really concerned about are things like mines,” he said. If the Okavango Delta is listed, it will be the second World Heritage Site in Botswana after the Tsodilo Hills which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.

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North-East heritage bid withdrawn

Posted on 16th May 2012 in The monuments of world

16 May 2012 Last updated at 10:12 ET

St Peter's ChurchSt Peter’s, Monkwearmouth was founded around 674AD

The Wearmouth-Jarrow bid for World Heritage status is “shelved” after an evaluation by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

The bid centred on the monastery of St Peter’s Church in Monkwearmouth and St Paul’s Church in Jarrow.

The Bishop of Jarrow, the Right Reverend Mark Bryant, chair of the partnership behind the bid, said he was “disappointed” about the evaluation.

However, he adds that that the plan could be resubmitted at a later date.

‘Strong local support’

The decision to withdraw was made jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), English Heritage and the Wearmouth-Jarrow Partnership.

Bishop Bryant said: “It’s important to say that it is shelved.

“The reason it was withdrawn is that if it had gone right through to the committee and they had said no, then we would not have been able to put it in again.

“So we have withdrawn it to give us the option to put it forward again.”

In a statement a DCMS spokesperson said: “Clearly, everyone involved is disappointed with the recent ICOMOS evaluation.

“There is strong local support for the world heritage bid and the team there have done some great work, which ICOMOS have acknowledged.

“We will study the report further to look at what still needs to be done, building on the work so far.”

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Are we not missing the boat?

Posted on 10th May 2012 in The monuments of world

Are we not missing the boat?

EDITOR

We learnt with disbelief yesterday that the world boxing title fight that was to be the first of its kind to be staged on Botswana soil has been postponed indefinitely for lack of funds.

It boggles the mind how an event that would surely signal many firsts for Botswana – including featuring a Motswana fighter – can be treated with such levity. This world title fight would offer a rare opportunity to unfurl the banner of Botswana on the world stage, forever leveraging branding the country for all that it stands for.

Its postponement comes at a time when the National Museum and Monuments wants to list the Okavango Delta as a World Heritage Site and has invited stakeholders – including journalists – for consultations to that end. 

It also comes against the background of a clamour to brand Gaborone as a Diamond City, flowing from Botswana being the world’s leading diamond producer, which in turn is linked to the programme to make Gaborone the main global centre for trade in diamonds.  And what are they thinking at Brand Botswana, that parastatal outfit whose mandate is inherent in its name? Why should they accept that feigning bankruptcy cannot be challenged?   

We need not detail the spinoff effects of the televised boxing event on attracting visitors to our wildlife resources that make our country a veritable Edenic Park and the heightened concern of conservationists for the preservation and multiplication of species under threat.

We thus find it difficult to abide the postponement of the unparalleled event because the fact is that inspite of the recent recession and the widespread poverty of its people, Botswana is flush with cash, some of which is earmarked for branding the country and marketing its tourism value. We say nothing about the P200 million in the Alcohol Levy Fund that seems to function as a pool for misappropriation.

To postpone an occasion to maximise benefit to the nation by tapping slightly into this fund and others and pretending to be broke defies logic. To avoid what is literally a golden opportunity when we responded with uncustomary alacrity when Hollywood came to Botswana a few years ago is hard to understand. Of course, the Scotsman of Mma Ramotswe fame and the filming of his works has put Botswana on a pedestal, but there is no doubting that promoters of pugilistic events – especially boxing – take the lead in calling the world to attention.

Surely Botswana Tourism is doing well with the Toyota 1,000 Desert Race, but embracing Scud Missile Promotions for what would shine the greatest limelight on Botswana would have been a milestone public-private partnership development.

The fact that this initiative is driven by a Motswana promoter featuring a Motswana boxer for staging in Botswana should surely mean something to the Government Enclave where the fight should have commanded the support of Parliament and Cabinet alike.  However, it is not too late to revisit the matter in order to get things right. Let us do so because being landlocked does not mean we should always miss the boat.

                                                                Today’s thought
               “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”

                                                               - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

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Unesco denies involvement in ayutthaya threat study

Posted on 5th May 2012 in The monuments of world

A report listing Ayutthaya among 10 historic sites in Asia under threat due to overdevelopment and mismanagement was not prepared by Unesco, a spokesman from the Fine Arts Department says.

Unesco contacted the department to clarify the origins of the report.

The list was prepared by the NGO-owned Global Heritage Fund, which is a different entity than Unesco’s World Heritage Fund.

Staff at Unesco’s Bangkok headquarters clarified the matter with the Fine Arts Department, fearing that the bodies’ similar names could create confusion.

Unesco has listed the palace and temple ruins of the former capital as a world heritage site.

”The names of the two funds can cause confusion when they are translated into Thai because of their similar meanings,” Fine Arts Department chief Somsuda Leyavanija said yesterday.

Unesco’s World Heritage Committee is scheduled to meet in St Petersburg in Russia between June 25 and July 5, but it is not clear whether the group will discuss world heritage sites which are under threat and require restoration.

”There is currently no such item on the agenda,” Ms Somsuda said.

Global Heritage Fundexecutive director Jeff Morgan earlier listed Ayutthaya as among historic sites in Asia under threat due to a variety of factors from unsustainable tourism development, poor management and wars.

Ayutthaya was severely hit by flooding late last year which damaged 158 historic monuments, the fund’s report noted.

The report added that the government has not provided an adequate budget to restore flood-damaged sites.

The Fine Arts Department, while admitting the Ayutthaya historic zone is facing encroachment from vendors and urban development, denied that the core of the city’s ancient beauty is under threat.

Culture Minister Sukumol Khunploem also insisted the government granted adequate funding to restore 311 historic sites in Ayutthaya after the flood.

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Factbox -Timbuktu – heritage in danger

Posted on 5th May 2012 in The monuments of world

(Reuters) – Separatist rebels in Mali seized Timbuktu and two other regional capitals in April to create an independent state called Azawad.

Timbuktu is controlled by Ansar Dine, which experts say has links with local al Qaeda factions, though the airport is in the hands of the MNLA rebel group.

The town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and tourism has suffered from years of security problems. Gunmen seized three foreigners and killed a fourth on a street in Timbuktu last November. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility.

Ansar Dine militants attacked and burned the tomb of one of the town’s saints on Friday, residents said.

Here is a look at what remains in the ancient city:

BUILDINGS

– Home of the prestigious Koranic Sankore University and other madrasas, Timbuktu was an intellectual and spiritual capital and a centre for the propagation of Islam throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries.

– Its three great mosques – Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia – are from that time. Although continuously restored, these monuments are under threat from desertification.

– The Mosque of Djingareyber was built by Sultan Kankan Moussa after his return in 1325 from a pilgrimage to Mecca. Between 1570 and 1583 the Qadi of Timbuktu, Imam Al Aqib, had it reconstructed and enlarged, adding the whole southern part and the wall enclosing the graveyard situated to the west.

– The central minaret dominates the town and is the town’s most visible landmark. A smaller minaret on the eastern facade completes the profile of the mosque which has three inner courtyards.

– Like Djingareyber, the Mosque of Sankore, built during the Mandingue period, was restored by the Imam Al Aqib between 1578 and 1582. He had the sanctuary demolished and rebuilt according to the measurements of the Kaaba at Mecca, which he had taken with a rope during his pilgrimage. The Mosque of Sidi Yahia, south of Sankore, was probably built around 1400.

– Apart from the mosques, the World Heritage Site comprises 16 cemeteries and mausoleums, essential elements in a religious system as, according to popular belief, they constitute a rampart that shields the city from all misfortune.

MANUSCRIPTS

– Timbuktu’s manuscripts offer an unparalleled window into societies and intellectual traditions from the late 15th century onward, but for decades they have been largely inaccessible.

– This vast legacy is on the verge of being lost due to brittleness, damage by termites, insects and the weather as well as illegal sales, mostly to foreigners.

– Many are written in local vernaculars, some are in archaic forms of the present-day languages of Songhai, Tamasheq, and Fulfulde. Some of the thousands available, the Timbuktu foundation says there are about 700,000, record complex genealogies and scientific theories, as well as intellectual arguments between scholars, teachers, and commentators.

– During the past two centuries, most of the manuscripts have been concealed, often buried or hidden to safeguard them from colonial agents, lawlessness, and political instability.

Sources: Reuters, https://archnet.org/, http://whc.unesco.org/, http://timbuktufoundation.org/manuscripts.htm/, www.aluka.org

(Reporting by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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P5M set aside for Ifugao rice terraces repairs

Posted on 4th May 2012 in The monuments of world
Published : Saturday, May 05, 2012 00:00
Article Views : 53
Written by : JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ REPORTER

The Department of Environment and    Natural Resources (DENR) has committed P5 million for the restoration of the world-renowned Rice Terraces of the Philippines in Ifugao province.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said that the amount was part of the memorandum of agreement to provide assistance to the local government of Ifugao in rehabilitating the terraces, particularly in Batad which has been assessed by experts as the most damaged.

“The DENR appreciates the natural and cultural heritage that the rice terraces bear, and we are one with the provincial government and the rest of the Filipino people in recognizing the need to reverse the deterioration of this heritage site, especially those areas that were damaged by typhoons,” Paje said.

Recently, the DENR signed a MOA with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) National Commission of the Philippines (NatCom) represented by its Secretary-General Dr. Virginia Miralao; and the provincial government of Ifugao, represented by its Governor Eugene Balitang.

Under the MOA, the UNESCO NatCom is identified as a “go-between” in the disbursement of the fund to the province of Ifugao, and shall submit to the DENR project documentation and other liquidation reports.

In return, the provincial government, as project implementer, will come up with a work and financial plan that will require the regular submission of reports and other documents showing the details on how the amount was utilized. It will also be primarily responsible for the mobilization of other parties in the rehabilitation work “by utilizing to the best extent possible indigenous methods and techniques.”

The DENR chief said that the restoration process would be undertaken until the end of this year, which would include the repair and rehabilitation of damaged terrace walls, irrigation canals and other facilities.

These would all form part of “corrective measures” being undertaken by the Philippine government to have the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras removed from the “endangered” status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Paje said.

The Rice Terraces was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

The UNESCO describes the Rice Terraces as “the only monuments in the Philippines that show no evidence of having been influenced by colonial cultures… The history [of the terraces] is intertwined with that of its people, their culture and their traditional practices.”

In 2001, it was inscribed into the “List of Word Heritage in Danger.” Since then, other government agencies and the private sector have been trying to raise funds for its rehabilitation.

In February, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has commenced with its P30-million rehabilitation program for Ifugao Rice Terraces.

Dante Delima, DA assistant secretary and National Rice Program coordinator, said they are now fast-tracking the release of funds to restore the grandeur of the 2000-year-old structure, which represents the country’s rice self-sufficiency goals.

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DENR commits P5M for restoration of Ifugao Rice Terraces

Posted on 4th May 2012 in The monuments of world

MANILA — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has committed P5 million for the restoration of the world-renowned Rice Terraces of the Philippines in Ifugao province.

DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said that the amount was included in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed among the DENR; the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) National Commission of the Philippines (NatCom) represented by its Secretary-General Dr. Virginia Miralao; and the provincial government of Ifugao, represented by its Governor Eugene Balitang.

Paje said the DENR’s commitment was to provide assistance to the local government of Ifugao in rehabilitating the terraces, especially in Batad which has been assessed by experts as the “most damaged.”

“The DENR appreciates the natural and cultural heritage that the rice terraces bear, and we are one with the provincial government and the rest of the Filipino people in recognizing the need to reverse the deterioration of this heritage site, especially those areas that were damaged by typhoons,” he said.

The restoration process, he said, would be undertaken until the end of this year. It would include the repair and rehabilitation of damaged terrace walls, irrigation canals and other facilities. These would all form part of “corrective measures” being undertaken by the Philippine government to prevent the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras removed from the “endangered” status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Under the MOA, the UNESCO NatCom is identified as a “go-between” in the disbursement of the fund to the province of Ifugao, and shall submit to the DENR project documentation and other liquidation reports.

In return, the provincial government, as project implementer, will come up with a work and financial plan that will require the regular submission of reports and other documents showing the details on how the amount was utilized. It will also be primarily responsible for the mobilization of other parties in the rehabilitation work “by utilizing to the best extent possible indigenous methods and techniques.”

The Rice Terraces was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The UNESCO describes the Rice Terraces as “the only monuments in the Philippines that show no evidence of having been influenced by colonial cultures… The history [of the terraces] is intertwined with that of its people, their culture and their traditional practices.” In 2001, it was inscribed into the “List of Word Heritage in Danger.” Since then, other government agencies and the private sector have been trying to raise funds for its rehabilitation. (PNA)

RMA/PR/utb

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Rwanda: Four Genocide Memorials to Be Included in Unesco World Heritage

Posted on 4th May 2012 in The monuments of world

A cabinet meeting that sat on Wednesday May 2 decided that four of Rwanda’s numerous Genocide memorial centers are included on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites.

These sites and memorial centers according to the cabinet minutes are the Kigali Memorial Center at Gisozi, Ntarama Genocide site in Bugesera District, Murambi and Bisesero memorial.

All the four sites hold significant history about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi whose conservation and protection is crucial.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places such as a forests, mountains, lakes, deserts, monuments, buildings, complex, or cities that are listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance.

The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 states parties which are elected by their General Assembly.

The program catalogues, names, and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity.

Under certain conditions, listed sites can obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund. The programme was founded with the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on November 16, 1972. Since then, 189 states parties have ratified the convention

What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.

World Heritage List includes 936 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.

These include 725 cultural, 183 natural and 28 mixed properties in 153 States Parties. As of March 2012, 189 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.

Copyright © 2012 News of Rwanda. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

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Facelift for French beauty

Posted on 1st May 2012 in The monuments of world

With its fairy-tale facade, elaborately turreted roof and vast grounds, Chambord is probably the French Loire Valley’s best-known Renaissance chateau.

More Chambord:
LIVE LIKE A KING

GLAMPING IN FRANCE

But every house and garden needs a spruce-up now and then, and the French state is about to embark on a four-million-euro ($5.13 million) renovation of this grand home which mixes medieval motifs with elegant fancy.

“The general idea of these projects is to re-energise the perception of Chambord,” says the estate’s executive director Jean d’Haussonville.

“We want to highlight Chambord’s uniqueness as an architectural masterpiece and show that it is on par with some of humanity’s grandest monuments, including the Great Pyramid, Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu in Peru,” he added.

The chateau attracted some two million visitors last year, of whom 780,000 paid to visit the building, which has been listed as a regional UNESCO World Heritage cultural site, while others toured the immense grounds for free.

The chateau is located in the Loire Valley in central France, about 200 kilometres southwest of Paris.

Renovations, which should not impede the tourist traffic, are to begin in the autumn, nearly 500 years after King Francois I commissioned its construction.

The largest of the Loire grand estates, it boasts 440 rooms, 365 chimneys and a 5500-hectare estate including the largest enclosed forest park in Europe, a long-time favourite for presidential hunts.

The renovations include a re-working of the lawn on the estate’s north and east, following plans drawn by the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart for Louis XIV. Completion is scheduled for 2014.

“We’re able to rebuild the gardens thanks to plans discovered in the national archives,” says curator Luc Forlivesi.

Walkways leading to the castle, which are dusty in the summer and muddy in winter, will be resurfaced and visitors’ accommodation will be refitted. A farm will be converted into a luxury hotel with a view of the chateau.

The chateau hopes renovations will help boost its reputation as a cultural centre. Last year, the home hosted its first classical musical festival and it is now highlighting the works of modern artists, as well as offering artist residencies and theatrical events.

The state-run firm in charge of the estate hopes to increase visitor numbers to more than one million paying customers in the coming years.

“We would like to invite the public back to Chambord, even if they think they already know it,” d’Haussonville said.

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We Celebrate World Heritage Day

Posted on 17th April 2012 in The monuments of world

MANILA, Philippines – Wednesday people around the world celebrate the rich diversity of heritage – their unique identity as people formed by centuries of history, geographic characteristics, and unique interactions with other groups of people, among others. It’s World Heritage Day (WHD).

A joint Heritage Council/International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Ireland Conference will be held at The Royal Irish Academy, in Dublin to mark the WHD celebrations. The conference, dubbed “Your Place or Mine,” will explore new initiatives engaging communities and interpreting and presenting heritage, and will also celebrate International Day of Monuments and Sites 2012, the theme of which is “World Heritage and Sustainable Development: The Role of Local Communities.”

Among the other activities and events worldwide are providing free admission to local heritage sites, organizing public talks or lectures on local heritage, mounting exhibits celebrating local heritage, awarding prizes to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to local heritage, inaugurating a restored monument or landmark, and getting children kids involved in tours and treasure hunts.

The origin of WHD can be traced back to April 18, 1982, when the ICOMOS organized a symposium in Tunisia where it was suggested that a special day be celebrated worldwide to mark “International Day for Monuments and Sites. The idea was also approved in UNESCO’s General Conference on November 26, 1983. “International Monuments and Sites Day” has been traditionally called the World Heritage Day.

The world’s heritage represents the unique identities and cultures of the various countries and peoples of the world. They are a source of pride and inspiration to every generation. Lately, earthquakes and other natural disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization, and unchecked tourist development have posed major problems to World Heritage sites. It is for this reason that local and national communities are enjoined to actively take part in efforts to protect, preserve, and conserve local heritage that contribute to the rich and colorful global landscape. CONGRATULATIONS!

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