Cultural Heritage resources as environmental sustainability enablers within the Sino-Africa environmental partnership: The Case of Botswana

  • Susan Keitumetse Okavango Research Centre, University of Botswana

Abstract

Opportunities for China-Africa environmental collaboration have always existed but the gap lies in establishing forms of partnerships that cover a wide spectrum of stakeholders and resources. This paper discusses opportunities that aim at value-add in environmental sustainability initiatives through the use of cultural and heritage resources within the China-Botswana partnership. Both Botswana and China have different strengths that are complementary when it comes to environmental conservation. China has a diversified pool of cultural and heritage resources, as well as a traceable cultural philosophy but lacks rigorous conservation strategies including those aimed at grassroots levels. Botswana’s strength on the other hand lies in rigorous internationally accredited natural resources conservation policies which nonetheless lack conscious incorporation of cultural resources. The China-Botswana partnerships therefore provide an opportunity to explore cultural heritage resources as key components of environmental conservation and local economic development.
Published
2014-04-04