Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
than one state. Again, only reference to, and utilization of, an international
framework of legal protection can be an answer to challenges posed by, for instance,
climate change, degradation of biodiversity, or commercial globalization.
While a global program of nature conservation is a useful starting point, in an
increasingly globalizing world, “nature conservation needs adapted tools to protect
nature and to contribute to a sustainable development” (Plachter 2003 : 2). With 187
states parties as of June 2010, the WHC is one of the most comprehensive and glob-
ally recognized international agreements on the topic of nature conservation. It has
been described as “a politically well recognized instrument for the management of
the most outstanding places on earth” (Plachter 2003 : 3). The 911 sites nominated
for inscription (as at August 2010) include 704 cultural, 180 natural and 27 mixed
properties in 151 States Parties (UNESCO 2010 ). According to Plachter ( 2003 : 13),
“the world heritage status… approves the deliberate will of the States Party nomi-
nating and the World Community accepting to protect a property by all means,
techniques and strategies available [emphasis added] and to hand it over to future
generations in an unspoilt state, demonstrating thereby that they are capable and
willing to safeguard the best places our planet has created”.
Protection by all means and strategies should not only include a national protec-
tion strategy but also one that is ideally tied to a complementary set of international
and regional agreements. In other words, lessons learnt and best option scenarios
can be drawn from legislative frameworks developed to suit the global or regional
community of states as a whole. Although adaptation to local context is inevitably
needed to enhance effectiveness of such legislation at national level, small countries
with limited legal drafting, human and enforcement resources may perceive this
technique as particularly beneficial. Such an integrated legislation package that
incorporates international and regional obligations and facilitates community
owned processes that protect heritage sites country-wide should constitute a pre-
ferred option for small island developing states (SIDS). The CRMD's experience
offers some valuable lessons on the importance of an inclusive and community-
driven approach to cultural heritage protection and sustainable development.
Challenges Ahead
Vanuatu is currently party to only a few relevant international or regional conven-
tions or agreements, a condition that perhaps presents a ratification challenge in
itself. 7 There are several challenges a country like Vanuatu may face in relation to
the utilization of international and regional agreements for the protection of its
recognized or tentative cultural heritage sites. The first challenge relates to the
general, unspecific and vague nature of international obligations. Since many con-
ventions have been written with as broad a coverage and as wide a membership as
7 The conventions to which Vanuatu is a party are spelled out in Annex.
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