the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
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Richtersveld Cultural <strong>and</strong> Botanical L<strong>and</strong>scape World Heritage Site Nomination 76<br />
etched in <strong>the</strong> petroglyphs, as demonstrated in ancient Nama graves throughout <strong>the</strong><br />
Richtersveld Community Conservancy, as continuing in <strong>the</strong> oral tradition of specific<br />
locations, such as <strong>the</strong> fabled sinkhole called Wondergat.<br />
3.a Criteria (using Operational Guidelines of February 2005)<br />
Cultural criterion (iv)<br />
The l<strong>and</strong>scape of seasonal movements spanning back millennia illustrates<br />
effectively a period of time when <strong>the</strong> environment, <strong>the</strong> climate <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> seasons<br />
determined largely where humans lived <strong>and</strong> how <strong>the</strong>y lived. This has not changed<br />
for <strong>the</strong> Nama who today must move home, livestock <strong>and</strong> family from high-country<br />
winter grazing areas to lower summer areas. The ancient gravesites, relicts of<br />
former livestock posts, migration trails, wells, petroglyphs <strong>and</strong> legend <strong>and</strong> oral myth<br />
attached to mountains, sinkholes, springs <strong>and</strong>, not least, <strong>the</strong> !Gariep (Orange) River<br />
all make up a <strong>cultural</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape that has been active for two thous<strong>and</strong> years. And<br />
this way of life extends back into <strong>the</strong> history of most people on earth before humans<br />
were able to take better control over <strong>the</strong>ir environment.<br />
Cultural L<strong>and</strong>scape Criterion<br />
Annex 3 of <strong>the</strong> Operational Guidelines, describing <strong>the</strong> inherent human <strong>and</strong><br />
environmental relationships in Cultural L<strong>and</strong>scapes reads:<br />
“The continued existence of traditional forms of l<strong>and</strong>-use supports biological<br />
diversity in many regions of <strong>the</strong> world. The protection of traditional l<strong>and</strong>scapes is<br />
<strong>the</strong>refore helpful in maintaining biological diversity.”<br />
The Cultural L<strong>and</strong>scape of <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld demonstrates well <strong>the</strong> ability of <strong>the</strong><br />
Nama to maintain traditional pastoral livelihoods without adversely impacting on <strong>the</strong><br />
environment. This is especially important, perhaps more so than in o<strong>the</strong>r regions, in<br />
light of <strong>the</strong> status of <strong>the</strong>ir environment as a Biodiversity Hotspot. With Nama<br />
habitation <strong>and</strong> pastoralism spanning back two thous<strong>and</strong> years <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld<br />
Community Conservancy regarded as a refuge for <strong>the</strong> Succulent Karoo flora, this is