Brandberg World Heritage bid underway amid calls for local empowerment
The National Heritage Council of Namibia (NHC) is expected to submit its application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for World Heritage status for the Brandberg in the coming weeks.
NHC director Erica Ndalikokule confirmed Namibia plans to lodge the dossier before the 17:00 deadline on 1 February.
Education and culture minister Sanet Steenkamp praised the preparations.
“This is a first for Namibia, in that internal heritage officials have been empowered to compile the world heritage dossier,” Steenkamp said in her keynote address at a high-level stakeholder consultative meeting at the Windhoek Country Club last Thursday.
Namibia’s highest mountain, also known as Dâures, features rock art, archaeological sites, unique geological formations and rare flora and fauna, all detailed in the submission document.
Ndalikokule expanded on the work done since the Dâures/Brandberg National Monument area was selected from a preliminary list of Namibian sites in 2002, which also included the Welwitschia Plain in Namib-Naukluft Park and the Fish River.
She highlighted the potential benefits of World Heritage status, including global recognition, national identity and pride, environmental conservation, improved knowledge of the site, increased scientific interest, cultural tourism, and opportunities for international collaboration.
Investing in capacity building
The NHC has so far spent around N$380 000 on the national project, alongside financial support of about N$1.08 million from the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF).
The funds have been allocated to stakeholder engagement and consultations, public awareness, capacity building and the compilation of the application.
“We were fortunate to receive technical support from other government institutions, as this is a national project,” said Beverley Alexander, the NHC’s spokesperson.
She added that the approach taken with the nomination was to integrate it into the council’s broader programmes. “That is how we intend to proceed, because we now have internal capacity,” Alexander said.
Concerns over mining
Part of the proposal to grant World Heritage status to the Dâures/Brandberg area includes establishing a 10 km buffer zone around the existing monument.
An official from the mining ministry, who was present at the meeting, confirmed that numerous exploration licences currently fall within the proposed buffer zone, with additional applications awaiting approval.
Ndalikokule said the NHC already requires that mining operations take place at least 15 km from the foot of the mountain as a condition for approving a valid environmental clearance certificate. She added that the requirement has been in place since 2020.
The fate of small-scale miners
Incenia Brandt, the regional councillor for the Dâures constituency, and Herman Naruseb, chair of the Dâures Daman Traditional Authority, expressed concern about the future of small-scale miners who are being barred from operating at the mountain.
Brandt acknowledged that mining on the Brandberg is illegal, “but something must be done” to support local miners.
She emphasised that indigenous people and local participation should be prioritised when Brandberg gains World Heritage status.
“It is heartbreaking that they have been removed. We do not want to repeat the example of Spitzkoppe, where people lost their only source of income,” she stressed.
“They have extensive knowledge of the mountain, and their practical experience is an asset that should not be ignored,” Brandt added.
Naruseb suggested that small-scale miners could be employed as mountain guides.
NHC director Erica Ndalikokule confirmed Namibia plans to lodge the dossier before the 17:00 deadline on 1 February.
Education and culture minister Sanet Steenkamp praised the preparations.
“This is a first for Namibia, in that internal heritage officials have been empowered to compile the world heritage dossier,” Steenkamp said in her keynote address at a high-level stakeholder consultative meeting at the Windhoek Country Club last Thursday.
Namibia’s highest mountain, also known as Dâures, features rock art, archaeological sites, unique geological formations and rare flora and fauna, all detailed in the submission document.
Ndalikokule expanded on the work done since the Dâures/Brandberg National Monument area was selected from a preliminary list of Namibian sites in 2002, which also included the Welwitschia Plain in Namib-Naukluft Park and the Fish River.
She highlighted the potential benefits of World Heritage status, including global recognition, national identity and pride, environmental conservation, improved knowledge of the site, increased scientific interest, cultural tourism, and opportunities for international collaboration.
Investing in capacity building
The NHC has so far spent around N$380 000 on the national project, alongside financial support of about N$1.08 million from the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF).
The funds have been allocated to stakeholder engagement and consultations, public awareness, capacity building and the compilation of the application.
“We were fortunate to receive technical support from other government institutions, as this is a national project,” said Beverley Alexander, the NHC’s spokesperson.
She added that the approach taken with the nomination was to integrate it into the council’s broader programmes. “That is how we intend to proceed, because we now have internal capacity,” Alexander said.
Concerns over mining
Part of the proposal to grant World Heritage status to the Dâures/Brandberg area includes establishing a 10 km buffer zone around the existing monument.
An official from the mining ministry, who was present at the meeting, confirmed that numerous exploration licences currently fall within the proposed buffer zone, with additional applications awaiting approval.
Ndalikokule said the NHC already requires that mining operations take place at least 15 km from the foot of the mountain as a condition for approving a valid environmental clearance certificate. She added that the requirement has been in place since 2020.
The fate of small-scale miners
Incenia Brandt, the regional councillor for the Dâures constituency, and Herman Naruseb, chair of the Dâures Daman Traditional Authority, expressed concern about the future of small-scale miners who are being barred from operating at the mountain.
Brandt acknowledged that mining on the Brandberg is illegal, “but something must be done” to support local miners.
She emphasised that indigenous people and local participation should be prioritised when Brandberg gains World Heritage status.
“It is heartbreaking that they have been removed. We do not want to repeat the example of Spitzkoppe, where people lost their only source of income,” she stressed.
“They have extensive knowledge of the mountain, and their practical experience is an asset that should not be ignored,” Brandt added.
Naruseb suggested that small-scale miners could be employed as mountain guides.
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