By Our News reporter
BUSAN, South Korea, — Tanzania is participating in the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, as the country seeks to strengthen international cooperation on the conservation of natural and cultural heritage.
The meeting, taking place from July 19 to 29, brings together representatives of countries that are party to the 1972 World Heritage Convention to review the conservation status of World Heritage sites, consider new nominations for inscription and discuss global challenges affecting cultural and natural heritage, including climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable development.
The National Environment Management Council (NEMC) is represented by its Director General, Dr. Immaculate Sware Semesi, who is taking part in discussions on World Heritage conservation, ecosystem management, biodiversity protection and the application of science-based approaches to environmental management.
According to NEMC, Tanzania's participation reflects the government's commitment to implementing the 1972 World Heritage Convention and strengthening the protection and management of the country's World Heritage properties while expanding international cooperation on conservation.
The Tanzanian delegation is led by Ambassador Saidi Yakubu, Tanzania's Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.
It also includes Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs Juma Zuberi Homera and Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ashatu Kijaji.
NEMC said the forum provides an opportunity for Tanzania to exchange best practices with other countries, deepen collaboration with international organizations including UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and explore technical and financial partnerships to strengthen conservation efforts.
The annual World Heritage Committee meeting is UNESCO's principal decision-making body on World Heritage matters, examining nominations for new World Heritage sites and reviewing the state of conservation of existing sites of Outstanding Universal Value.
Tanzania is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, and officials say participation in the Busan meeting reinforces the country's role in global environmental diplomacy while supporting international efforts to safeguard natural and cultural heritage for future generations.
