Niël Terblanché
Namibia is hosting a regional workshop in Windhoek today focused on using digital technologies to protect and manage World Heritage sites in Africa.
The event, held under the theme Digital Technologies to Empower World Heritage in Africa, is organised by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the National Heritage Council and UNESCO.
The ministry said the workshop is a response to ongoing threats to African heritage sites, such as poor documentation, climate change, urban growth, illegal activities, conflict, and trafficking.
“Africa is home to a wealth of natural and cultural heritage of outstanding universal value, but many sites remain vulnerable,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that modern tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), drones, 3D scanning, remote sensing, and mobile apps now offer better ways to document, monitor, and manage heritage sites.
The workshop will bring together around 40 participants, including site managers, heritage professionals, scholars, and mentees from the World Heritage Mentorship Programme.
“It will encourage the establishment of a community of practice, regional cooperation, and promote the exchange of best practices among professionals,” the organisers said.
The workshop, supported by the Government of Flanders in Belgium, will include both theoretical sessions and hands-on demonstrations.
Participants will also visit the Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes World Heritage site for field-based training.
This initiative follows the World Heritage Futures Lab: Southern and Eastern Africa edition, which was held in Windhoek in January 2023.
The previous event focused on using digital media to reimagine World Heritage through the involvement of youth, technologists, and local communities.
According to the ministry, the workshop will end on Thursday.
