Heritage conservation in Africa: The good, the bad, and the challenges

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Different training courses sponsored by various organisations in the last decade or so are attended by the same people, creating a group of 'professional workshop attendees'.

“One of my personal observations is that different training courses sponsored by various organisations in the last decade or so, are attended by the same people, creating a group of 'professional workshop attendees'.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

These attendees have a long list of workshops on their résumés but have done little to implement what they assimilated in those workshops.

“These attendees have a long list of workshops on their résumés but have done little to implement what they assimilated in those workshops.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Legal frameworks operating in most countries were gazetted in the 1970s before strong links between heritage protection and environmental stewardship were forged.

“Furthermore, legal frameworks operating in most countries were gazetted in the 1970s before strong links between heritage protection and environmental stewardship were forged.3”

• cites [3] Ndoro W, Mumma A, Abungu G, editors. Cultural heritage and the law: Protecting immovable cultural heritage in English speaking sub-Saharan Africa. ICCROM Studies in Conservation 8. Rome: ICCROM; 2008.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

There has been an upsurge of conflict in many African countries, from the Great Lakes region through the horn of Africa to West and North Africa.

“There has been an upsurge of conflict in many African countries, from the Great Lakes region through the horn of Africa to West and North Africa.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

This conflict often affects important sites such as places of worship.

“This conflict often affects important sites such as places of worship.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Given that Africa is experiencing extractive industry led economic growth, the absence of strong impact assessment regimes condemns most heritage sites, which are the staple of palaeosciences, to destruction.

“Given that Africa is experiencing extractive industry led economic growth, the absence of strong impact assessment regimes condemns most heritage sites, which are the staple of palaeosciences, to destruction.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

Infrastructure development also provides the opportunity to survey areas that were previously unknown and thus contributes to improving our knowledge of the past.

“On the other hand, infrastructure development also provides the opportunity to survey areas that were previously unknown and thus contributes to improving our knowledge of the past.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

In countries such as the DRC, the distribution of sites follows the location of mines.

“In countries such as the DRC, the distribution of sites follows the location of mines.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

In countries with a clearly defined system of ranking sites, national heritage sites or monuments are at the top of the value scale, provincial monuments or sites occupy the intermediate position, and local sites have the least value or significance.

“In countries with a clearly defined system of ranking sites, such as South Africa, national heritage sites or monuments are at the top of the value scale, while provincial monuments or sites occupy the intermediate position.Local sites have the least value or significance.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Governments are required to balance conservation needs against the needs of other stakeholders such as local communities that may need hospitals, jobs and income associated with developments.

“Governments are required to balance conservation needs against the needs of other stakeholders such as local communities that may need the hospitals, the jobs and the income associated with developments.5,6”

• cites [5] Chirikure S, Manyanga M, Ndoro W, Pwiti G. Unfulfilled promises? Heritage management and community participation at some of Africa’s cultural heritage sites. Int J Herit Stud. 2010;16(1–2):30–44. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites [6] Mketeni F. Introductory remarks. Official Opening of the Second Joint ICOMOS-UNESCO Mapungubwe Reactive Meeting; 2012 Jan 18–19; Dongola Ranch, South Africa.Not checked yet

It may state two separate claims as one.

Because of resource scarcity, antiquities departments are understaffed, and most of the staff are inexperienced.

“Because of resource scarcity, antiquities departments are understaffed, and most of the staff are inexperienced.11”

• cites [11] Transboundary Africa. Situational analysis: World heritage and impacts of development in Africa. Johannesburg: African World Heritage Fund; 2012.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

African countries have legal frameworks for conserving heritage, with varying degrees of effectiveness.

“With varying degrees of effectiveness, African countries have legal frameworks for conserving heritage.3,5”

• cites [3] Ndoro W, Mumma A, Abungu G, editors. Cultural heritage and the law: Protecting immovable cultural heritage in English speaking sub-Saharan Africa. ICCROM Studies in Conservation 8. Rome: ICCROM; 2008.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [5] Chirikure S, Manyanga M, Ndoro W, Pwiti G. Unfulfilled promises? Heritage management and community participation at some of Africa’s cultural heritage sites. Int J Herit Stud. 2010;16(1–2):30–44. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Churches and mosques are often targeted in Mali, Nigeria and Egypt.

“Churches and mosques are often targeted in Mali, Nigeria and Egypt.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The African World Heritage Fund assists member states in capacity building and investing in heritage.

“For example, the African World Heritage Fund, whose membership consists of African governments who ratified the 1972 UNESCO Convention, assists member states in capacity building and investing in heritage.7”

• cites [7] Breen C. Advocacy, international development and world heritage sites in sub-Saharan Africa. World Archaeol. 2007;39:355–370. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

It may state two separate claims as one.

These extractive activities are associated with massive infrastructure development that alters the landscape, and they pose a danger to heritage.

“Given that these activities are associated with massive infrastructure development that alters the landscape, they pose a danger to heritage.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

International professional bodies such as ICOMOS and ICCROM play an important role in African heritage conservation through technical cooperation.

“International professional bodies, such as the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), also play an important role in African heritage conservation through technical cooperation.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Even in South Africa where the law requires community involvement, consultation is often carried out towards the end of projects when all major decisions would have been made.

“Even in South Africa where the law requires community involvement, consultation is often carried out towards the end of projects when all major decisions would have been made.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

The North African revolutions that toppled former dictators were also associated with the looting of sites.

“The North African revolutions that toppled former dictators were also associated with the looting of sites.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Despite having the capacity, most countries still do not have good heritage inventories because they lack resources.

“However, the main problem is that despite having the capacity, most countries still do not have good heritage inventories because they lack resources.13”

• cites [13] McIntosh SK. Archaeological heritage management and site inventory systems in Africa. J Field Archaeol. 1993;20(4):500–504. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Two of the most important human origins sites, Broken Hill and Sterkfontein, were discovered through mining.

“Similarly, two of the most important human origins sites -Broken Hill and Sterkfontein -were discovered through mining.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. It may state two separate claims as one.

Heritage is a public good essential for national identity, national cohesion, employment generation, education, and cultural and religious values.

“Heritage is a public good, essential for national identity, national cohesion, employment generation, education, and cultural and religious values. 1”

• cites [1] Smith LJ. The use and abuse of heritage. London: Routledge; 2006.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

As Africa strives to catch up in terms of economic development, more emphasis is being placed on the economic potential of extractive industries, such as oil, gas and mining.

“As Africa strives to catch up in terms of economic development, more emphasis is being placed on the economic potential of extractive industries, such as oil, gas and mining.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The Association lacks a legal standing and there are no consequences for sub-standard work.

“However, the Association lacks a legal standing and there are no consequences for sub-standard work.12”

• cites [12] Ndlovu N. Legislation as an instrument in South African heritage management: Is it effective? Conserv Manage Archaeol Sites. 2011;13(1):31–57. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

Important sites such as Kasubi Tombs and the Royal Palaces of Abomey were destroyed by fire; evidence suggests that no risk control measures were in place.

“Important sites such as Kasubi Tombs and the Royal Palaces of Abomey were destroyed by fire; evidence suggests that no risk control measures were in place.”