Today, the 18th April, is the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The ICOMOS theme for 2020 is Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility.
This is seen as particularly important as it is an expression of our global unity in the face of the ongoing worldwide health crisis. Given the current global outbreak of Covid-19 and the containment measures in place around the world, ICOMOS encourages you to celebrate International Day for Monuments and Sites virtually with the power of the internet!
Zambia has one World Heritage site – the majestic Mosi-au-Tunya (or Victoria) Falls which are the world’s greatest sheet of falling water. They are significant worldwide for their exceptional geological and geomorphological features, as well as their outstanding beauty. They are currently closed to the general public during this time.
Knife Edge Bridge at the Falls
But did you know that we also have 90 Gazetted National Monuments and 4,000 Listed Heritage Sites? So why not take time today to check out the National Heritage Conservation Commission’s website to discover more on our amazing monuments and heritage sites here in Zambia.
You can take virtual tours of heritage sites on social media. For inspiration check out Google Arts & Culture, which provides free, virtual access to a number of cultural heritage sites worldwide.
You can also visit the ICOMOS website to find out more on how to participate and join in with their online activities and celebrations. You can do this from your own home by sharing your photos, along with local information, to help raise awareness about our unique national heritage sites here in Zambia.
With new travel restrictions and the MOH advice to stay and work from home, many of us will be missing out on travelling to our national parks over the Easter holidays.
So why not take a Virtual Safari instead? Many of the lodges are posting photos and videos of their favourite wildlife sightings which you can find by checking out their Facebook pages.
One of our favourites is a video that highlights the beauty of Kafue National Park and its wildlife produced by Bwana Jimmy Productions.
On 30th March the National Heritage Conservation Commission were sad to announce the temporary closure of the gates to the Victoria Falls Word Heritage site.
The Commission, along with the Livingstone Tourism Authority, decided it was necessary to close the gates in order to keep the general public safe with regards to Covid-19 virus.
They will review their decision after 14 days and hope that the gates will be open again at Easter so that visitors will once again be able to enjoy seeing the magnificent falls which are at their highest levels in 10 years!
The 2020 celebration of the International Day of Forests will focus on Forests and Biodiversity.
The International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security. Sustainable management of all types of forests are at the heart of unlocking challenges of conflict-affected, developing and developed countries, for the benefit of current and future generations.
