NAME: KHULEKANI JOSEPH MASEKO

MODULE NAME: EWS2601

ASSIGNMENT 02

TOPIC: The threats to world Heritage Sites and what can be done protect them.

TABLE OF CONTENT

00. Introduction

01. How does climate change affect the world heritage sites?

02. Describe the world heritage site that you have chosen.

03. How is the world heritage site threatened?

04. what can be done to protect the world heritage site?

05. As a responsible citizen, what actions would you take to protect the world heritage site?

06. Conclusion

07. List of sources

00.Introduction

While it has been shown by (NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies 2023) that...Climate change is
when the weather of a certain place or region changes for a long period of time. This is determined by
aspects connected with weather, such as temperature, wind patterns and precipitation which in turn
tends to affect the World Heritage Sites.

01. How does climate change affect the world heritage sites?

Durand (2010, pp.73-92) emphasis that there is prove showing that other heritage sites are negatively
affected by climate change associated with extreme weather. As Durand puts it ''Climate change
involves events like the rising sea levels, drought and extreme precipitation... and the attributes of the
sites such as the archaeological artefacts, paleontological aspects, unique biodiversity and other
heritage belongings face a serious problem''. While it has been shown by the World heritage reports
(2007, pp.9)... that Rising Sea levels and erosion caused by coastal storms affects the coastal
archaeological sites and heritage sites around the world. An increased threat of landslides leads to the
loss of artefacts located on slopes, also to the destruction of structures by stones and mud. Changes in
ground water levels, hydrological cycle, soil temperature and more frequent intense precipitation and
floods might wash away undiscovered fossils on the sites. Another issue as we all know is that consistent
rainfall leads to the rusting of exposed artefacts to occur fast leading to their degradation. While it has
been shown by The paper climate change risk of heritage tourism sites within South African National
parks that...Crystallization and dissolution of salts caused by wetting and drying damage walls, wall
paintings of archaeological sites and other surfaces [9,10].

02. Describe the world heritage site that you have chosen

I have chosen the Cradle of human kind world heritage site, the region in which one of the most
important and richest archaeological and paleontological resources is located in South Africa. This area
is located next to one of the richest gold mining sites in the world. While it has been shown by Durand
(2010) that... This heritage site has the biggest collection of fossils in the world. This site located to the
north of Krugersdorp on the west round in Gauteng was awarded world heritage site status by the
United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999. It is often argued
that... It's status is based on the unique cultural and natural heritage discoveries contained within this
area ,this heritage site is an important South African tourist attraction and is also acknowledged as valid
research resource, also has important job opportunities and recreational value (Durand et al,2010,pp
1-2). This area contains more than two hundred caves and fossils localities and is one of the riches
sources of information about human evolution. The most famous fossils discovered in this site are
known as Mrs.Ples and Little Foot Both this fossils were found in caves.

03. How is the world heritage site threatened?

There is a significant risk posed to the region in which one of the most important and richest
archaeological and paleontological resources is located in South Africa. Since this area is situated
adjacent next to one of the richest gold mine. Durand (2008: 2-3) emphasis ... The mine pollution which
is pouring from the mine in the form of acid mine drainage is threatening this heritage site which has
produced the biggest collection of fossils in the world, tourism ,and educational research in South Africa,
and if monitoring, and management measures are not held with immediate effect to avoid the negative
effects ,the site may stand the risk of losing it's status and be demoted to the UNESCO list of world
heritage in danger .As Durand puts it ''if the site loses its characteristics that determine its inscription in
the world Heritage list, the world heritage committee may decide to delete the property from its list''. It
is often argued that... The area in which this site is situated is threatened by urban development and the
unauthorized removal of dolomite, fossils , archaeological artefacts by the public, as well as pollution in
the area (Durand, 2008).

04. What can be done to protect the world heritage site?

It is often argued that... In order to eliminate these impacts , the transfer of acid mine drainage from the
mine workings on the West Rand that causes these impacts and underground water pollution must be
ceased (Van Eden et al,.2009). So where these impacts cannot be ceased i think a way to control the
situation must be brought into light .As Durand puts it'' The mine effluent (acid mine drainage and
polluted water) must be treated at a water treatment plants and a program must be implemented to
continuously monitor and manage water quality. The effective implementation of these measures would
require integrated involvement between various stakeholders, and assist to restore water quality''. Our
government can also open programs which are related with informing and educating the community of
West Rand about the significance of all the fossils and artefacts that are found in the site. It is often
argued that... A new acid drainage pathway leading the acidic water as very far away as possible from
the site must created by the mine next to the site (The threat of mine effluent to UNESCO status of the
COHWHS, 2010).

05. As a responsible citizen, what actions would you take to protect the world heritage site?

Firstly I would call a community meeting to inform everyone about the significance and the existence of
the world heritage site. I would also encourage our government to open or support programs related to
educating people about the importance of the site and it’s resources. Some people destroys public
services because of their lack of knowledge, but if people were to be educated to understand this things,
I think the vandalism level of such resources would come to an end if it does not decrease. Actually I
would try at my level best that protecting the world heritage site becomes every citizens job and
priority. I would also confront the mine and inform them of their effective measures on the site and
make sure that i make them aware of what could happen to the site if they don’t act as quickly as
possible on preventing the acid water drainage from affecting the site, because the site might lose its
status from the UNESCO. If possible I would also inform the owners or management of the Cradle of
human kind to extend security in order to prevent the public from unauthorized removal of the
resources on the site.

06. Conclusion

Now that we are all aware of the importance of the world Heritage Sites and the threats posed to them
by global warming. We can all now participate in preserving and protecting the fossils and artefacts of
the sites from global warming and from other threats.

07. List of sources

DURAND, JF , MEEUVIS ,J , AND FOURIE ,M. 2010. The threat of mine effluent to the UNESCO status of
the COHWHS. Johannesburg.

NASA’S Goddard institute for space studies 2023

The paper, Climate change risk assesment of heritage tourism sites within South African National Parks,
was published in ScienceDirect in August.

World Heritage reports, 22. (ed) Colette A, Climate Change Consultant, UNESCO World Heritage Center.
May 2007. World heritage reports 22. United States, Published by the UNESCO World Heritage Center

TD The Journal for Transdiciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 6(1) July 2010,pp.73-92