(BBC World Service, 11 August 2026)
The Victoria falls,
on the border of
.jpg)
The programme was broadcast in the UK on 11th August 2026 on BBC Radio 4 as part of the series 'Crossing Continents' series -
Read more on the issues highlighted in the programme on the Keep Victoria Falls Wild webiste.
Keep Victoria Falls Wild, 28th July 2026
The following is our (unofficial) record of the adopted decision text relating to the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site as discussed, amended and adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 48th Session in Busan, South Korea on 27th July 2026. The text is as per the proposed amended text displayed on-screen during the Committee’s debate.
Amendments as suggested by the Committee members of Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo. Amendments were first proposed in a document published on 23rd July. In introducing the discussion it was disclosed that the representatives of the African World Heritage Centre and IUCN had met with the representatives of the state Parties (Zambia and Zimbabwe) on the same day to discuss the proposed amendments and resulting in the revised amendment document published on 24th. Download the amendments as submitted and published on 24th July 2026 here.
See also our previous notes on the proposed amended text under Further Information.
UNESCO will publish their official record in due course.
7B.93 the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site
Points 1, 2 and 3 adopted without amendment.
“1. Having examined Document WHC/26/48.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 45 COM 7B.10 and 46 COM 7B.60 adopted at its extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) and 46th sessions (New Delhi, 2024) respectively,
3. Welcomes the continued cooperation between the States Parties, supported by their partners, to strengthen the protection of the property through joint measures, including invasive species control, monitoring, fire management, enhanced conservation actions, and law enforcement;”
Point 4 adopted as amended. Final approved text therefore:
“4. Expresses concern that possible cumulative impacts from infrastructure and tourism developments within the property, its buffer zone, and wider setting where applicable continue to pose a significant threat to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, a situation exacerbated, among other things, by the fact that the States Parties continue to receive development project proposals, and invites the States Parties to continue to provide details on any ongoing or future development projects that will be under consideration as soon as information is available.”
Point 5 adopted without amendment.
“5. Regrets the continued delay in completing and submitting the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), despite repeated requests and the recommendations of the 2022 mission, and urges again the States Parties to expedite its finalization with technical guidance from IUCN, as well as its official submission, while ensuring that its conclusions and recommendations are fully integrated into all planning, zoning, and development decision-making processes affecting the property, its buffer zone and wider setting;”
Point 6 adopted as amended. Final approved text therefore:
“6. Notes with regret that, at the time of producing this draft decision no update was provided regarding the letter (Ref: CLT/WHC/AFR/24/151) on the third-party concerns related to permits for two commercial tourism developments in highly sensitive zones on the Zimbabwean component of the property. Expresses its concern about the potentially irreversible impacts of these projects on the integrity and the visual attributes of the property and urgently requests the States Parties to provide updates on the above-mentioned letter and report on the monitoring and mitigation measures in place to ensure that the infrastructures do not negatively affect the OUV of the property;”
Point 7 adopted without amendment.
“7. Also notes with regret that the construction of the Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort Hotel proceeded without fully meeting approval conditions at the national level and following the Committee’s request to halt further activities until the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) had been submitted and reviewed, and reiterates its requests to the States Parties to implement the 2022 Reactive monitoring mission recommendation to develop a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management plan, which the States Parties indicated in their 2024 report was already being developed, ensuring that the mitigation measures put in place take into account the visual integrity and cumulative effects of the project and address its negative impacts on the property’s OUV;”
Point 8, adopted as amended. Final approved text therefore:
“8. Also reiterates its request to the States Parties to ensure that any project located within the property, its buffer zone, and wider setting, where applicable with potential impacts on the OUV is subject to assessment through ESIA or HIA in conformity with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context and submitted for review prior to any decision;”
Point 9 adopted as amended. Final approved text therefore:
“9. Expresses continued concern regarding the likely negative impact of the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme (BGHES) on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and further reiterates its request that the revised ESIA be in line with the above-mentioned guidance, including a rigorous assessment of alternative scenarios that minimize negative impacts on the OUV, as recommended by the 2022 Reactive monitoring mission, and be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review, prior to taking any decision that is difficult to reverse;”
Point 10 adopted, after debate, as amended. Final approved text therefore:
"10. Appreciates the submission of the draft Joint Integrated Management Plan (JIMP) 2025-2030, underlines that further amendment is needed to detail the zoning system of the property to function as an effective regulatory tool, as well as the operational, regulatory, and monitoring aspects, and requests the States Parties to further revise and submit the updated version of the JIMP to the World Heritage Centre for review, prior to its validation and future implementation, by:
a) Incorporating clearly defined safeguards and thresholds to mitigate against developmental pressures for the protection of the property’s OUV, and zoning of the property, including well-prescribed limits of acceptable use and permissible activities (including tourism and development infrastructures), in line with the objectives of protecting the OUV and in line with past Committee decisions,
b) Developing finer-scale maps of the zoning system to avoid any ambiguity in its implementation,
c) Establishing enforceable visitor management mechanisms and strictly controlled areas in sensitive zones,...
d) Developing and operationalizing the research and monitoring framework, including the provision of detailed methodologies, the clear allocation of responsibilities, and the establishment of mechanisms to ensure that monitoring results effectively inform adaptive management,
e) Strengthening the consideration and management of cumulative and transboundary impacts on the OUV of the property, particularly of major developments and ongoing urban growth, including their potential effects on hydrological regimes, geomorphological aspects, and visual integrity
f) Ensuring that the JIMP is supported by adequate and sustainable financing to ensure its effective implementation, and monitoring for the long-term protection of the OUV;”
Point 11 adopted as amended
“11. Reiterates furthermore its request to the States Parties to submit a request for a boundary modification in accordance with the Operational Guidelines to set the precise boundaries of the property and its buffer zone, aligned with past Committee Decisions and the property’s Statement of OUV, and encourages the States Parties to seek further technical guidance from the World Heritage Centre and IUCN as required;”
Point 12 (now included under item 11) adopted as amended. Final approved text therefore:
“Also requests that information on the current status of all proposed development projects, reported by the States Parties, including their precise location, and scale, be submitted to the World Heritage Centre as soon as such information becomes available, with particular attention to tourism developments.”
New point 12, Adopted, following debate over ‘terminology and scope, as amended.
“12. Recommends both States Parties to invite Advisory Bodies and WHC to the site for an on-the-ground boundary verification and for guidance on outstanding matters.”
Pont 13 adopted without amendment.
“13. Finally requests the States Parties to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2027, an interim report including a copy of the updated JIMP, taking into consideration the comments outlined above, and by 1 December 2027, an updated report on the State of Conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 50th session.”
Further Information
Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (27th July 2026) WorldHeritage Committee Discussion on Victoria Falls World Heritage Site,27th July 2026.
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.
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 shown on screen during the Session and as discussed by the Committee. 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,
[
[Chair] Err,
[
[Chair] So agreed among African group? I recognise Ambassador Faye just come back.
[
[Chair] If that's the case
I now invite
[
[Chair] OK,
[
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
Chair, with particular
emphasis on the Baines Restaurant and the
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
[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
[Chair] OK, thank you. As Kenyan delegation rightly pointed out we surely have amended proposal, so please upload on the screen.
Para 10, small 'a', small 'b'
- no problem, small 'c' - minor wording change, 'd', 'e', 'f'. So Para 10 - OK,
[
[Chair] OK,
[
[Chair]
[
[Chair] Thank you.
[
[Chair] OK,
[
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]
[
[Chair] OK for this very
specific question to State Party for one minute, maximum one minute.
[
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
[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', both elements there. 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
[
[Chair]
[
[Chair] Hmm, so I think
[
[Chair] Time is up, so I
now give the floor to
[
[Chair] Given time
constraints if
[
[Chair] OK,
[
[Chair]
[
[Chair]
[
[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 12 - OK, is see none,
[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 adopted as amended
together with
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
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.
TRADITIONAL leaders from Zimbabwe and Zambia have called for communities living around the Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site to directly benefit from the economic opportunities generated by the iconic tourist destination, while emphasising the need to safeguard its cultural and natural heritage.
The call was made during a recent entrepreneurship capacity-building workshop held in Victoria Falls, which brought together traditional leaders, Government officials, heritage experts and development partners to explore ways of promoting sustainable livelihoods through tourism and heritage-based enterprises.
Speaking at the workshop, Chief Hwange of Zimbabwe and Chief Musokotwane, representing traditional leaders from Zambia, said the world-renowned site is more than a tourism asset and remains deeply connected to the history, culture and identity of communities on both sides of the Zambezi River.
“Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site is not only a place of natural beauty. It’s also part of our history, our identity, our culture, and our way of life. Our forebears lived with this land, respected it, and passed on knowledge, values, stories, practices, and traditions that continue to give meaning to our communities today,” said Chief Hwange.
The workshop was attended by representatives from the African World Heritage Fund, UNESCO, Government departments, heritage authorities and community stakeholders.
Chief Musokotwane shared similar views, describing the Victoria Falls as a living heritage site that continues to hold cultural and spiritual significance for local communities.
“Much as is the case on this side of the Zambezi River, to us on the Zambian side, Mosi-oa-Tunya is more than a wonder to be admired. It is a living heritage, a place of memory, identity, and connection between our people, the
Zambezi River, our ancestors, and the land that has sustained communities for generations,” he said.
The two traditional leaders stressed the importance of balancing conservation efforts with community development, noting that preserving the heritage site and improving local livelihoods should go hand in hand.
“If we lose our heritage, we lose part of who we are. If we conserve it well, it can continue to benefit our children and generations to come,” said Chief Hwange.
He said initiatives aimed at empowering communities should deliver practical and lasting benefits.
“My expectation is that this workshop will not end only with speeches and certificates. It should leave our people with skills they can use, ideas they can develop, and confidence to start or improve businesses that are linked to our heritage and environment.”
Chief Hwange highlighted opportunities for local communities to participate in tourism-related ventures, including craft production, cultural performances, tour guiding, hospitality and food services.
“The benefits should not be seen only from afar. They should be felt in the homes, businesses, and daily lives of the communities that live near it,” he said.
While expressing support for development initiatives, he stressed that growth should not come at the expense of the site’s cultural and environmental value.
“As traditional leaders, we support development. But we believe development must be wise, respectful, and sustainable. It must protect sacred places, cultural practices, the river, wildlife, landscapes, and the values that give our communities their identity. True development is that which leaves both the people and the heritage stronger,” he said.
The traditional leaders also called for stronger collaboration between communities, governments, heritage authorities and international organisations to ensure residents are actively involved in decisions affecting their culture, livelihoods and the future of the World Heritage Site.
Source: Chiefs call for local benefits from Victoria Falls tourism (20/07/26)
Keep Victoria Falls Wild, 18th July 2026
The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria
Falls World Heritage Site has been added to the list of Sites to be discussed
by the World Heritage Committee at the forthcoming 48th session of World
Heritage Committee, to be held at Busan, Republic of Korea over 19th-29th July
2026. The nomination of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site for
discussion by the Committee follows a growing list of conservation issues
relating to increasing tourism development pressures, failures in State Party
reporting and ongoing delays in the finalisation of a joint management plan for
the Site (Keep
Victoria Falls Wild, January 2026).
The World Heritage
Committee has repeatedly warned over the cumulative impacts of tourism
developments at the
The developments are
within an area which has been protected against development since 1904 with the
formation of the
Critically, the 1975 'permanently protected' area has also not been fully disclosed to UNESCO within the joint management plans, leaving the World Heritage Committee in the dark over the protected area (Roberts, 2026).
In April campaign group
Keep Victoria Falls Wild called for a moratorium on all developments within and
surrounding the Site until finalisation, and agreement by the World Heritage
Committee, of a new joint management plan for the Site (Keep
Victoria Falls Wild, April 2026).
Read more on the 1975 permanently protected area on the Keep Victoria Falls Wild website.
References
Keep Victoria Falls Wild (January 2026) Reaction and Response to 2025 State of Conservation Report and 2025-2030 Draft Joint Integrated Management Plan [pdf, direct download from the KVFW website, 0.6mb, opens in a new window].
Keep Victoria Falls Wild (April 2026) Serious Concerns Over Management of Victoria Falls World Heritage Site [pdf, direct download from the KVFW website, 1.3mb, opens in a new window].
Roberts, P (2026)
Keep Victoria Falls Wild, 15th July 2026
The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site has been added to the list of Sites to be discussed by the World Heritage Committee at the forthcoming 48th session of World Heritage Committee, to be held at Busan, Republic of Korea over 19th-29th July 2026.
Following publication of
the Draft Decision text to be presented to the Committee next week for adoption (Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, 9th July 2026), and 'third party' representations submitted to
Committee members on Monday morning, the Site was nominated by
"The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies open for discussion only state of conservation reports... where they propose to: Remove a site from the List of World Heritage in Danger, inscribe a site on the List of World Heritage in Danger, or Delete a site from the World Heritage List.
"World Heritage Committee members can also propose to open for discussion a state of conservation report initially foreseen for adoption without discussion." (UNESCO/World Heritage Centre 2026)
The nomination of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site for discussion by the Committee follows a growing list of conservation issues relating to increasing tourism development pressures, failures in State Party reporting and ongoing delays in the finalisation of a joint management plan for the Site (Keep Victoria Falls Wild, January 2026).
The World Heritage Committee
has repeatedly warned over the cumulative impacts of tourism developments at
the
In April campaign group Keep Victoria Falls Wild called for a moratorium on all developments within and surrounding the Site until finalisation, and agreement by the World Heritage Committee, of a new joint management plan for the Site (Keep Victoria Falls Wild, April 2026).
References
Keep Victoria Falls Wild (January 2026) Reaction and Response to 2025 State of Conservation Report and 2025-2030 Draft Joint Integrated Management Plan (pdf, direct download from the KVFW website, 0.6mb).
Keep Victoria Falls Wild (April 2026) Serious Concerns Over Management of Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (pdf, direct download from the KVFW website, 1.3mb).
Roberts, P (2026)
UNESCO/World Heritage Centre (2026) WHC/26/48.COM/INF.7.Rev (pdf, direct download from the KVFW website).
Keep
UNESCO World Heritage Committee Draft Decision text published ahead of 48th Session...
List of outstanding and unresolved issues grows as State Parties fail to respond to World Heritage Centre requests...
Committee yet again fails to address recent and proposed tourism developments within Site's 'No New Development' Zone...
Yet further delays to finalisation of new Joint Management Plan - five years and counting to develop draft a management plan covering a five year period.
UNESCO have released the draft papers and reports to be considered by the World Heritage Committee at its forthcoming 48th session, to be held at Busan, Republic of Korea over 19th-29th July 2026. The documents are available to download from the UNESCO website here.
The World Heritage Centre's overview and the Committee's draft Decision text relating to the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site is published within document WHC/26/48.COM/7B.Add (UNESCO/World Heritage Centre, 2026), and presented below in full for ease of reference.
The Committee is due to
consider its response to the latest State of
Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort Development (Zambia)
Under 'Current Conservation Issues' the text highlights lack of clarification of the status of mitigation measures, originally requested in 2024, relating to the Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort development in Zambia, constructed in 2021/2 "without fully meeting all the approval conditions set out in the Zambian Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA) Decision Letter" and currently managed as the Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort.
"While it is reported that the completed
construction of the Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort Hotel does not adversely
affect the OUV of the property, the 2022 Reactive Monitoring mission identified
numerous shortfalls and non-compliance with the World Heritage status of the
property, including differing interpretations of zoning terms. Given that the
project has already been completed, and in light of the concerns raised by the
mission and in previous Committee Decisions, the information provided by the
State Party does not demonstrate whether the mitigation measures previously
reported are being implemented to adequately address negative impacts on the
property’s OUV. The development of a comprehensive Environmental and Social
Management Plan (ESMP), as recommended in the 2022 reactive monitoring mission,
and already mentioned in the report submitted by the States Parties in February
2024, is even more urgent to ensure that the mitigation and monitoring
initiatives put in place also consider the visual integrity and cumulative
effects of the project. In addition, the reported review of the 2007 Zonation
Scheme should be expedited to clarify the inconsistencies and refine the
associated permissible-use thresholds."
In summary this issue has not been progressed, by either the World Heritage Centre or the State Party, since the Committee's 2024 decision and request for mitigation measures. This development was pushed ahead without notification or disclosure to UNESCO during 2021, and continued despite requests from the World Heritage Centre to suspend development pending review of the proposals. A subsequent IUCN/UNESCO Reactive Monitoring Mission Report highlighted several significant issues of non-compliance with national planning approvals (UNESCO/World Heritage Centre, 2023a).
Baines Restaurant and Cataract Island Tours (Zimbabwe)
The text also notes no update has yet to be given in relation to the launch of tours to Cataract Island in 2022 and development of the Baines Restaurant over 2022/3. The Committee's belated draft reaction to these developments, following up on an unanswered request for further details from the World Heritage Centre on 14th March 2023 (UNESCO/World Heritage Centre, 2023b), is to merely state:
"Finally, no update was provided regarding the
third-party concerns related to permits for two commercial tourism developments
in highly sensitive zones of the property, notably
So nothing has been progressed on this key issue, by either party, since the sending of a letter by the World Heritage Committee in March 2023. Tours to Cataract Island were launched in 2021 without notification or disclosure to UNESCO, despite a previous request from the World Heritage Committee for a full EIA disclosure in 2017 in specific reference to this proposal (World Heritage Committee, 2017).
The area of the Baines development has been protected against development since 1904 with the formation of the Victoria Falls Park. It was declared a National Monument in 1937 in recognition of its cultural heritage significance and protected as a National Park in 1952 in recognition of its conservation and environmental importance. In the mid-1970s it was part of an area declared 'permanently protected' against all new development under the Victoria Falls Outline Plan, before being designated as a World Heritage Site in 1989. Under the 2007 and 2016 joint management plans the area was declared part of the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (HESZ) which prevents all new development. Yet despite all these protections the development was pushed ahead during 2022, without prior notification or disclosure to UNESCO and despite a legal challenge against its development in the Zimbabwean courts (still to be heard), and has been operational since 2023 (Keep Victoria Falls Wild, September 2023; June 2025; April 2026).
The EIA approval was granted on the basis of the false claim that the site of the development was within the 'Medium Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (MESZ) and a permissible development - when it is in fact in the High Ecologically Sensitive Zone which prevents all new development. Even if it was in the MESZ it would still not be a permissible development.
Critically, the 1975 'permanently protected' area has also not been fully disclosed to UNESCO within the joint management plans, leaving the World Heritage Committee in the dark over the protected area (Roberts, 2026).
Further Developments (Zimbabwe)
The text also indicates the World Heritage Centre sent the State Parties a letter in September 2024 requesting information relating to proposed tourism developments within the Site's 'no new development' zone (the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' or HESZ) - sadly not specified but believed to relate to the lease agreements, already signed with third parties, for the development of the proposed riverside 'tree lodges' and Kandahar Camp developments on the southern, Zimbabwean, side of the Falls. Not surprisingly, eighteen months later, the World Heritage Centre has not had any response to this request.
"In a letter dated 25 September 2024, the World Heritage Centre transmitted to the State Party of Zimbabwe, for comments, third-party information reporting the issuance of several commercial sites for tourism developments in contradiction to the existing JIMP within the property. No response has been received from the State Party at the time of writing this report."
So yet again, absolutely no progress on this issue since 2024.
Draft Decision Text
In its Draft Decision text the World Heritage Committee:
"4. Expresses serious concern that cumulative impacts from large-scale infrastructure and ever-increasing tourism development within the property, its buffer zone, and wider setting continue to pose a significant threat to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, a situation exacerbated, among other things, by the fact that several development projects, which the States Parties have indicated to be at the scoping stage, are currently underway, and invites the States Parties to provide further details on the reported development projects that are under consideration as soon as more information is available: ...
"6. Notes with regret that no update was provided regarding the third-party concerns related to permits for two commercial tourism developments in highly sensitive zones on the Zimbabwean component of the property, noting that information available online indicates that these developments have already commenced operation, expresses its deep concern about the potentially irreversible impacts of these projects on the integrity and the visual attributes of the property and urgently requests the States Parties to report on the monitoring and mitigation measures in place to ensure that the infrastructures do not negatively affect the OUV of the property;
"7. Also notes with regret that the construction of the Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort Hotel proceeded without fully meeting approval conditions at the national level and following the Committee’s request to halt further activities until the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) had been submitted and reviewed, and reiterates its requests to the States Parties to implement the 2022 Reactive monitoring mission recommendation to develop a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management plan, which the States Parties indicated in their 2024 report was already being developed, ensuring that the mitigation measures put in place take into account the visual integrity and cumulative effects of the project and address its negative impacts on the property’s OUV;
"8. Also reiterates its request to the States Parties to ensure that any project located within the property, its buffer zone, and wider setting with potential impacts on the OUV is subject to assessment through ESIA or HIA in conformity with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context and submitted for review prior to any decision; "
Joint Management Plan
Regarding the draft Joint Management Plan for the site, the text raises several specific concerns to be addressed in a revised draft, to be submitted as part of an 'interim report' by 1st February 2027, but which will not presumably be considered by the Committee until mid-2028.
"13. Finally requests the States Parties to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2027, an interim report including a copy of the updated JIMP, taking into consideration the comments outlined above, and by 1 December 2027, an updated report on the State of Conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 50th session."
The new five-year Joint Management Plan for the Site was originally due for submission by end of June 2024, with UNESCO agreeing an extension until June 2025 to allow 'finalisation' of the plan (World Heritage Committee, 2024). The new plan was subsequently submitted in December 2025, but with key sections missing (Keep Victoria Falls Wild, January 2026). It will now be at least mid-2028 before the 'final' version will be reviewed by the World Heritage Committee, meaning that it will have taken more than five years to develop a five year management plan.
Continued Failings
The State Party representatives on both sides of the river will no doubt yet again be patting each other on the back for successfully delaying any significant review of tourism developments at the Site by the Committee until 2028. The World Heritage Committee's current draft decision text actually undermines long-standing conservation protections preventing development.
The failure of the State Parties to respond to previous Committee requests for further information relating to the Baines Restaurant and Cataract Island tours, and failure of the Committee to previously react to these developments, despite full particulars being supplied by 'third-parties', mean that these operations will have been operational for several years before the World Heritage Committee has even officially acknowledged their existence. The Draft Decision text response to the State Parties failure to notify the Committee in advance of this development, the flawed EIA report and subsequent EIA approvals is to merely request "the States Parties to report on the monitoring and mitigation measures in place to ensure that the infrastructures do not negatively affect the OUV of the property" is totally inadequate.
The Draft Decision text as it currently stands is, considering the background the Baines Restaurant development and its location, a complete capitulation. The only mitigation measure which will ensure that the Baines Restaurant development does not negatively affect the OUV of the property, or more to the point infringe existing legal protections, is its total and absolute removal from the site. The Committee should, and indeed must, call for the upholding of these protections and for the development to be removed and the area fully restored to its natural aspect. Failure to comply should result in the Site being listed on the World Heritage Site List of Sites in Danger.
The Committee's continued
failure to fully address the issues relating to this and other tourism
developments, including the proposed 'tree
lodge' development, for which plans are well advanced (the development is
reportedly to be managed under InterContinental Hotel Group's exclusive 'Six
Senses' brand), at the current 48th Session risks legitimising inappropriate
developments which threaten the future World Heritage status of the Site.
Requesting mitigation measures on a completely illegitimate development, after
it has been constructed without notification to UNESCO is not an acceptable
compromise in this example, and is already proving totally ineffective in
relation to the Mosi-oa-Tunya
Resort development in
In failing to address and
progress these issues the World Heritage Committee is rapidly making itself a
significant part of the problem, and in turning a blind eye to these
developments is actually facilitating in the degradation of this Site, raising
serious questions and concerns over the whole 'World Heritage Site' system of
governance and overview in relation to natural heritage sites - with the
Victoria Falls rapidly becoming a prime case study example (Roberts, 2026).
- - -
Download the full draft text relating to Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site in pdf format here.
- - -
References
Keep
Keep Victoria Falls Wild (June 2025) Special Report on the Riverine Fringe (pdf, 1.8mb)
Keep Victoria Falls Wild
(January 2026) Reaction and
Response to 2025 State of Conservation Report and 2025-2030 Draft Joint
Integrated Management Plan (pdf, 0.6mb)
Keep Victoria Falls Wild
(April 2026) Serious
Concerns Over Management of Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (pdf,
1.3mb)
Roberts, P (2026)
State Parties (2025) 2025 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya State of Conservation Report/Joint Integrated Management Plan (pdf download [18.9 mb], opens in a new window)
UNESCO/World Heritage Centre (2023a) Final Joint Mission
Report Mosi-oa-Tunya, Victoria Falls (Zambia/ Zimbabwe) 9-13 February 2022 (pdf
download [3.3 mb], opens in a new window)
UNESCO/World Heritage Centre (2023b)
Conservation Issues, Analysis and Conclusions (45 COM 7B.10).
UNESCO/World Heritage Centre (2026) Item 7B of the Provisional Agenda: State of Conservation of properties inscribed on the of World Heritage List (WHC/26/48.COM/7B.Add). Draft Decision text relating to the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.
World Heritage Committee (2017) Decisions Adopted 41COM 7B.22, point 6.
World Heritage Committee
(2024) Decisions Adopted, 46COM 7B.60, point 5d.
