Cultural Heritage Preservation Meets Modern Port Development: Securing the Integrity and Authenticity of the Lamu Town World Heritage Site in the Face of Current and Future Challenges

Authors

Sarah M. Wiggins, SIT Study AbroadFollow

Home Institution

Southwestern University

Publication Date

Spring 2010

Program Name

Kenya: Health and Community Development

Abstract

This study identifies the current major threats to the Lamu Town World Heritage Site, which lies on the coast of Kenya. Lamu gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well preserved Swahili living culture as well as the physical representations of that culture in architecture etc. Lamu is a tourist hotspot within the region and hosts over 50,000 for the Maulidi Festival alone. However, the town is in desperate need of infrastructure development if it is to be maintained for the future. The greatest barrier to development and cultural heritage preservation is the lack of a Management Plan for the World Heritage Site, which although it is a requirement for enlistment has not been produced within the last eight years. With the incoming development of a new transport corridor to serve the East African Community, Lamu district will host a mega-port only miles away from the World Heritage Site. This new development if left unmonitored, will exaggerate the current problems which exist, particularly fresh water supplies which serve Lamu Island and the surrounding communities.

Disciplines

Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation | Tourism

Recommended Citation

Wiggins, Sarah M., "Cultural Heritage Preservation Meets Modern Port Development: Securing the Integrity and Authenticity of the Lamu Town World Heritage Site in the Face of Current and Future Challenges" (2010). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 822.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/822