Participatory Approach for Sustainable Development of World Heritage Sites in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

The 2015 UNESCO Policy on World Heritage and Sustainable Development provides a policy
framework for developing the potential of World Heritage sites (WHS) in addressing the wellbeing of society through sustainable approaches. In the African context, however, heritage is not
usually prioritised in development discourse, with heritage places facing increasing threats and
disaster risk. This could be attributed to both natural and human-induced factors. Given that
heritage sites belong to local communities, the active participation of these communities in
addressing threats and disaster risks provides opportunities for inclusive decision-making in the
management of the heritage sites, unity and co-existence of communities. This study, therefore,
examines the sustainable approaches that were implemented in the two World Heritage sites
(Sukur cultural landscape and Osun-Osogbo sacred groove) in Nigeria. Primary information was
collected through key informant interviews while relevant official documents on the two World
Heritage sites were reviewed. The sustainable perspectives implemented forth management of the
WHS include the development of integrated management plans, development of research and
other educational materials, and addressing environmental threats impacting the WHS. The
participants emphasised the preservation of social-cultural connections as well as the
conservation of the local knowledge and practices of communities. However, the barriers to the
participation of communities in the management of the WHS include poor implementation and
enforcement of the heritage conservation laws, exclusion of young people and non-experts,
inadequately trained personnel to engage communities and poor visitor management. The findings
largely reveal that the WHS contributes to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the
communities. The study, therefore, encourages the involvement of young people and non-experts
in the conservation and management of WHS from the planning to implementation stages.