By Ayansola Tejumade Abiola
Osun Osogbo UNESCO World Heritage Site epitomizes cultural and natural richness and splendours. However, the site has faced multifaceted threats, including recurrent bush burning, thefts, etc. It is susceptible to fire outbreaks because of the porosity to passers-by and unauthorized farming activities at the buffer zones. Climate change is another phenomenon that has great effects on the flora and fauna of the site.
Each year, disasters caused by natural and human-induced hazards destroy countless animals, plants, and historical properties. It is expedient for any society wishing to develop and rise from poverty to have effective disaster risk management to prevent the impacts of the disaster from the progress and sustainable development of the community.
There is a need to have a prepared and readiness to reduce loss from disasters through comprehensive assessments of the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove, this will explore projected risks and vulnerabilities of the grove and the definition of appropriate prevention and mitigation measures.
The management and stakeholders of the grove should develop overarching risk management plans equipped to address multiple challenges and risks from disasters, climate change adaptations, heritage conservation, and tourism management. In the quest to mitigate the impacts of disasters on animals, plants, and even tourists putting into consideration their ages, disabilities, nationalities, etc, disaster assessment activities and programs should incorporate diversity analysis and should be designed and implemented in a culturally sensitive, participatory, inclusive and accessible way that respect and protect the dignity of the grove and human rights.
The efficacy of the use of heritage knowledge, including traditional practices, taboos, modern technologies, and materials, together with innovative technical solutions to ensure more sustainable resources in the reconstruction and recovery of the damaged sites and sculptures and foster resilience to future prevention from disasters should be emphasized by the management and stakeholders. It should be noted that traditional knowledge and taboos have been adopted in the past before the place came under the management of UNESCO and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments. (NCMM). This will enable more sustainable responses in maintaining and recovering processes and foster resilience to future disasters.
Heritage resources including cultural and natural, tangible and intangible, movable and non-movable are valuable resources for emergency preparedness and recovery. Through effective management and collaboration with relevant stakeholders including the local communities, assessment of lost sites and statues should be conducted. The data obtained will assist in planning appropriately and taking decisions necessary to reduce risks and prevent the generation of new ones. The effective management of conflicts between the management and stakeholders can significantly reduce factors relating to the project on sustainable heritage resources and conservation of the Osun Osogbo sacred grove, this is because the protection of the grove is of paramount importance to both the management and the stakeholders.
It’s expected that the responsibilities and roles do not fall unfairly on a particular body to avoid being overburdened. Equity, fairness, inclusiveness, ethnicity, religion, disabilities, and demographic status of all the people concerned should be put in place in decision-making processes and outcomes. Traditional knowledge and taboos as mentioned earlier should be harnessed in disaster and conflict management as well as modern technology.