Tanzania strengthens UNESCO heritage ties
KOREA: TANZANIA has pledged closer cooperation with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to strengthen the protection and management of the country’s world heritage sites.
Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Dr Juma Homera, made the pledge while addressing the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea, where he is leading the Tanzanian delegation. The session is taking place from July 19 to 29, 2026.
Dr Homera said Tanzania highly values the UNESCO World Heritage Centre’s role in implementing the 1972 World Heritage Convention, and will continue working closely with the centre to achieve the convention’s objectives and strengthen the conservation and management of the country’s heritage sites.
He said despite financial challenges facing the centre, its continued technical and financial support has benefitted many African countries, particularly Tanzania, by improving the conservation and management of World Heritage sites.
According to Dr Homera, Tanzania has also benefitted from UNESCO’s International Assistance Programme through initiatives that have strengthened the management of heritage sites, enhanced the capacity of conservation experts and promoted the preservation of important cultural and natural heritage.
“These efforts have contributed to improving the management of Tanzania’s seven world heritage sites,” he said.
Tanzania’s world heritage sites are Stone Town of Zanzibar, Serengeti National Park, Kilimanjaro National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Selous Game Reserve, most of which is now part of Nyerere National Park and the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara.
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The 48th session has brought together representatives from across the world to discuss the conservation, protection and management of World Heritage sites and strengthen international cooperation in safeguarding cultural and natural heritage.
Tanzania is among the 21 members of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, while representatives from 175 UNESCO member states are attending the session as observers.
Through its membership of the committee, Tanzania is participating in international discussions and decisions on the protection and management of cultural and natural heritage, reinforcing its contribution to global conservation efforts.
UNESCO oversees the implementation of international conventions and policies aimed at preserving world heritage while promoting human rights, peace and sustainable development.
Tanzania’s participation in the session is expected to deepen international cooperation in protecting cultural and natural heritage and further strengthen the country’s role in global efforts to preserve heritage for present and future generations.
