The Maluku archipelagic landscape: Exploring and evaluating the outstanding universal value towards World Heritage nomination

Purpose: This study investigates the outstanding universal value (OUV) of the Maluku Islands, which are on the Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage sites. It examines the ecological and cultural dimensions through spice heritage, traditional practices, and historical significance, addressing gaps in existing literature that often separate natural and cultural heritage, or prioritise tourism narratives over local knowledge and heritage governance. Methods: Using a qualitative, interdisciplinary approach, the study integrates geospatial analysis, historical archives, and ethnographic data from field surveys in Maluku and North Maluku. Sources include cartographic records, environmental datasets, and interviews with farmers, elders, and cultural practitioners. Results: Maluku’s spice landscape, rooted in endemic clove and nutmeg cultivation, ritual agroforestry, and oral traditions, demonstrates authenticity and integrity under UNESCO’s mixed heritage criteria. The study offers original insights by foregrounding vernacular knowledge and lived heritage within global heritage discourse. Implications: The findings support Maluku’s World Heritage nomination by recommending improvements to narrative coherence, inclusivity, and representational balance. It proposes a heritage governance model based on sustainable development and community-led tourism, positioning Maluku as an exemplary island cultural landscape for integrated conservation and revitalisation.