Across Southern Africa, UNESCO’s work on World Heritage is deeply rooted in the people who live in and around these properties and those who dedicate their efforts to protect them.
Communities and practitioners play a vital role in protecting and interpreting World Heritage as well as transmitting knowledge, skill and values associated with it. UNESCO works closely with governments, communities, experts and partners to safeguard and protect cultural and natural World Heritage sites, ensuring that heritage contributes to local sustainable development.
Across the region, protection has been strengthened through conservation programmes, capacity‑building for site managers and inclusive heritage governance, while expanding opportunities for education, tourism and sustainable livelihoods.
