World Heritage Committee Discussion on Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, 27th July 2026

Keep Victoria Falls Wild, 27th July 2026

Unofficial transcript of World Heritage Committee discussion regarding State of Conservation of the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, at the 48th session of the Committee, held at Busan, Republic of Korea,  27th July 2026, morning session.

You can watch the full session on the UNESCO YouTube channel here. (discussion on Victoria Falls starts around 3.25).

Download an audio file (mp3) of the discussion on the Victoria Falls here.

Download the amended draft decision text for the Site (pdf), as submitted to the World Heritage Centre on 24th July 2026 here. Please note that UNESCO will publish the final agreed text on their website at some point in the near future. Note that there may be minor differences between the amendments as drafted in this document and the amendments as discussed by the Committee (for example point 13). We will publish a detailed comparison and review of the agreed decision text in due course.

Please also note that certain sections of the dialog are unclear as to the specific wordings of the Committee or Chair and this transcript should be checked against the audio/video, which has subtitled (but not always correct!) for confirmation and clarification. 

Session Chaired by Mr Lee Byong-Hyun.

African World Heritage Centre Representative: Mr Muhammad Muhammad Juma.

IUCN Representative: Mizuki Murai, Senior Programme Coordinator.

World Heritage Watch Representative: Stephan Doempke.

WHC48-7B-93 Transcript of Discussion

[Chair] OK, thank you, Excellences, dear colleagues, we will continue with 7B Nature, Africa. I now would like to give the floor to the delegation of Senegal to present to the Committee the reason why it requested to open for discussion the state of conservation of the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe. Mr Ambassador you have the floor.

[Senegal] Thank you Chairperson. Senegal wishes to thank the Secretariat for agreeing to open the state of conservation report on the Victoria Falls property. With your permission we would like to give the floor to the distinguished Ambassador of Tanzania in order to present this item. Thank you Chair.

[Chair] Err, Senegal now is not the right time to give the floor to Tanzania or Zambia, so later on, specifications... you introduce, please.

[Senegal] No, in fact we would like to give the floor to Tanzania in order to introduce why Senegal requested the opening of the report on the state of conservation.

[Chair] So agreed among African group? I recognise Ambassador Faye just come back.

[Senegal] Yes, Chairperson, we requested this discussion and within the African group we decided that Kenya would be taking the floor.

[Chair] If that's the case I now invite Tanzania, OK, you have the floor

[Tanzania] Sorry Chair, I think the Chair of the African group mentioned that within the African group the first one to take the floor will be Kenya followed by Tanzania, with your permission.

[Chair] OK, Kenya?

[Kenya] Thank you Mr Chairman for this opportunity. As regards this matter we appreciate the demonstrated efforts invested by the State Parties of Zambia and Zimbabwe in the preservation and the conservation of the OUV of the property amid competing interests at the Site.

Chair, our main issue lies in the need to address a selected few technical aspects embedded in the draft decision, and besides the language used, which we believe should be moderated, we consider that there are technical issues that we need to acknowledge.

One of the issues that we have noted the issue of the State Parties making strides in a positive direction. As we are gathered here we are informed that a team of experts is conducting assessment in response to a call from the Zimbabwe National Committee on calculation of risks undermining the critical conservation and protection in Victoria Falls.

Chair, with particular emphasis on the Baines Restaurant and the Cataract Island activity, these, in our opinion, are not part of high magnitude developments. On the balance of probabilities the two State Parties are leaning more on the positive rather than the negative. More tangible efforts have been done towards mitigation of negative impacts.

Chair, the state party of Zambia in their actions are a true statement to the further confirmation for the need to balance conservation and sustainable development in line with the 2015 Policy document on the sustainable development, among others.

We propose that both State Parties continue to engage in dialogue with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN and that they invite an Advisory Mission on the best ways of dealing with issues surrounding Victoria Falls. In this light we call for the opening of the item and have proposed amendments to the draft decision. Thank you Chair.

[Chair] OK, thank you. I now invite Mr Muhammad Juma Muhammad Chief of the African World Heritage Centre, and IUCN to provide their comments. You have the floor.

[African World Heritage Centre Representative] Thank you very much Mr Chair. Mr Chair, this is a joint intervention from World Heritage Centre Secretariat and IUCN. In the spirit of cooperation that the Kenya announced, and support for the State Parties, Mr Chair we are please to inform the distinguished committee members that having taking note of the proposed amendments the Secretariat and IUCN met with the State Parties of Zambia and Zimbabwe for constructive exchange and dialogue, which led to clarification and agreement on points raised. Thank you Mr Chair.

[Chair] Thank you. IUCN.

[IUCN Representative] Thank you Mr Chair. The WHC gave a joint intervention on behalf of the Centre and IUCN, however I would also like to acknowledge and wish to thank the State Parties of Zambia and Zimbabwe for the constructive meeting that we held of the 23rd July. Thank you Mr Chair.

[Chair] OK, thank you. As Kenyan delegation rightly pointed out we surely have amended proposal, so please upload on the screen.

Para 1, 2, 3, with original language, unless there is objection? Para 1,2,3 adopted.

Para 4 - no objections? Para 4 adopted as amended.

Para 5, original language, normal litigation. Para 5 - Adopted.

Para 6 - I see no questions, no objections. Para 6 adopted as amended.

Para 7, with original language. Para 7 adopted.

Para 8. I see no objection. Para 8 adopted as amended.

Para 9. I see no objection. Para 9 adopted as amended.

Para 10, small 'a', small 'b' - no problem, small 'c' - minor wording change, 'd', 'e', 'f'. So Para 10 - OK, Poland.

[Poland] Thank you Chair, we think that with the paragraph point 'e' we would like to remain the point 'ecological connectivity' because that is really important for the Site and I think it would be good to leave it here.

[Chair] OK, Kenya.

[Kenya] Thank you Chair. We wish to bring to your notice that the Site was inscribed under criterion 7 and 8, so this 'ecological connectivity' is not well grounded, so that's why we propose for geomorphological aspects, thank you.

[Chair] Poland, and followed by Switzerland

[Poland] Thank you very much. I know - I have this understanding - that one of the attributes, there is migratory route for birds, so ecological connectivity, this ecological connectivity is really important apart from the beauty and exception phenomenon. Thank you.

[Chair] Thank you. Switzerland

[Switzerland] Thank you Chairperson for giving us the floor. We wish to support what our colleagues from Poland have stated and we would add additional that there are birds there are also deciduous forest which comply with criterion 7 so ecological connectivity is very important here, so perhaps which should retain 'ecological connectivity' and 'geomorphological aspects' as well. Thank you.

[Chair] OK, Kenya

[Kenya] Sorry the issue here is, those issue of birds that just added information during the interactive statement of our OUV.

We also appreciate that we have those two species of bird, the black eagle and the taita falcon that was mentioned in the interactive statement. But the gist of the inscription was under criterion 7 and criterion 8, kindly, thank you.

[Chair] Tanzania.

[Tanzania] Thank you Chair, we wish to align to Kenya because the key consideration for this site is criteria 8 and it is very difficult to see why we should now add 'ecological connectivity' which is a very different criteria. And perhaps Kenya, sorry, Chair, at your discretion, if we could also ask the State Parties concerned to add some information on this particular discussion. Thank you Chair.

[Chair] OK for this very specific question to State Party for one minute, maximum one minute. Zambia.

[Zambia] Thank you Mr Chairman, as this is the first time for us to come on the floor we would like to appreciate the hospitality granted to us by the State Party of Republic of Korea. Just like as the committee members have pointed out the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls was inscribed on geological criteria, and even these said migratory routes are not there - there is no, nothing to do with migratory route at the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site

And even the taita falcon which has been said here, the recent studies that have been done at the WHS point to the fact there was only one taita falcon which was seemingly - and I'm using the word seemingly - spotted during this study. Therefore you cannot submit the State Parties to that terminology. And this is the same terminology which was removed when we last met in Saudi Arabia if not in India. So therefore we are asking that this terminology be removed because in the future it may be used against us wrongfully as has been the case in the past. I submit Mr Chairman.

[Chair] Thank you but despite criteria concerned, relevant criteria, ecological connectivity does not harm, so I don't understand why 'ecological connectivity' plus 'geomorphological aspect'... Czechia

[Czechia] Thank you Mr Chair, we would like to ask Secretariat or IUCN to add more information so that we may understand better the situation. Thank you very much.

[Chair] Ok, thank you. Advisory bodies, expertise, opinion?

[IUCN Representative] Thank you Mr Chair. I think in this regard the sentence refers to 'including', so it is under the understanding that these are some of the aspects to be considered. With regard specifically to the ecological connectivity indeed this property is inscribed under criterion 7 and 8, nonetheless the statement of OUV as a whole including the text under integrity, it does point towards the broader ecological aspects of this property as part of the wider ecosystems. Thank you Mr Chair.

[Chair] OK, thank you IUCN. I now give the floor to Kenya.

[Kenya] OK, thank you Chair. Our position is that what needs to be the focus of the two State Parties as regards the Site is sticking to the criteria 7 and 8, look at the continued conservation and management of the geomorphological aspects and the reasons to do with hydrological regimes. This 'ecological connectivity' is kind of not well grounded, because those two species, those that have been floated here, there is no indication how they are affected by any of these developments that you are talking about, thank you.

[Chair] Tanzania - and just produce some constructed compromise.

[Tanzania] Thank you Chair, thank you very much. I think we need to be focussed. We are very much guided by the criteria when we inscribe to ensure that the conditions of the OUV are met and we are guided by the criteria. If we expand to include ecological systems and value that means we are proposing another criteria for this particular site. So while it is a good terminology added to the statement of the OUV, it cannot override the primary goal, you know, for inscribing this Site, which, was criteria 8 and 7. So, our position is that the that fact there is a mention in the OUV cannot be safely taken now to increase the responsibility of the State party based on a criteria which is not demonstrated, basically, at the Site. So we continue to support what Kenya is proposing, Chair. Thank you.

[Chair] Hmm, so I think Senegal is in line with Kenya and Tanzania, so I now Poland.

[Poland] Thank you Mr Chair. I would like to ask how the State Parties concerned how this 'ecological connectivity' goes against criterion 7 because I don't see that it is contradictory. Criterion 7 talks about the exceptional beauty and outstanding phenomena of nature, so I don't see here any contradiction. So please, I would like to hear about this. Thank you very much.

[Chair] Time is up, so I now give the floor to Senegal

[Senegal] Thank you very much Chairperson for giving me the floor. I believe that the matter here is not to know what goes against criteria 7 and 8, but rather what is relevant within the framework of the listing because paragraph 'e' focuses on the listing and it is stated that 'Including their potential effects', so this has to be taken in light of the OU statement of the property. If this is not something which will block the adoption of the draft decision, I would like to urge delegations to show flexibility and understanding, the Polish and the Swiss delegations in particular, so that we may adopt this draft decision on the basis of proposals already tabled by Kenya. Thank you

[Chair] Given time constraints if Poland or Switzerland cannot propose compromise language, let's leave it... until this afternoon. Poland?

[Poland] Thank you Mr Chair. I have a compromise proposal just to keep ecological connectivity and after coma to put 'If appropriate or relevant' - 'whenever appropriate.'

[Chair] OK, Kenya

[Kenya] Thank you. Mr Chairman. For us we really respect the opinions of Switzerland and Poland. Making a decision - any decision we make here has serious implications. It is not that Zambia or Zimbabwe are opposed to taking care of biodiversity and especially birds, so we respectively want to ask that we stick to the criteria but note that we have that responsibility to take care of our biodiversity, which we do very dutifully. Thank you chair.

[Chair] Poland.

[Poland] Mr President, for the sake of time and in the spirit of compromise, also we are full confident in our argumentation, we are willing to go with this language as amended. Thank you. Which means submitting without this 'ecological connectivity'.

[Chair] Switzerland

[Switzerland] Thank you chairperson. In spirit of consensus we could also agree to that position, thank you.

[Chair] OK, thank you so much. So 'f', 'e', - small 'e' - adopted as amended and 'f' with original languages, whole para 10 adopted.

11 - I see no objection, Para 11 adopted as amended.

Para 12 - OK, is see none, Para 12 adopted as amended.

Para 13 - Czechia

[Czechia] Thank you Mr Chair we would like to ask the Secretariate just technical questions regarding this new para 13 and the specific wording displayed on screen in the Kenya amendment whether the text needs to be more specified according to the operational guidelines. In this case the advisory mission would address the verification of the ground boundary and provide guidance on the outstanding issues is not defined in the amendment. Could we seek  advice as to if the current wording is sufficient or whether it should be adjusted more closely reflect the terminology of the guidelines. Thank you very much.

[Chair] Thank you. IUCN.

[IUCN Representative] Thank you Mr Chair and thank you honourable delegate from Czechia. Indeed as currently drafted is it is somewhat difficult for us to be able to implement this particular decision or recommendation. The WHC and IUCN have spoken with the State Parties we would be please to field either an Advisory Mission or Reactive Monitoring Mission in discussion with the State Parties but as draft somewhat unclear as to how we would move forward. Thank you.

[Chair] So Czechia - understood? alright Para 13 and 14 with original language.

Para 13 adopted as amended together with Para 14, with original language. Para 13 and 14 adopted as amended.

OK I now declare draft decision for 48Com 7B.93 adopted as amended as a whole.

[Applause... Chair moves to close meeting, announcements...]

[Chair] Before closing the meeting I give the floor to WHW for a brief two minute statement. There will be no interpretation.

[World Heritage Watch Representative] Thank you Mr chair. This is a statement by Keep Victoria Falls Wild supported by the World Heritage Watch network.

We are disappointed by the continued lack of progress by both the State Parties and the World Heritage Centre in addressing issues relating to tourism development pressures within and surrounding this Site, and note the proposed amended Decision text again attempts to dilute these concerns.

There has been no progress on mitigation measures relating to the Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort development in Zambia. No progress on undisclosed riverside developments constructed within the Site's 'no new development zone' in Zimbabwe. And no progress on further proposed riverside tourism developments within this zone, agreed by the Zimbabwean Park Authority and yet again undisclosed.

The list of issues and concerns significantly includes ongoing delays to the finalisation and submission of the SEA and new Joint Management Plan, as well as a long overdue clarification of the Site's boundary and management zones.

The State Parties have been repeatedly warned over the cumulative impact of tourism developments within and surrounding the property. Without action, the World Heritage Committee are in danger of assisting and facilitating further illegitimate tourism developments.

A moratorium on all tourism developments within the Site and its surrounding 500m Buffer Zone - pending the finalisation and agreement by the Committee of the new JIMP - is urgently needed in order to prevent further tourism development within the Site.

Thank you Mr Chair

[Chair] OK, thank you, now meeting is adjourned.

See also:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (24th July 2026) Committee Members Propose Further Last Minute Amendments to draft Decision text on Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (23rd July 2026) World Heritage Committee members attempt to dilute draft Decision text regarding Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (18th July 2026) Riverside Developments at Victoria Falls Threaten World Heritage Site 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th July 2026) World Heritage Committee Turns Its Attentions to Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (9th July 2026) Still Kicking the Can Down the Road... UNESCO World Heritage Committee Draft Decision text published.