Mechanisms for compliance with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (the case of the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania)

This study identifies growing contradictions between the World Heritage Committee and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) regarding balancing nature conservation with economic development, particularly in the Selous Game Reserve. It reveals that political influences significantly shape decision-making processes within the World Heritage protection system, often undermining ecological objectives. The research highlights critical threats to the Reserve's ecological state, including extractive industry projects and hydroelectric dam constructions, and emphasizes the role of international 'soft law' in regulating subsoil use. The study predicts potential consequences such as weakened conservation restrictions, strengthened regional initiatives over universal ones, and a reduction in the status of listed properties on the World Heritage List. It also proposes strategies to address these challenges using soft international law mechanisms.

Kolobov, R. (2024). Mechanisms for compliance with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (the case of the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania). Meždunarodnoe Pravosudie, 14(4), 111–137. https://doi.org/10.21128/2226-2059-2024-4-111-137