UNESCO World Heritage Committee adopts Victoria Falls draft decision with Zambian amendments

The 46th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in New Delhi, India, has adopted a draft decision concerning the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, incorporating amendments proposed by Zambia.

Naomi Mweemba, First Secretary Press at the Zambian mission in Paris, reported that the revised draft decision aligned with previous Committee decisions and supports the Joint Integrated Management Plan (JIMP) as a blueprint for infrastructure development.

Mweemba explained that the JIMP outlined improvements within and around the Victoria Falls site, including establishing precise boundaries, zonation and buffer zones to complete the retrospective inventory that began a decade ago.

“The Committee urges Zambia and Zimbabwe to finalise and harmonise the JIMP with national and transboundary plans. This includes limits on use, permissible activities, infrastructure and safeguards to mitigate development pressures,” Mweemba stated.

The draft decision was adopted without objection, with Kenya presenting the amendments on behalf of Zambia and the Republic of Korea and Rwanda offering support. Consensus was reached between Zambia, Zimbabwe and the World Heritage Centre prior to the adoption of the amendments.

Mweemba noted that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an advisory body of the World Heritage Convention, was also involved in the discussions.

Zambia was required to include evidence in all management plans and State of Conservation reports showing that the Victoria Falls Livingstone Resort Hotel was adhering to mitigatory measures set by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the revised JIMP.

Additionally, Zambia has allocated US$100,000 to support capacity-building programmes for sustainable development around the World Heritage site.

This funding reflected Zambia’s commitment to implementing the safeguards recommended by the World Heritage Committee in 2023, ensuring that the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme does not compromise the site’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

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