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       <title>World Heritage Centre News</title>
       <link>http://whc.unesco.org/</link>
       <description>All the World Heritage News</description>
	   <ttl>240</ttl>
       <language>en</language>
       <copyright>Copyright 2013 UNESCO, World Heritage Centre</copyright>
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       <lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 05:43:48 EST</lastBuildDate>
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            <title>UNESCO, World Heritage Centre News</title>
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         <title>Best Wishes 2012</title>
         <description><![CDATA[40 years of protection, 188 States Parties, 936 World Heritage Sites.&amp;nbsp;Join us for the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention as we highlight the role of local communitites in sustainable development.
// ]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/828</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Marine Programme - Newsletter January 2012</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Read our newsletter to learn about our major accomplishments, including new services that will help improve marine protection efforts around the globe. Additionally, this year we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
Mission of the World Heritage Marine Programme
Launched in 2005, the mission of the World Heritage Marine Programme is to establish effective conservation of existing and potential marine areas of Outstanding Universal Value to make sure they  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/827</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Heritage Volunteers 2012</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Call for Projectsconcrete actions for the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention
The UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme in collaboration with the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) is pleased to announce the call for projects for the World Heritage Volunteers 2012.After 4 years of fruitful experiences with 78 successful projects at 43 sites, carried out in 23 countries with nearly a thousand young volunteers involved, the 2012 edition of  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/826</link>
         <author>secretariat@ccivs.org (CCIVS)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Kernavė Archaeological site in Lithuania granted &quot;enhanced protection” in the event of armed conflict</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė) World Heritage site has been given &quot;enhanced protection&quot; status by the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, which held its sixth meeting at UNESCO Headquarters from 14 to 16 December.
The status had also been requested for two World Heritage sites in Azerbaijan: Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah&apos;s Palace and Maiden Tower, and Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape. The Committee  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/824</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>London 2012 Torch Relay to pass through Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site</title>
         <description><![CDATA[While exact details of the route are still under cover, it has been announced that the Olympic Torch will be carried through Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site (United Kingdom). The torch will be carried over the iron bridge which has stood for hundreds of years as a symbol of the Industrial Revolution and will then be carried along the River Severn before travelling on to Telford.
The museum is currently running two exhibitions as part of the Cultural Olympiad&amp;rsquo;s &amp;lsquo;Stories of  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/823</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Italy announces support to UNESCO for Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Myanmar</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Government of Italy has granted 400,000&amp;euro; to support a new UNESCO project to build capacity for safeguarding cultural heritage in Myanmar.
The contribution will allow UNESCO to mobilize international expertise to assist Myanmar in protecting important heritage sites in the country, in particular, the ancient Pyu settlements dating back almost two millennia and Bagan, one of the world&amp;rsquo;s most historically and artistically significant ensembles of religious monuments. The  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/825</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Palestine and the World Heritage Convention</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Since Palestine was admitted to UNESCO on 31 October, there have been several misleading media reports about the status of Palestinian cultural heritage sites.&amp;nbsp; Here is how UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage Committee works and what it has done with respect to cultural sites in Palestine.
The World Heritage Committee inscribes sites it considers to be of &amp;ldquo;outstanding universal value.&amp;rdquo; Nominations must include legal and management provisions to ensure they are properly  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/821</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Panasonic sponsors The World Heritage Special on National Geographic Channel in 183 countries</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The two-year partnership signed between Panasonic and the World Heritage Centre in June 2011 aims to promote sustainable development and increase environmental awareness. In addition to the World Heritage Eco Learning Programme dedicated to teaching the next generation about the importance of heritage preservation using 3D-related audiovisual equipment and technical support, site visits and contests, activities include Panasonic&amp;rsquo;s sole sponsorship of The World Heritage Special, which  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/819</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>3rd annual Business Skills for Natural World Heritage Site manager training event held</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Midway through a discussion on risk analysis, someone jumps to their feet and shouts &amp;ldquo;ELEPHANTS!!&amp;rdquo; and within a matter of seconds the classroom is deserted. For the next few minutes, the participants in Earthwatch&amp;rsquo;s Business Skills for World Heritage programme can be found lined up along Mpala Research Centre&amp;rsquo;s electric fence watching the herd pass on the far side of the river. 
The elephants, wild dogs, hippos and antelope that pass by are a captivating reminder of  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/817</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO and Italy agree to cooperate on the restoration of Pompeii</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO and Italy have agreed to collaborate on the restoration of the Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List in 1997.&amp;nbsp;International attention turned to the World Heritage site in late 2010, when torrential rains led to the collapse of several vestiges including the Schola Armaturarum (Gladiators&apos; House) and the equally famous House of the Moralist. 
According to the agreement, signed by Assistant Director-General  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/818</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Scotland hosts global conference on remote access to World Heritage sites</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Leading lights in science, technology, conservation and heritage interpretation descended upon Edinburgh&amp;nbsp;on 23 November 2011&amp;nbsp;for a unique conference on how new technology could help protect fragile landscapes while giving greater public access to them.
&amp;lsquo;I Know Where I&apos;m Going: Remote Access to World Heritage Sites from St Kilda to Uluru&amp;rsquo; was held from 23 to 24 November, with a keynote speech from&amp;nbsp;Dr Mechtild Rossler,&amp;nbsp;Chief of the Policy and Statutory  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/820</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO World Heritage app downloaded over 13,000 times </title>
         <description><![CDATA[To launch the 40th anniversary celebrations of the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO offered the World Heritage iPhone/iPad application (app) free for one day. On Wednesday, 16 November the app was downloaded 13,343 times from the Apple iTunes store. It proved to be most popular in France, the United States and China.
An update of the App, which now features the 25 new sites added to the World Heritage List in 2011, is now available with the following enhancements:

You can now share  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/815</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Presentation ceremony held to recognize tri-national World Heritage site</title>
         <description><![CDATA[On 16 November 2011, Kishore Rao, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, presented a certificate to German Minister for Environment Norbert R&amp;ouml;ttgen and the State Ministers recognizing the inscription of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany on the World Heritage List. The ceremony was held in Berlin, Germany and included representatives of Slovakia and Ukraine, as the property is a transboundary site inscribed by the three  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/816</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>State of Conservation of World Heritage Forests report launched</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Centre is pleased to announce the publication of the World Heritage Paper #30:&amp;nbsp; &amp;ldquo;Adapting to Change &amp;ndash; The State of Conservation of World Heritage Forests in 2011&amp;rdquo; as a contribution to the 2011 United Nations International Year of Forests.
There are 104 World Heritage sites that have been recognized at least in part for their forest values.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; These range from the 20 hectare Vall&amp;eacute;e de Mai Nature Reserve in Seychelles, renowned for  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/812</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Heritage Centre and Turismo de Portugal cooperate on Tourism Management at World Heritage sites</title>
         <description><![CDATA[In June 2011 UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage Centre and Turismo de Portugal, the Portuguese Tourism Authority, signed an agreement engaging in a cooperation project on capacity-building for tourism management in World Heritage sites of Portuguese origin. This project is an integral part of the continuous cooperation that is being carried out by the World Heritage Centre and Portugal, represented in this project by its National Commission.&amp;nbsp; 
World Heritage sites, both natural and  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/800</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>The G-77 &amp; China at UNESCO celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention</title>
         <description><![CDATA[A contribution of the G-77 &amp;amp; China in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, in collaboration with UNESCO, the photo exhibit &quot;The G-77 &amp;amp; China at UNESCO celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention&quot; was launched at UNESCO today as the first event marking the anniversary year. It will be on display from 7 to 10 November 2011 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
The world&apos;s heritage needs to be preserved and handed over to future  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/807</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>2011-2012 World Heritage Map Available</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The latest version of the World Heritage map, produced by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and National Geographic Maps with the generous support of Russian Federation, can now be ordered for a modest fee from the World Heritage Centre website. The featured image on the Map presents Saint Petersburg, where the next session of the World Heritage Committee will be held (June/July 2012).
The World Heritage map is an educational visual tool, allowing UNESCO to communicate its work in this  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/808</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO kicks off 40th anniversary celebration of World Heritage Convention</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova today launched the 40th anniversary celebrations for the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO&apos;s Member States on 16 November 1972.
In her address, the Director-General called for a year of renewal for World Heritage. &quot;Heritage stands at the crossroads of climate change, social transformations and processes of reconciliation between peoples. Heritage carries high stakes - for the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/809</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Nine members elected to World Heritage Committee</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Nine new members were elected to the World Heritage Committee on the first day of the 18th General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, which started its meeting today at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. The new members of the Committee are Algeria, Colombia, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Senegal and Serbia. Each country will serve a mandate of four years which takes effect as of 11 November 2011.
Committee members as of 11 November 2011
Algeria,  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/811</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Elwha River Restoration project underway at Olympic National Park, USA</title>
         <description><![CDATA[One of the largest restoration projects in the history of the United States is underway at Olympic National Park World Heritage site in Washington. Begun in September 2010, the&amp;nbsp;removal of&amp;nbsp;the Elwha and Glines Canyon&amp;nbsp;dams on the Elwha River will result in salmon populations&amp;nbsp;swelling from 3,000 to more than 300,000 as all five species of Pacific salmon return to more than 70 miles of river and stream. The return of fish will bring bear, eagles and other animals back to an  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/806</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Fires at the World Heritage site of Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island (R&#xe9;union, France)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO is monitoring with concern the situation in the Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island, World Heritage site where fires have been raging since 25 October.
According to early reports from the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, at least 3,000 ha of the 100,000 ha property have been destroyed by the fires. Twenty-six endemic rare plant species are already known to have been affected by the fires. Sixteen of these species are listed as &amp;ldquo;critically endangered&amp;rdquo; by  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/805</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>SIDS Capacity-Building Programme established</title>
         <description><![CDATA[On 10 August 2011 the Japanese Government approved the programme proposal &quot;Capacity Building to Support the Conservation of World Heritage Sites and Enhance Sustainable Development of Local Communities in Small island Developing States (SIDS)&quot;, with a total budget of USD 1 million.
The overall objective of the project proposal is to develop regional capacity building programmes for Pacific and African SIDS, and to further strengthen the existing capacity building programme for Caribbean  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/804</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Floods at Cinque Terre World Heritage site</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre would like to express its condolences for the lives lost in northern Italy last week in the floods and mudslides resulting from torrential rains.
Villages as well as road and railway communication lines of the Cinque Terre World Heritage site have been severely affected by the rains, and the Centre is working with the national and local authorities to evaluate the extent of the damage and assess appropriate measures to be taken.
In the meantime, UNESCO is  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/803</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO convenes Libyan and international experts meeting for the safeguard of Libya&apos;s cultural heritage</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO has invited experts from both inside and outside of Libya to urgently examine the preservation of cultural heritage in the country, notably measures to safeguard cultural sites; prevent illicit trafficking, protect museums and strengthen cultural institutions in the wake of civil strife and the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime. The meeting - the first on protecting Libyan cultural heritage after the fall of the regime - will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 21  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/799</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>First International Purple Economy Forum held</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre participated in a round table on &amp;ldquo;Attractiveness of regional assets: The creation and regionalization of added value&amp;rdquo; at the world&amp;rsquo;s first international forum of Purple Economy held in Paris, France, 11-13 October 2011 together with Carlo Petrini (Founder and President of Slow Food) and Daniel Maximin (Commissioner of the French Year on Overseas Territories). The event launched an inclusive international debate on different approaches to  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/801</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Flooding in Thailand</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Severe flooding in Thailand since mid July has this week inundated the World Heritage property of the Historic City of Ayutthaya, founded in ca. 1350 as the second capital of the Kingdom of Siam after Sukhothai. Located on an island on the Chao Praya river, the protective embankments could no longer withstand the increasing height of the floods. 
UNESCO Bangkok Office and the World Heritage Centre are following the development closely and are ready to support the authorities with Emergency  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/797</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Cape Floral Region Protected Areas get Conservation Boost from World Heritage Centre Partner</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Fauna and Flora International (FFI) a longtime partner of UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage Centre, launched a global appeal this week with the objective of helping protect over 50,000 hectares of the globally unique &amp;ldquo;fynbos&amp;rdquo; ecosystem in the Cape Floral region of South Africa.The targeted lands are in the World Heritage site&amp;rsquo;s buffer areas, contributing to the long term integrity of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage property.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
The plant  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/798</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Training in marine spatial planning of World Heritage marine sites in Mexico</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino and Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California(both located in Baja California, Mexico).
The Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino site has been inscribed on the World Heritage List since 1993. It is the only calving and nursery area for the Eastern Pacific gray whale population, which traditionally travels there&amp;nbsp;each season&amp;nbsp;from the Bering and Chukchi seas in the Arctic, a voyage of thousands of miles. Among all gray whales in the world, this  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/796</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>A 7000 Euro Grant For The Realization Of A Cultural Project Concerning The Mediterranean World</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Born after 31 December 1975 you will be under 30 years of age in 2012.&amp;nbsp;You are a native of a Mediterranean country.&amp;nbsp;You wish to develop a project furthering the knowledge and understanding of Mediterranean cultures.
Every year the Marc de Montalembert Foundation offers a grant of 7000 euro to enable the implementation of such projects.
To apply for the 2005 Marc de Montalembert grant candidates should send a project outline along with a request for an application form  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/795</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Severe damage to Philippine Rice Terraces by two typhoons </title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Northern Luzon of the Philippines was severely affected by Typhoon Pedrin (International Name: Nesat) which crossed the region on Tuesday 27 September. Its trajectory passed across the Ifugao Province and has, according to preliminary reports, caused major mud and landslides within the area of the World Heritage property of the Rice Terraces in the Philippine Cordilleras. A second typhoon crossed the area this past weekend.
While the communication in the area is still not fully  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/794</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Satellites and World Heritage sites, partners to understand climate change</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Financed by the Flemish Government and organized by UNESCO and its space partners, in particular Planet Action,&amp;nbsp;this exhibition uses a series of remarkable examples to demonstrate the use of satellite Earth observation to assess&amp;nbsp;the effects of climate change on selected World Heritage sites.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that &amp;lsquo;global warming is unequivocal&apos; and is due largely&amp;nbsp;to an increase in atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases,  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/854</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>The World Heritage Centre and History&#xae; to raise awareness about preservation across the globe</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre and HISTORY&amp;reg; are partnering to increase awareness about heritage preservation worldwide. As part of the three-year alliance,&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;HISTORY provides a monetary donation along with production services and marketing support to UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre for a three year period. The announcement was made on Monday 12 September at the Tower of London (a World Heritage site) by Dr. Libby O&apos;Connell, SVP Corporate Outreach and Chief Historian for HISTORY  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/793</link>
         <author>Libby.OConnell@aetn.com (Libby O’Connell)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO&apos;s Commitment to Action for the cultural recovery of Jacmel (Haiti) has been accepted by the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO&apos;s Commitment to Action for the cultural recovery of Jacmel (Haiti) has been accepted by the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). The project was seeking USD 500,000 matching funds to an initiative of USD 1,000,000 to support the culture sector in Jacmel, which was badly affected by the earthquake of January 2010.
In a project building on various assets of the culture sector, UNESCO committed to help rebuild and safeguard the cultural heritage of the town of Jacmel and its annual  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/792</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Grand Canyon National Park Hosts U.S. World Heritage Fellow</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Mr John Zulu, site manager of Zambia&apos;s Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls National Park and World Heritage site arrived in the U.S. August 5th to spend six weeks immersed in the details of people, park and resource management at Grand Canyon National Park as the latest &quot;U.S. World Heritage Fellow&quot; sponsored by the National Park Service with support from the United Nations Foundation and the National Park Foundation. &amp;nbsp;
Mr Zulu works for the National Heritage Conservation Commission as the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/791</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>18th session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention and presentation of candidatures for the election of members to the World Heritage Committee</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO Headquarters, Rooms XII, 7 to 9 November 2011
The General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage will hold its 18th session during the 36th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, from 7 to 8 November 2011 all day and 9 November only in the afternoon, at UNESCO Headquarters, Room XII.
The General Assembly will be called upon to replace the outgoing members of the World Heritage Committee and will also  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/790</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>&quot;I Know Where I&apos;m Going”- Remote Access to World Heritage Sites from St Kilda to Uluru Conference</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Informatics&amp;nbsp;Forum,&amp;nbsp;10 Crichton&amp;nbsp;Street,&amp;nbsp;Edinburgh, EH8 9AB (Scotland, UK)
At a time of economic crisis and environmental threat, countries everywhere have to address the dual challenge of protecting and preserving their natural and cultural heritage while maximizing their economic value.
This two-day international conference&amp;nbsp;on 23 and 24 November 2011 will focus on the potential for new technologies to create high-quality, remote-access visitor experiences for  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/789</link>
         <author>rawhsc11@gmail.com (Isabelle UNY)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>[in French only] Lettre d&apos;information de la Convention France-UNESCO N&#xb0;19</title>
         <description><![CDATA[[in French only] Vie de la CFU

R&amp;eacute;union du Comite mixte de coordination, 26 avril 2011, UNESCO, Paris.
Comite du patrimoine mondial, Paris, 19-29 juin 2011.
Participation aux 9&amp;egrave;mes Rencontres de l&apos;Association des biens fran&amp;ccedil;ais du patrimoine mondial (ANBPM), Besan&amp;ccedil;on, 8-10 juin 2011.

Actualit&amp;eacute;s sur l&apos;avancement des projets CFU 

Le projet &amp;laquo;&amp;nbsp;Niger-Loire&amp;nbsp;: Gouvernance et Culture&amp;nbsp;&amp;raquo; se poursuit au Mali
Patrimoine culturel  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/785</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>17th ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium on the theme &quot;Heritage: Driver of Development”</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The most important triennial gathering of ICOMOS will take place from 27 November to 2 December 2011 for the first time in Paris at UNESCO Headquarters.
The General Assembly is accompanied by a Scientific Symposium on the theme &quot;Heritage: Driver of Development&quot;. Both events are open to ICOMOS members and non-members alike.
Visit the special website www.icomos-paris2011.com to consult the full programme, register on-line and obtain information on negotiated hotel rates and the 9 post-tours  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/786</link>
         <author>secretariat@icomos.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Caribbean Capacity Building Programme (CCBP)&apos;s training Module 6 on Natural Heritage Management available on line</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO Havana, Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean, is pleased to introduce module 6 of the Caribbean Capacity Building Programme (CCBP) for World Heritage, Natural Heritage Management.

The CCBP Training Modules is composed of a core and mandatory training module on the Application of the World Heritage Conventio n and a series of other modules focusing on the various aspects of management (tourism, historic centers, risks, cultural landscapes and natural  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/784</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (www.unesco.org.cu)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Decisions by 35th session of the World Heritage Committee online</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The final version of the Decisions adopted at the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee, which was held at UNESCO Headquarters from 19 to 29 June 2011, is also available in English and French at the following Web address:&amp;nbsp;whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/35COM]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/782</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Heritage Committee refers decision to revise the boundaries of Selous Game Reserve (Tanzania) </title>
         <description><![CDATA[In February, the United Republic of Tanzania submitted a request for a minor modification to the boundaries of the Selous Game Reserve. The 50000 km2 Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest remaining wilderness areas in Africa, harboring the largest remaining elephant population of Africa and has been inscribed on the World Heritage List since 1982. The request for modification of boundaries concerns the exclusion of an area of 19793 ha on the southern boundary of the property and has  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/779</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Report of impact of tsunami on Gal&#xe1;pagos wildlife</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Eighteen hours after the March 11 tsunami wreaked devastation in Japan, it hit the&amp;nbsp;Gal&amp;aacute;pagos Islands.&amp;nbsp; Luckily, by then the energy of the waves had dissipated somewhat, and the people there had received advanced warning and took to higher ground. The waves hit later in the afternoon,&amp;nbsp;local time, and caused significant damage only to some buildings located near the water&apos;s edge.&amp;nbsp;The Charles Darwin Research Station&apos;s (CDRS) marine biology lab and its equipment were  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/780</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Bank and UNESCO: Expanding Opportunities for Collaboration on Culture and Sustainable Development</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Memorandum of Understanding Outlines Concrete Joint Initiatives
UNESCO and the World Bank have cooperated informally over the past decades, in particular on conservation efforts in the World Heritage sites. Today the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing that on-going collaboration and expanding it to encompass a larger strategic scope.
Thanks to this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by Inger Andersen, World Bank Vice President, Sustainable  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/778</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Five World Heritage Sites in Africa Selected to Participate in Business Planning Programme</title>
         <description><![CDATA[After a rigorous selection process, a total of 18 managers from five World Heritage sites in Africa were recently selected for admission into the World Heritage Centre / Earthwatch / Shell 2011 &amp;quot;Business Planning for natural World Heritage site managers&amp;quot; programme.&amp;nbsp;First offered in South East Asia in 2009 and 2010, this year&apos;s programme will focus on Africa. The programme combines a 10-day intensive training session, followed by a one-year implementation phase, where lessons  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/777</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Tides of Time Partners Renew Commitment to Marine World Heritage until 2014</title>
         <description><![CDATA[In June 2011, Jaeger-LeCoultre, the International Herald Tribune and UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre agreed to renew their longstanding &apos;Tides of Time&apos; partnership in support of the World Heritage Marine Programme until 2014.
The partnership began in 2008 as an international communication campaign in the online and print editions of the International Herald Tribune. Each year, eight marine World Heritage sites, and the conservation issues affecting them, are featured in the online and  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/781</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Four new sites inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (Ukraine), the Petroglyphs Complexes of the Mongolian Altai (Mongolia), The Causses and the C&amp;eacute;vennes, Mediterranean Agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape (France) and Le&amp;oacute;n Cathedral (Nicaragua) - have been added to UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List. The full list of new inscriptions which is now complete will be given out shortly.
The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (Ukraine)  represents a masterful synergy of  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/775</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Twenty-five new properties inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List which now numbers 936</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee has inscribed a total of 25 sites on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List, including three natural properties, 21 cultural and one mixed site. Two properties were added to the World Heritage List in Danger and one was removed from that list. The World Heritage List now numbers 936 properties: 183 natural sites; 725 cultural; and 28 mixed.
Natural properties:

 Ningaloo Coast (Australia)
 Ogasawara Islands (Japan)
 Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/776</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Sites in Ethiopia, Kenya and Viet Nam inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Konso Cultural Landscape (Ethiopia) ,  Fort  Jesus, Mombasa (Kenya) and Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (Viet Nam),  have been added to UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List. Inscriptions are to continue this afternoon.
Konso Cultural Landscape (Ethiopia),  is a 55km2 arid property of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia. It constitutes a spectacular example of a living cultural tradition stretching back 21 generations (more than 400 years) adapted to its dry  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/773</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Six new sites inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Ancient villages of Northern Syria (Syrian Arab Republic), The Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas), (United Arab Emirates), and the Persian Garden (Iran), the Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana (Spain), Pile Dwellings around the Alps (Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia) and Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex (Turkey), have been added to UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage List. Inscriptions are to continue tomorrow  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/774</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO Director-General regrets the announcement of Thailand&apos;s intention to denounce the 1972 World Heritage Convention</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova has expressed her deep regret following the declaration of the Thai Minister Suwit Khunkitti during the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee being held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 19 to 29 June 2011, on the intention of Thailand to denounce the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
Irina&amp;nbsp;Bokova reiterated that &amp;quot;The World Heritage Convention of 1972 &amp;nbsp;is not only the foremost international instrument for the preservation  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/772</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Barbados enters World Heritage List with Bridgetown and its Garrison; Hiraizumi (Japan) and Germany&apos;s Beech Forests also inscribed</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee has inscribed three new sites on UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage List so far today: the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany as an extension to the World Heritage site of Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (Slovakia, Ukraine), Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, the first heritage site of Barbados to enter the World Heritage List; and Hiraizumi &amp;ndash; Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (Japan).
The Ancient Beech  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/770</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Heritage Committee inscribes five new sites in Colombia, Sudan, Jordan, Italy and Germany</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (Colombia), the Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe (Sudan), Wadi Rum Protected Area (Jordan) and The Longobards in Italy, Places of Power , 568 &amp;ndash; 774 A.D. (Italy), and the Fagus Factory in Alfeld (Germany), have been added to UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage List. Inscriptions will continue on Monday.
The Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (Colombia) - an exceptional example of a sustainable and productive cultural landscape that is  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/771</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Ancient Chinese cultural landscape, the West Lake of Hangzhou, inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee has inscribed the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, comprising the West Lake and the hills surrounding its three sides, on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List.  The inscribed landscape has inspired famous poets, scholars and artists since the 9th century. It comprises numerous temples, pagodas, pavilions, gardens and ornamental trees, as well as causeways and artificial islands.  These additions have been made to improve the landscape west of the city of  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/767</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Japan&apos;s Ogasawara Islands on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee has inscribed Ogasawara Islands, the Japanese islands situated some 1,000 km south of the country&apos;s main archipelago, on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List for the wealth of their ecosystems which reflect a wide range of evolutionary processes.
The property numbers more than 30 islands clustered in three groups and covers surface area of 7,393 hectares. The islands offer a variety of landscapes and are home to a wealth of fauna, including the Bonin Flying Fox, a  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/766</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley and Australia&apos;s Ningaloo Coast inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee has inscribed the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (Kenya) and Australia&apos;s Ningaloo Coast  on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List.
The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley  (Kenya), a natural property of outstanding beauty was the first to be added to UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List during the current Committee session. It comprises three inter-linked relatively shallow lakes (Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita) in the Rift Valley Province of  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/765</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Senegal&apos;s Saloum Delta inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee has inscribed Saloum Delta (Senegal) and its vestiges of more than two millennia of human occupation on UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage List.  Fishing and shellfish gathering have sustained human life in the 5,000 km2 property, which is formed by the arms of three rivers. The site comprises brackish channels encompassing over 200 islands and islets, mangrove forest, an Atlantic marine environment, and dry forest.  The site is marked by 218 shellfish mounds, some  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/768</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Contested Tanzania highway project will not cross Serengeti National Park</title>
         <description><![CDATA[In an important decision taken at the current session of the World Heritage Committee at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, the United Republic of Tanzania has stated it will reconsider its North Road project, which would have split the northern part of the Serengeti wilderness and seriously disturbed the migration patterns of animals there. The alternative is to maintain the 53 km stretch of gravel road mainly for tourism and administrative purposes under the authority of TANAPA, as it  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/769</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Danger listing for Indonesia&apos;s Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The need to mobilize support and raise awareness to overcome threats facing the 2.5 million hectare Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra has led the World Heritage Committee to place the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra , inscribed on UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage List in 2004 for its biodiversity, has been placed on the Danger List to help overcome threats posed by poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/764</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Heritage Committee puts R&#xed;o Pl&#xe1;tano Biosphere Reserve on Danger List at the request of Honduras</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Honduran World Heritage site of R&amp;iacute;o Pl&amp;aacute;tano Biosphere Reserve , one of the few tropical rainforest remains in Central America, has been inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List in Danger to mobilize support for its preservation.
The government of Honduras requested the World Heritage Committee to place the property on the List in Danger in view of the combined threats of illegal logging, fishing and land occupation, poaching and the reduced capacity of the State to  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/763</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Successful preservation of India&apos;s Manas Wildlife Sanctuary enables withdrawal from the List of World Heritage in Danger</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Significant improvements in the preservation of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary have allowed for its withdrawal from the List of World Heritage List Danger.
Situated on the foothills of the Himalayas the Manas sanctuary, home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as the tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant, was inscribed on the List in Danger in 1992, seven years after it had entered UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List.
The World Heritage Committee,  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/762</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Conservation of World Heritage sites under scrutiny: World Heritage Committee meets to examine World Heritage List and inscribe new sites</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The future of the World Heritage Convention ahead of its 40th anniversary next year and the growing challenges of heritage preservation were the key themes of the opening addresses of the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee at UNESCO in Paris today. The session will end on 29 June.
The Chairperson of 35th&amp;nbsp;session, Shaikha Mai bint Muhammad Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Bahrain, argued that &quot;the future of the Convention is essential [...] to maintain  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/760</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>&apos;Our Place&apos; Photo Exhibit at 35th session of World Heritage Committee</title>
         <description><![CDATA[A selection of 50 photographs of World Heritage sites are on display during the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee held from 19 to 29 June at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. &apos;Our Place&apos; has been an official partner of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre since 2006, compiling a large database of images by professional photographers from around the world to draw attention to World Heritage sites and the need to preserve them. Our Place has currently photographed over 340 sites in  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/761</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Launch of InforMEA – the United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The MEA Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) Initiative brings together the UN, UNESCO, FAO and UNEP, and 12 global UN Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) to develop harmonized and interoperable information systems in support of knowledge management activities among MEAs for the benefit of Parties and the environment community at large.&amp;nbsp;The Initiative is facilitated and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme.&amp;nbsp;The MEA Steering Committee meets annually  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/759</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>The World Heritage Paper Series N&#xb0;28:  &quot;Navigating the Future of Marine World Heritage&quot; is published</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Since the early 1980s, forty-three marine sites have been inscribed on the World Heritage List, covering about 1.4&amp;nbsp;million km2 of ocean surface - an area about the size of the Gulf of Mexico. Each of these forty-three sites represents exceptional features in the ocean - features that are recognized by the international community for their outstanding natural beauty, exceptional biodiversity, or unique ecological, biological and geological processes.
In recognition of mounting  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/756</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO and Panasonic partner to promote World Heritage conservation and environmental education</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre and Panasonic Corporation on 3 June announced a strategic partnership agreement to promote sustainable development through World Heritage conservation and environmental education for the next generation.
&quot;This new partnership with Panasonic will strengthen our ability to accomplish our mission,&quot; said Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General. &quot;It&apos;s an excellent example of the teamwork that is required to promote thinking and action for the sustainable use of the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/755</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>First South-East Europe World Heritage Youth Forum</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The First South-East Europe World Heritage Youth Forum is currently underway with the&amp;nbsp;theme&amp;nbsp;&apos;World Heritage education: Networking for a Better Common Future&apos;.
It was opened on Sunday 22 May in Porec, Croatia by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova with the Croatian Minister of Culture, Jasen Mesić and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture of Slovenia, Stojan Pelko.
Ms Bokova said, &quot;I am convinced that youth heritage education is THE way to prepare for the future. It is  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/754</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Parks Canada wins conservation award; celebrates 100 years</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre would like to congratulate Parks Canada on its 100th anniversary, and for receiving the Gift to the Earth award from WWF.
The Gift to the Earth is WWF&apos;s highest accolade to applaud conservation work of outstanding merit. In recognizing a conservation action as a Gift to the Earth, WWF highlights both environmental leadership and inspiring conservation achievement which contributes to the protection of the living world.
The Gift to the Earth Award  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/752</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>[in French only] Formation intensive pour gestionnaires francophones de sites patrimoniaux</title>
         <description><![CDATA[[in French only] &amp;laquo;&amp;nbsp;Construire ensemble l&apos;avenir des sites patrimoniaux : &amp;eacute;laborer et mettre en &amp;oelig;uvre une gestion durable pour un site patrimonial&amp;nbsp;&amp;raquo;.
Abbaye de Cluny - Bourgogne, France, du 4 au 10 d&amp;eacute;cembre 2011 et immersion du 12 au 14 d&amp;eacute;cembre 2011 dans un site partenaire.

Th&amp;egrave;me : Construire et mettre en &amp;oelig;uvre un plan de gestion durable pour un site patrimonial.
Pour qui ? Une vingtaine de gestionnaires francophones de  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/753</link>
         <author>luciepara@polepatrimoine.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>International Conference &quot;What is the fate of Public Art?&quot;</title>
         <description><![CDATA[In celebration of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
On the 19th and 20th May 2011, the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO and the Community of Cergy-Pontoise will organise an international conference bringing together renowned architects and artists such as Otto Piene, Daniel Buren, Dani Karavan, Rem Koolhaas, Peter Eisenman as well as key decision-makers to discuss the issue of Public Art and its future around the following themes:

The Creation of Urban  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/746</link>
         <author>art-public@unesco.org (Lodovico Folin Calabi)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Anti-Poaching Patrols to continue at Niokolo Koba National Park, thanks to Rapid Response Facility emergency support</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal was inscribed onto the List of World Heritage sites In Danger in 2007 due in large part to intensive poaching pressures.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had been supporting anti-poaching patrols for several months in the park, but financing is expected to run out at the end of May.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The government of Senegal has committed to increase its financial support to the park, but funds will likely not become  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/750</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Ashgabat Agreement: representatives and experts of twelve Asian countries outline the Silk Roads Heritage Corridors approach for the future Serial and Trans-boundary World Heritage Nomination</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Some fifty potential Silk Roads Heritage Corridors have been identified, with twenty corridors being &amp;nbsp;considered as a medium priority, while three corridors within the five Central Asian countries and China are recommended as a top priority for the first phase of the serial and trans-boundary World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads at the 2nd meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads, which has been successfully convened in  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/751</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO World Heritage sites iPhone and iPad Application from HarperCollins</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO and HarperCollins Publishers are pleased to announce the release of the world&apos;s first fully comprehensive World Heritage sites application (app)&amp;nbsp;for iPhone and iPad.
This UNESCO-authorised app provides a guide to all 911 UNESCO World Heritage sites, incorporating the 21 newly-inscribed sites announced in July 2010, including the Rainforests of Atsinanana in Madagascar and Papahānaumokuākea in USA. The app will be updated yearly as new World Heritage sites are inscribed.
With  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/748</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Migratory Bird Day 2011 observed 14-15 May in over 50 countries</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The theme for World Migratory Bird Day 2011, celebrated around the world on 14-15 May, is &apos; Land use changes from a bird&apos;s-eye view &apos; and it highlights the negative effects human activities are having on migratory birds, their habitats and the planet&apos;s natural environment. World Migratory Bird Day is being organized by the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) - two intergovernmental wildlife treaties administered by the UN  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/747</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Dr Kenton R. Miller, nature conservation leader and former IUCN Director General, dies</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre and IUCN are deeply saddened by the loss of one of nature conservation&amp;rsquo;s leading lights.&amp;nbsp;Dr Kenton R.&amp;nbsp;Miller, a former IUCN Director General and globally-recognized leader in protected area management, has passed away.
Kenton Miller served as IUCN Director General from 1983 to 1988 and recently finished a third term as Chair of IUCN&amp;rsquo;s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). He also recently retired as Vice President for  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/745</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Human - Elephant conflict:  Rapid Response Facility awards emergency grant to the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO - FFI - UNF Rapid Response Facility awarded an emergency grant to the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania this week in response to its request for assistance in dealing with a sudden rise in the killing of elephants linked to an increase in Human / Elephant Conflicts on the border of Udzungwa Mountains National Park.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The park is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains Forests of Tanzania tentative World Heritage site and is within the Eastern Afromontane [BB1] &amp;nbsp;  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/744</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Forty-two sites to be considered for inscription on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List in June</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Remarkable natural and cultural properties from 40 countries will be considered for inscription on UNESCO&amp;rsquo;s World Heritage List during the meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Paris (19 &amp;ndash; 29 June).
Six of these countries stand to have properties inscribed on the World Heritage List for the first time during the forthcoming session: Barbados, Jamaica, Micronesia, Palau, Congo, and the United Arab Emirates. &amp;nbsp;
Natural properties scheduled for consideration at the time  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/743</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Jaeger-LeCoultre auction proceeds support Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary</title>
         <description><![CDATA[From 18-22 April 2011, the Swiss watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre organized its third online auction for the benefit of World Heritage marine sites. This year, the manufacture auctioned a limited series watch in tribute to the legend of divers&apos; watches: the Prototype N&amp;deg;1 of the Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea, &amp;quot;LeCoultre Sp&amp;eacute;cial Am&amp;eacute;rique 1959&amp;quot; commemorative edition.
The winning bid of this years&apos; auction was &amp;pound;16,208 (approximately USD 27,000). The proceeds  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/742</link>
         <author>f.douvere@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Heritage Memory Net Launched</title>
         <description><![CDATA[World Heritage Memory Net (WHMNet) is a model global digital library of cultural, historical, and moveable heritage collections related to the current 911 World Heritage Sites of 151 countries inscribed by the World Heritage Committee. &amp;nbsp;WHMNet is a fast, efficient, cutting-edge, online knowledge base which provides universal access to multilingual, multimedia and multiformat resources on all World Heritage properties from museums, archives, libraries, and world bibliographic and Web  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/740</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Increase in One-horned Rhinoceros reported at Royal Chitwan National Park World Heritage Site (Nepal)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has released the results of its rhinoceros census in Nepal, reporting&amp;nbsp;a reported 23% increase in rhino numbers in this World Heritage site since the last census taken in 2008.&amp;nbsp; Numbers increased from 408 to 503.&amp;nbsp;WWF reports that these numbers reflect the success of conservation efforts for this species and are a result of improved rhino protection measures and management of habitat. For further details, see the WWF report here  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/739</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Expert Working Group releases recommendations for Safeguarding Bamiyan</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Following their meeting in UNESCO Headquarters, Paris 3-4 March 2011, a group of Afghan and international experts working on the safeguarding of Bamiyan (Afghanistan), as well as representatives of the Afghan and Japanese governments and UNESCO, released a list of recommendations for further activities to preserve the Bamiyan site.&amp;nbsp; Bamiyan remains one of the most important examples of Gandharan art in the world, despite the Taleban&apos;s destruction of its two monumental Buddhas in  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/749</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Conclusions of the Second HERITY International Conference</title>
         <description><![CDATA[This conference was held in Rome December 3-5, 2008. The conclusions outlined below were reached thanks to contributions from ICCROM, UNESCO-WHC, UN-WTO, HERITY INTERNATIONAL
Conclusions by the First HERITY Conference (December 5-9, 2006) highlighted that &quot;from the point of view of culture, no poor Countries exist around the World: every territory has a significant and priceless Heritage Wealth. This Heritage constitutes the collective memory of Humanity. As a non renewable resource,  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/737</link>
         <author>herity@dri.it (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO for Haiti. 19 April 2011</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO invites Member States, Intergovernemental Organizations, NGOs, the Private Sector and Civil Society to a Conference designed to demonstrate the importance of culture as a motor for reconstruction in Haiti. The main objective of this conference is to inform the international community&amp;nbsp;about the role of Culture in the Reconstruction of Haiti, the projects undertaken, the needs and the actions that should be developed in the short and medium term. The proposed actions will focus on  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/736</link>
         <author>haiti-coordination@unesco.org (Haiti Coordination )</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Call for applications for the IV&#xb0; edition of the Master in &quot;World Heritage at Work&quot;</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The call for applications for the IV&amp;deg; edition of the Master in &quot;World Heritage at Work&quot;, offered by the University of Turin, the Polytechnic of Turin and the International Training Centre of ILO, in collaboration with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre,&amp;nbsp;is now open. The programme is intended for professionals involved in the management of World Heritage properties&amp;nbsp;and/or professionals and specialists involved in the preservation or promotion of cultural heritage. Four categories  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/734</link>
         <author>worldheritage@itcilo.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Rapid Response Facility Supports Post Tsunami Recovery in Gal&#xe1;pagos</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The devastating March 11th earthquake that struck the coast of Japan created a powerful tsunami that ravaged the&amp;nbsp; coastline and brought tragedy to thousands of people.&amp;nbsp;No World Heritage sites were affected&amp;nbsp;in Japan&amp;nbsp;and the tsunami spread rapidly across the Pacific during the course of the day.&amp;nbsp;Properly warned, the people of Gal&amp;aacute;pagos (13,000 km from Japan) headed for high ground as a series of high waves, more akin to rapidly rising and falling tides, swept  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/733</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>2010 - 2011 World Heritage map now available</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The latest version of the World Heritage Map, produced by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and National Geographic Maps with support from Ministry of Culture of the &amp;nbsp;Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Nations Foundation, can now be ordered for a modest fee from the World Heritage Centre website to recover mailing costs.
The Map is an extremely valuable learning and awareness-raising tool that gives a rich and initial contact with the World Heritage concept, allowing UNESCO to  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/731</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Statement from the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee </title>
         <description><![CDATA[Since the Kingdom of Bahrain&amp;nbsp;became&amp;nbsp;for the first time&amp;nbsp;a member of the prestigious World Heritage Committee in 2007, one of the objectives has been to welcome the distinguished delegates of the States Parties to the Convention in our country.&amp;nbsp;For&amp;nbsp;the last four years, all the Bahraini authorities have been working on the preparation of this exceptional event and we&amp;nbsp;were&amp;nbsp;honoured&amp;nbsp;to&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;be approved by&amp;nbsp;the Committee, at its last session, to  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/735</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Kishore Rao appointed Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Kishore Rao has been appointed Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. An expert in forestry and natural resources policy and planning, Mr Rao has been Deputy Director of the World Heritage Centre since 2005, and has, in addition to overall management and programme coordination responsibilities, led the Centre&apos;s work on natural heritage protection. Mr Rao has Master&apos;s Degrees in Forestry (from India), and in Natural Resources Policy and Planning (from Cornell University, USA) and has  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/732</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Director-General urges military forces engaged in Libya to refrain from endangering cultural heritage </title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today called on both Libya and the coalition of States implementing a no-fly zone over the country to respect the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) and its two (1954 and 1999) Protocols, as appropriate, and keep military operations away from cultural sites.
Of the ten states that make up the coalition involved in the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 (Belgium,  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/730</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Call for Posters on World Heritage Cities and Climate Change for the 11th OWHC World Congress</title>
         <description><![CDATA[In view of the forthcoming 11th World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities in Sintra (Portugal), 22 to 25 November 2011, the OWHC has launched a Call for Posters on the congress theme World Heritage Cities and Climate Change.
This Call addresses all those who are engaged in the conservation and management of a World Heritage City - public servants and administrators, specialized professionals, technical experts and scientists from various fields related to cultural and  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/729</link>
         <author>secretariat@ovpm.org (Kerstin Manz)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Statement of the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Following the kind invitation of the World Heritage Centre, I had the great pleasure to attend the meeting entitled &quot;Follow-up to the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Arab States: Regional Meting for the Elaboration of the Regional Programme&quot;, held in Rabat (Kingdom of Morocco), from 7 to 9 March 2011.
This meeting was a unique opportunity for me, as Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, to participate in the discussions built on the first results of the Periodic Reporting  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/738</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Arab States meeting held to define regional programme</title>
         <description><![CDATA[From 2008 to 2010, the Arab States Parties to the World Heritage Convention undertook the Periodic Reporting exercise, consisting in assessing the implementation of the Convention in their countries and in each of their sites inscribed on the World Heritage List. The Periodic Report was presented to the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in Brasilia, in July 2010, and was warmly welcomed. The next step is now to elaborate a Regional Programme, on the basis of the results of the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/726</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Director-General welcomes suspension of oil prospection at Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that the government of the DRC has suspended prospection for oil at Virunga National Park , inscribed as on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List in 1979.
&amp;quot;I welcome the suspension of exploration activities. This decision constitutes an important step in preserving Virunga, a remarkable site and unique natural  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/727</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>35th session of the World Heritage Committee to meet in Paris in June 2011</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Due to the prevailing situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain and following consultations with Bahraini authorities, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has decided to change the venue of the forthcoming 35th session of the World Heritage Committee from its initially planned location in Bahrain&apos;s capital Manama, to UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
This decision was reached following the declaration of a state of emergency in the country, and the UN Security constraints. The Committee  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/728</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO World Heritage Centre expresses its solidarity with Japanese people following tragic events</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre would like to express its condolences for the loss of lives due to the devastating earthquake and tsunami which occurred near Japan on 11 March.
Immediately following the events, Francesco Bandarin, interim Director of the World Heritage Centre and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, contacted Mr Isao Kiso, Ambassador of Japan to UNESCO, expressing his sympathy for the losses incurred by the disaster and to propose to mobilize emergency  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/724</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Tsunami Spares Galapagos Wildlife, but Destroys Marine Laboratory</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Minor damage has been reported at Gal&amp;aacute;pagos Islands World Heritage site following the earthquake and tsunami that occurred off the coast of Japan on 11 March.&amp;nbsp; The tsunami struck at high tide, and manifested itself as a series of marine surges, rising over 1.7 metres above the normal high water mark, flooding coastal buildings. Residents of Galapagos had been warned and had taken refuge in higher ground - no injuries were reported.&amp;nbsp;
The Galapagos National Park Service  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/725</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>[in French only] Newsletter N&#xb0; 18 de la Convention France UNESCO</title>
         <description><![CDATA[[in French only] Vie de la CFU * R&amp;eacute;union de bilan technique,&amp;nbsp;3 F&amp;eacute;vrier 2011, UNESCO, Paris* Rapport sur les possibilit&amp;eacute;s de financement europ&amp;eacute;en pour les projets cultureles et d&amp;eacute;veloppement&amp;nbsp;Actualit&amp;eacute;s sur l&apos;avancement des projets cfu : * Le projet&amp;nbsp;&amp;laquo; NIGER - LOIRE : Gouvernance et Culture &amp;raquo;&amp;nbsp;se poursuit au Mali* Patrimoine Culturel &amp;amp; D&amp;eacute;veloppement&amp;nbsp;Local&amp;nbsp;: S&amp;eacute;minaire d&apos;&amp;eacute;change  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/787</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Resource Manual &apos;Preparing World Heritage Nominations&apos; available online</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The second title within the World Heritage Resource Manuals Preparing World Heritage Nominations (First Edition, 2010)  series has just been published. It is a joint undertaking by the three Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention (ICCROM, ICOMOS and IUCN) and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The aim of this Resource Manual is to help States Parties to achieve good quality World Heritage nominations.
So far, this manual exists in English and in French. The titles in this series  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/720</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Experts outline future plans for the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Afghan officials and international experts outlined plans for the future safeguarding of the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan) at the end of two meetings at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 2 to 4 of March. The meetings were held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the tragic destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan.
The international experts and Afghan officials - including the Minister of Information and Culture, the Minister  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/719</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Ten years on – remembering the tragic destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan (Afghanistan)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragic destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan with a forum on the event and a two-day experts&apos; meeting which will examine ways to preserve and present to the public the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley.
Ahead of the 10th anniversary, the Director-General, who will open the commemoration at UNESCO Headquarters urged the international community to protect the heritage of humanity from damage or  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/718</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Statement from the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee on the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand </title>
         <description><![CDATA[On behalf of the World Heritage Committee, I was deeply saddened by the news of the earthquake that has caused loss of life and the destruction of the beautiful city of Christchurch.&amp;nbsp; I send my sincere condolences and sympathy to the people of New Zealand.To many of us who were present at the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee in June 2007, we fondly remember the warm welcome of the city of Christchurch and its hospitable people.During that session, New Zealand introduced the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/716</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Sustainable Indicators in World Heritage Urban Areas, Mexico City, Mexico</title>
         <description><![CDATA[A mission was organized from the 30th January - 5th February 2010 in view of strengthening Spanish Funds-in-Trust technical cooperation, focusing on the Spanish Funds-in-Trust programme for indicators of sustainable development at World Heritage Historic Centres. The objectives of the mission were:

Guide the roadmap to finalize the management plan of the city, as requested by the World Heritage Committee;
Evaluate the outcomes of the participatory methodology already applied in  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/717</link>
         <author>n.sanz@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Publication of the Comparative Analysis on Archaeology of Hunter-gatherers. Archaeological sites of the Chinchorro Culture</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The International Meeting &amp;quot;The Chinchorro Culture from a Comparative Perspective &amp;quot;, took place in Arica, Chile,  5-8 January, 2010.
As a result of this meeting the World Heritage Centre is preparing a publication that will work in tandem in support of the process of the preparation of the nomination file of the Archaeological sites of the Chinchorro culture, Chile, focusing on identifying the OUV and the comparative analysis of the nomination. The Publication will include eight  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/713</link>
         <author>n.sanz@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO Special Envoy on Preah Vihear to meet with prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova&apos;s Special Envoy on the Preah Vihear Temple, Ko&amp;iuml;chiro Matsuura, will travel to Bangkok and Phnom Penh between 25 February and 1 March to discuss the safeguarding of the World Heritage site with the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers.
Mr Matsuura, a former Director-General of UNESCO (1999-2009) and a former Chair of the World Heritage Committee (1999), will also examine with both sides ways of reducing tension and promoting dialogue around the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/715</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Lightning damages Pratapur Temple of Kathmandu Valley World Heritage site, Nepal </title>
         <description><![CDATA[Pratapur Temple in the Swayambhu Monument Zone of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage site, Nepal suffered damage from a lightning strike at around 5 a.m. on 14 February, during a sudden thunderstorm.
A team of engineers from the Department of Archaeology of Nepal inspected the temple the following day, and the preliminary report will be available shortly thereafter. Experts from the UNESCO Kathmandu office and the Nepalese Department of Archaeology, as well as other national authorities  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/712</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO Director-General to send Special Envoy to Bangkok and Phnom Penh</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova regretted the continuing tension between Cambodia and Thailand over the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear. &quot;The world&apos;s cultural heritage should never be a cause for conflict,&quot; she said.
She announced that she would shortly send a Special Envoy on a mission of good offices to Bangkok and Phnom Penh, following appropriate consultations with both capitals.
The Director-General also stated that any assessment mission to the Preah Vihear site could only  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/709</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO to send mission to Preah Vihear</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today reiterated her call for calm and restraint around the Temple of Preah Vihear, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008. A border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand caused several deaths and damage to the site in recent days.
&quot;I intend to send a mission to the area as soon as possible to assess the state of the temple,&quot; she said. &quot;World Heritage sites are the heritage of all humanity and the international community has a special  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/708</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Director-General expresses alarm over escalation of violence between Thailand and Cambodia </title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO Director- General Irina Bokova expressed her deep concern at the sudden escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand on the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear, inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Reports indicate that troops on either side have exchanged fire resulting in the loss of life and also some damage to the temple.
The Director-General expresses her distress at this sudden turn of events and calls upon both sides to exercise restraint for the sake of the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/707</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Cultural heritage update for Egypt</title>
         <description><![CDATA[UNESCO&apos;s Director-General Irina Bokova today received assurances from Egypt&apos;s new minister for antiquities Zahi Hawass that every possible measure was being taken to protect Egyptian cultural heritage.
In a telephone conversation, the minister informed Irina Bokova that the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is safe and that the army and firefighters have established a cordon around the building.&amp;nbsp;
The minister also informed the Director-General of two incidents: a break-in at the Egyptian  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/711</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>World Wetlands Day is 2 February</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Secretariat to the World Heritage Convention, wishes to extend its best wishes to the Secretariat for the Ramsar Convention&amp;nbsp;(Convention on Wetlands of International Importance) on World Wetlands Day, celebrating the 40th anniversary of its adoption.&amp;nbsp;Like the World Heritage Convention, the Ramsar Convention is a site-based intergovernmental treaty which encourages countries to identify and manage specific places so that their values and benefits  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/706</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>UNESCO Director-General launches heritage and press freedom alert for Egypt</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today launched an appeal to protect cultural heritage and to respect freedom of expression in Egypt.
&quot;My compassion goes first to the victims of the civil unrest and their families,&quot; said Irina Bokova, deploring the deaths of 190 people during the protests.
The Director-General called on all parties to protect Egyptian cultural heritage, symbol of the country&apos;s identity, and to respect freedom of expression, pillar of democracy. Although the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/710</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Three guards and five soldiers killed in attack at Virunga National Park (DRC)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[On 24 January 2011, three park guards and five soldiers were killed in a violent attack against one of the patrol vehicles of the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) in Virunga National Park. The park is one of five World Heritage sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to ICCN, the ambush took place around 10:00 am in Rutshuru in the region of North Kivu, about 100 km north of the town of Goma. Early reports indicate there were eight victims: three guards of the park and  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/705</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Last Call: Caribbean Heritage Course in Cura&#xe7;ao</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The University of the Netherlands Antilles is organizing a course on Caribbean Heritage in Cura&amp;ccedil;ao from 21 to 25 March 2011 for Module 1 (Application of the World Heritage Convention) and from 28 March to 1 April for Module 5&amp;nbsp;(Management of Historic Cities).
This course is for heritage professionals but also students, researchers, decision makers from the Caribbean region.
Participants must be able to operate on an academic level and be working in the area of conservation,  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/704</link>
         <author>m.newton@monumentenfonds.org (Michael A. Newton, CCBP Curacao Project co ordinator)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Colorado State University (USA) offers Spanish-language course on Protected Area Management</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Applications Open for the Colorado State University Spanish Language Short Course on Protected Area Management.&amp;nbsp; 6 July &amp;ndash; 6 August 2011 
Mayor informaci&amp;oacute;n en espa&amp;ntilde;ol: http://warnercnr.colostate.edu/cpam-course-sp/
More information in English: http://warnercnr.colostate.edu/cpam-course/
&amp;nbsp;Application deadline: February 18, 2011 For over 20 years, CSU has annually put on a flagship short course on protected area management for promising conservationists from  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/703</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Kinshasa Declaration to protect DRC World Heritage sites signed </title>
         <description><![CDATA[At the invitation of the Congolese Government, the high-level meeting requested by the World Heritage Committee in 2007 (Christchurch 2007) was held with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and Congolese Prime Minister Mr Adophe Muzito in attendance.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to exceptional biodiversity and five World Heritage sites: the Garamba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga and Virunga National Parks, as well as the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. These sites have all been on the  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/702</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Rescuing the Congo&apos;s natural world heritage</title>
         <description><![CDATA[A high-level meeting between authorities from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and UNESCO will take place in Kinshasa on 14 January to discuss ways of strengthening&amp;nbsp;protection of the five DRC sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The meeting, organized by the Democratic Republic of Congo and UNESCO, will be chaired by the Prime Minister of DRC Adolphe Muzito and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
The five sites in danger include Virunga, Garamba,  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/700</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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         <title>Two rhinos translocated to Manas Wildlife Sanctuary</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Two rhinos, a mother and a female calf, were translocated on 29 December from the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary to Manas wildlife sanctuary in western Assam, India under the Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 programme, along with WWF-India and the Assam Forest Department.
With this, the rhino population in Manas, a site inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1985, has gone up to seven. The rhino population in this national park was wiped out during a decade-long insurgency, the victim of  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/699</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
   </item>

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         <title>Panasonic World Heritage calendar released in online version</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Panasonic have released an online version of the World Heritage Calendar in five languages. It is available as a website, or as a downloadable stand-alone application or wallpaper.
Featuring stunning photographs of 12 World Heritage sites, the calendar includes informative texts and interesting facts in English, Japanese, French, Chinese and Spanish. There is also a game consisting of matching sites with illustrations related to them on a world map. The  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/698</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
   </item>

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         <title>2011 is the International Year of Forests</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Centre welcomes the International Year of Forests.&amp;nbsp; With 104 WH sites recognized wholly, or in part, for their rich forest biodiversity, the WH Convention is the most effective intergovernmental convention for the in-situ conservation of forest biodiversity.&amp;nbsp;Today, over 760,000 square kilometres&amp;nbsp; (nearly 300,000 square miles), or 1.5 times the surface area of France, or slightly larger that the state of Texas, are strictly protected as World Heritage  ...]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/697</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
   </item>

   <item>
         <title>Best Wishes from the World Heritage Centre 2011 </title>
         <description><![CDATA[Best Wishes from the World Heritage Centre 2011]]></description>
         <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/696</link>
         <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
         <pubDate>Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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