Unesco steps in to protect heritage sites from oil exploration
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) says it is vigilant on the potential impacts of oil exploration on world heritage sites such as the Okavango Delta.
Unesco says its World Heritage Centre has been made aware of petitions by civil society groups received by Unesco's office in Windhoek.
The Frack Free Namibia group recently took up their concerns over oil and gas exploration by the Canadian company Reconnaissance Africa (ReconAfrica) in the Kavango Region with Unesco.
The group said two Unesco World Heritage sites, namely the Okavango Delta and the Tsodila Hills, are located in the prospecting area.
Recon Africa has come under fire for its plans to drill in Namibia, close to the border with Botswana.
Unesco said the Centre was following with concern the exploration by ReconAfrica.
“Upon receipt of this information Unesco's World Heritage Centre has requested more information on the projects and their potential impacts on the World Heritage properties in accordance with paragraph 174 of the Operational Guidelines for the World Heritage Convention.”
An online meeting was also organised with Namibia and Botswana, said Unesco.
During the meeting permanent delegates of Botswana and Namibia to Unesco reiterated their countries' commitment to the Convention.
They further guaranteed not to undertake any deliberate measures that might directly or indirectly impact negatively on any World Heritage sites.
Unesco said the Botswana delegation indicated the country had amended the licence area in order to exclude the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage site.
“The World Heritage Committee has always taken a strong position that oil and gas exploitation activities are incompatible with World Heritage status,” said Dr Mechtild Rössler, director of Unesco's World Heritage Centre.
The Centre and the representatives of the two countries agreed to closely monitor the situation.
Unesco said it has always recognised that local communities and indigenous peoples are stakeholders and caretakers of World Heritage sites and should be acknowledged as key actors in the effective management and sustainable development of a property.
“Enhancing their engagement in the governance of World Heritage sites and guaranteeing equitable sharing of the benefits deriving from heritage is one of the World Heritage Convention's strategic objectives which is communities.”
Therefore, it said that the governments of Botswana and Namibia pledged to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are to be consulted on the results of any environmental impact assessment conducted, and reiterated their aim to advance the region to greater economic gains through the sustainable utilisation of its natural resources.
Finally, Unesco said it is important to note that the state of conservation of the Okavango Delta will be examined by the World Heritage Committee at its next session in 2021.
WINDHOEK
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) says it is vigilant on the potential impacts of oil exploration on world heritage sites such as the Okavango Delta.
Unesco says its World Heritage Centre has been made aware of petitions by civil society groups received by Unesco's office in Windhoek.
The Frack Free Namibia group recently took up their concerns over oil and gas exploration by the Canadian company Reconnaissance Africa (ReconAfrica) in the Kavango Region with Unesco.
The group said two Unesco World Heritage sites, namely the Okavango Delta and the Tsodila Hills, are located in the prospecting area.
Recon Africa has come under fire for its plans to drill in Namibia, close to the border with Botswana.
Unesco said the Centre was following with concern the exploration by ReconAfrica.
“Upon receipt of this information Unesco's World Heritage Centre has requested more information on the projects and their potential impacts on the World Heritage properties in accordance with paragraph 174 of the Operational Guidelines for the World Heritage Convention.”
An online meeting was also organised with Namibia and Botswana, said Unesco.
During the meeting permanent delegates of Botswana and Namibia to Unesco reiterated their countries' commitment to the Convention.
They further guaranteed not to undertake any deliberate measures that might directly or indirectly impact negatively on any World Heritage sites.
Unesco said the Botswana delegation indicated the country had amended the licence area in order to exclude the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage site.
“The World Heritage Committee has always taken a strong position that oil and gas exploitation activities are incompatible with World Heritage status,” said Dr Mechtild Rössler, director of Unesco's World Heritage Centre.
The Centre and the representatives of the two countries agreed to closely monitor the situation.
Unesco said it has always recognised that local communities and indigenous peoples are stakeholders and caretakers of World Heritage sites and should be acknowledged as key actors in the effective management and sustainable development of a property.
“Enhancing their engagement in the governance of World Heritage sites and guaranteeing equitable sharing of the benefits deriving from heritage is one of the World Heritage Convention's strategic objectives which is communities.”
Therefore, it said that the governments of Botswana and Namibia pledged to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are to be consulted on the results of any environmental impact assessment conducted, and reiterated their aim to advance the region to greater economic gains through the sustainable utilisation of its natural resources.
Finally, Unesco said it is important to note that the state of conservation of the Okavango Delta will be examined by the World Heritage Committee at its next session in 2021.
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