Transnational cooperation for effective management of the Okavango Delta World Heritage Site: The case of the Cubango-Okavango River Basin

Abstract

Natural heritage sites transcend national boundaries of two or more countries. The effective management of these sites requires close collaboration and cooperation between States Parties. Some of these natural heritage sites are Ramsar sites and World Heritage sites. In addition, some of the transnational natural heritage sites are river systems; most countries have put in place agreements and structures for the effective management of these river systems. With time, parts or the whole of these transnational river systems have been inscribed as World Heritage sites, not only because of their hydrological values but also due to other values such as biodiversity, biological and geomorphological processes, cultural and aesthetic values.