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ditions to the Operational Guidelines, which refer to sustainable development. These amendments affirm the idea that the management and governance of World Heritage sites should integrate sustainable development principles. The Operational Guidelines have been modified to include more attention to communities and sustainability, with 39COM in Bonn in 2015 including specific language on “indigenous peoples” for the first time, in line with the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The 18th General Assembly of UNESCO adopted the “Strategic Action Plan for the Implementation of the Convention, 2012-2022”, which integrates a concern for sustainable development. “Vision for 2022” calls for the World Heritage Convention to “contribute to the sustainable development of the world’s communities and cultures”. Goal N.3 reads: “Heritage protection and conservation considers present and future environmental, societal and economic needs”, which are to be addressed particularly through “connecting conservation to communities” (see http://whc.unesco.org/ en/sustainabledevelopment/, and references at the end of this report). 6 World Heritage in Botswana: Conservation, Development and Human Rights.

Post-Inscription context Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site The World Heritage Committee inscribed Tsodilo Hills on the World Heritage List in December 2001 in Helsinki, Finland. UNESCO describes Tsodilo Hills as the “Louvre of the Desert” due to its high concentration of rock art. It is estimated that the area contains over 4,500 paintings and the records give a chronological account of human activities and environmental changes over at least 100,000 years . Tsodilo Hills’ World 3 Heritage Site status is measured against two criteria: the protection of the rock art which constitutes the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the site, and the contribution of the site to human development including the sustaining of cultural heritage. ‘Outstanding universal value means cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity. As such, the permanent protection of this heritage is of the highest importance to the international community as a whole.’ While only two communities live in Tsodilo Hills - the Ju ’hoansi San and the Hambukushu Bantu community - several ethnic groups live in the Okavango Delta and this more complex situation requires greater attention. The main goal of the workshop was to develop initiatives to prevent the marginalization of the indigenous community in the Okavango Delta World Heritage site. The workshop considered how lessons from Tsodilo Hills could help inform the development of baselines and human development targets in the much larger Okavango Delta site. San delegates to the Ngamiland workshop noted that Tsodilo Hills has received notable infrastructure investment, and called on government to fully evaluate Tsodilo Hills, many years after its inscription to the World Heritage List. The workshop discussed the practical situation at Tsodilo and set out criteria which participants believe will contribute to the evaluation. These criteria include a baseline for the rock art conservation and measurement of progress in literacy, conservation and tourism skills within communities and more broadly across the district. Another criterion considered important for evaluation was the equity of benefits and costs for the two communities living at the site. This criterion is described in the UNCBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas, Element 2. 7 2 The Louvre is the name of one of Europe’s most famous art museums located in Paris. 3 UNESCO World Heritage List. “Tsodilo”. Advisory Body Evaluation. http://whc.unesco.org/en/

Okavango Delta World Heritage Site In June 2014, the Okavango Delta was inscribed as the 1000th World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in Doha, Qatar. enthusiasm for pushing through with the complex inscription process was driven by His Excellency, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic 4 of Botswana and well-known conservationist. The Okavango is a vast inland wetland system with permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains when the summer rains in Angola drain onto the plains of Botswana. The waters peak between June and August during the region’s parched winter, attracting one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of wildlife. It is an exceptional example of the interaction between climatic, hydrological and biological processes. The Okavango Delta is home to some of the world’s iconic and also endangered species of mammals, including elephants, cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lions. Five ethnic groups live in the Okavango Delta: the Bugakwe, Dxeriku, Hambukushu, Wayeyi and Anikhwe. Each of these groups speaks its own language and expresses its own cultural identity. There are as many as twelve ethnic groups spread out across the District of Ngamiland, all of whom are impacted by the inscriptions. According to the official nomination dossier, this delta is unusual in that it does not flow into a sea or ocean and has a vast inland wetland system that is almost intact. The Okavango Delta’s uniqueness comes from annual flooding that occurs during the dry season. The Okavango Delta is additionally a Ramsar-inscribed wetland. The site was long overdue for inscription, and the the Okavango Delta far later than the two San ethnic groups and are Bantu peoples according to their linguistic traditions. They speak Central Bantu languages, which is a sign that they likely migrated from central Africa during the expansion of agro-pastoralism and metallurgical cultures . The Bugakwe and Anikhwe are also referred to as San, Basarwa, or Bushmen - the indigenous peoples of southern Africa. Traditionally the San were nomadic hunter gatherers and lived in small groups. The other three ethnic groups, Dxeriku, Hambukushu and Wayeyi most probably migrated into 8 4 World Heritage List reaches 1000 sites with inscription of Okavango Delta in Botswana.” UNESCO press 22. 06.2014. World Heritage in Botswana: Conservation, Development and Human Rights.

All the peoples of the Okavango Delta face various challenges which impact on their well-being and on the sustainability of their cultures. The gradual integration of the Okavango Delta into the national economic, social and political institutions of Botswana has not been balanced with representation of their 5 unique languages, knowledge systems and cultural heritage. The San are not represented in the national chieftaincy system and this undercuts their ability to influence policy and decision-making. Local languages are not used in schools, and local traditional knowledge and skills appear to be degrading, posing a risk to the sustainability of San culture. for San and other local communities to apply their knowledge of biodiversity conservation and heritage, both natural and cultural, in developing a sustainable future. The traditional knowledge and practices of the people of Okavango Delta could be resources in developing an integrated, multi-sectoral approach to tourism development, other livelihoods and conservation. Since Botswana’s independence in 1966, and more so after the 1980s, provincial integration to national institutions has intensified. Universal education and economic integration provide both opportunities and risks for the cultures of the peoples of Okavango Delta. The shift from a traditional economy to a cash market economy changed the necessary skills that children require for their future. Traditional knowledge has become less important as activities such as hunting and fishing become less appealing in a market economy. The traditional economy provided young people and adults with abundant skills, training and livelihoods. But in the transition to a national market economy, the San peoples of the Okavango Delta have found themselves facing poverty, various forms of discrimination, and high unemployment rates. San have indicated to the government, to UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and to the IUCN that they wish to be actively involved in decision-making processes relating to the Okavango World Heritage Site. San leaders and organisations are studying the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and wish to contribute to a national and regional strategy to promote good governance, sustainable livelihoods and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights in relation to these sites. Such an approach aligns with UN priorities and with the national development agenda, while supporting the conservation of the Outstanding Universal Values of the sites. The inscription of Okavango Delta on the World Heritage List creates a new opportunity IPACC has joined with TOCADI and KFO to explore how inscription of the Okavango Delta and an effective assessment of Tsodilo Hills can help Botswana develop an approach to management and governance of the sites that is inclusive and effective. The Special Rapporteur on Culture Following the inscription at 38COM in Doha, Qatar, the UN Special Rapporteur on Culture, Ms Farida Shaheed, paid an official visit to Botswana from November 14–26, 2014. 9 5 John Bock and Sarah E. Johnson. “The Okavango Delta Peoples of Botswana”. Global Sojourns. http://globalsojourns.com/imagedump/Web Articles/Articles Botswana/ Okavango Delta People.pdf

Her aim was to explore the historic decision by Botswana to inscribe Okavango Delta as a natural World Heritage Site while at the same time acknowledging that it contained precious cultural heritage of the indigenous San people. Ms Shaheed was invited to Botswana to tour several regions, to meet with local and indigenous peoples and government representatives, and to compile a report to the UN on the relationship between culture, livelihoods and rights. Ms Shaheed said that the aim of her mission was to consider the rights of different cultural and linguistic communities in Botswana. She was examining their right to access, take part in, and contribute to cultural life, and to enjoy and have recognised their cultural heritage, including through participating in the stewardship of cultural heritage. In this regard, Ms Shaheed noted that: recognised, for example, that a significant proportion of the population depends on welfare, and that poor people are locked into increasing dependence on state support.” According to the Special Rapporteur, Botswana has adopted several positive policies, including the 2001 National Policy on Culture. She highlighted the importance of new cultural and development policy frameworks, including Vision 2016, which aims to build a united and proud nation, with a diverse mix of cultures, languages, traditions and peoples sharing a common destiny. “The Vision 2016 document states that ‘Botswana’s wealth of different languages and cultural traditions will be recognised, supported and strengthened within the education system. No Motswana will be disadvantaged in the education system as a result of a mother tongue that differs from the country’s two official languages’.” “Botswana must be congratulated for its efforts and achievements in the area of development and reduction of poverty, in particular through important safety nets for vulnerable populations across the country, and its commitment to providing services in the areas of health, education and water to all.” But, she also cautioned: “Substantial challenges remain, however, as people are scattered across the country in many diverse communities. The government 10 World Heritage in Botswana: Conservation, Development and Human Rights.

Ms Shaheed spoke to the importance of both World Heritage Sites - Tsodilo Hills and the Okavango Delta. She addressed issues of concern raised by some of the communities and reported that “the government has assured me that there will be no fencing of the area, no eviction of local communities, and no disruption of their rights of access to natural resources. I encourage the government to continue implementing the UNESCO recommendations for the Okavango Delta, in particular, to reinforce the recognition of the local inhabitants’ cultural heritage, (and) effectively and clearly communicate all matters concerning the implications of the listing to the affected indigenous peoples”. The workshop noted the importance of the Special Rapporteur’s study and contributions, and recommended that these should be shared in Ngamiland with communities, traditional authorities, government agencies, protected areas and the private sector, particularly those entities engaged in tourism development. 11

12 World Heritage in Botswana: Conservation, Development and Human Rights.

Ngamiland World Heritage in Botswana Workshop - March 2015 The March 2015 World Heritage workshop was hosted by the Trust for Okavango Cultural and Development Initiatives (TOCADI), facilitated by IPACC and mainly funded by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). with specific reference to the Okavango Delta and Tsodilo Hills. He emphasised that the UN and its advisory bodies acknowledge the precious value of humanity’s natural and cultural heritage, and have created a treaty mechanism to protect this heritage for future generations. He noted that it is Delegates attended from across the district, including Khwe, Anikhwe and Ju ’hoansi San. The Ngamiland NGO Council participated, as well as staff from the national Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism. The National Museums expressed interest in attending but had a schedule conflict and expressed their apologies. a great honour for Botswana to have two such inscribed sites, Dr Crawhall recalled important points from the past workshop held in Shakawe in August 2013 and mentioned that subsequent to that workshop, San organisations had effectively engaged with, IUCN, the Advisory Body, to ensure that their support and concerns were taken into account in the finalisation of the nomination dossier for Okavango Delta. Mr Gakemotho Satau welcomed guests and spoke on behalf of the Kuru Family of Organizations (KFO) and TOCADI. Then Mr Joram Useb explained that IPACC is an advocacy and networking organization for indigenous communities across Africa. He added that IPACC has an active interest in projects related to heritage conservation and indigenous knowledge. Afterwards, Dr. Nigel Crawhall, IPACC’s Director of Secretariat gave an introduction to the purpose of the World Heritage Convention and named some of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, 13 Conservation aims The purpose of inscription with the World Heritage Convention is to ensure long-term conservation of the site, with particular attention to the Outstanding Universal Values for which the site has been approved. Though the Convention recognises both cultural and natural heritage sites, with some mixed natural and cultural sites, the WH Committee and the Advisory Bodies recognise the

inter-relatedness of culture and nature. The custodians of each site thus should consider how both natural and cultural site heritage can be protected by mechanisms that contribute to long-term sustainability. The government of Botswana encourages communities to conserve nature, natural resources, biodiversity and habitats. The existing Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) policy already gives powers and responsibilities to communities with regards to resource management. For example, communities are mandated to preserve natural resources for livelihoods, and to protect watercourses and water quality. Moreover, communities are tasked to control wild fires, which have raged unchecked in recent years in the Okavango Delta. Okavango communities express concern over elephants destroying people’s lands and eating their crops, and consequently government is trying to establish modalities for harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. As regards conservation in the context of the ownership of local resources, people living in the land enjoy the right to own and possess the resources, and Okavango communities are encouraging government to take steps to prevent illegal harvesting of natural resources. The workshop noted that wildlife conservation is both an important economic and cultural resource for the communities. With climate changes and other pressures, part of the long term sustainability of the Okavango and its OUV will require thoughtful attention to wildlife-human co-existence, equitable benefit sharing and constructive problem solving between agents responsible for wildlife and communities living in rural areas including inside the core zone and the protected areas. Explicitly, IPACC has worked with indigenous peoples of the Kalahari Basin to highlight the need for plant conservation, and compliance with the CBD’s Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (https://www.cbd. int/gspc/) Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage Properties The UNESCO World Heritage Convention was adopted in 1972. Outstanding Univer- 14 World Heritage in Botswana: Conservation, Development and Human Rights.

sal Value (OUV) is the main criteria for a site to be inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage site list. Botswana signed the convention and committed to identify natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value. This enabled the official inscription of Tsodilo Hills and Okavango Delta on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The long-lasting protection of these sites is important to the international community as a whole, and as a signatory, Botswana is obliged to comply with international law and to create harmony in governance. The World Heritage Committee, made up of State Parties, the World Heritage Centre in Paris and three Advisory Bodies, oversees the World Heritage Convention. The three advisory bodies are the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN); the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). The IUCN deals with natural heritage and can lend support to affected communities to make the Okavango Delta project a success. ICCROM and ICOMOS deal with culture. UNESCO and the three bodies are all committed to work with each other in adhering to international human rights standards and in finding meaningful convergence between natural and cultural conservation and heritage. The World Heritage Convention also addresses indigenous peoples’ rights. The UN adopted the Declaration on the Rights of 15 Indigenous Peoples in 2007 and since then, UN agencies, including UNESCO, have embraced a Human Rights-based approach in the context of UN reform. Moreover, UNESCO r

stakeholders and rights holders to discuss the implications of the inscription of the Okavango Delta as a natural World Heritage Site. It was