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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>
        <category>World Heritage</category>
        <language>en</language>
        <copyright>Copyright 2020 UNESCO, World Heritage Centre</copyright>
        <docs>http://whc.unesco.org/?cid%3D82%26l%3Den%26date%3D2017%2D09%2D01%26calendarmode%3Dyear%26mode%3Drss</docs>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2020 14:19:05 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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          <title>World Heritage Centre News</title>
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          <link>http://whc.unesco.org/</link>
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      <title>Happy New Year 2018</title>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1771</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sat, 30 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1771</guid>
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      <title>Sweden provides additional support to UNESCO&apos;s Cultural Conventions and freedom of expression</title>
      <description><![CDATA[In addition to its generous annual contributions under the Programme Cooperation Agreement (2014-2017), the Government of Sweden decided in November 2017 to provide additional financial support to UNESCO in the amount of&#xa0; SEK 3,200,000&#xa0; (around USD 400,000) to strengthen the protection of heritage, as well as to promote independent, free and pluralistic media.
The contribution will strengthen the Secretariat&apos;s capacity to support the States Parties in the implementation of the 1972 World  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1768</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1768</guid>
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      <title>‘Delhi Declaration on Heritage and Democracy&apos; adopted at closing session of ICOMOS 19th General Assembly </title>
      <description><![CDATA[The ‘Delhi Declaration on Heritage and Democracy&apos; was adopted at the closing session of the ICOMOS 19th General Assembly in New Delhi, India, on 15th December 2017, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium-Auditorium in New Delhi, India. The Delhi Declaration emphasized the understanding that people&apos;s perspective is central to heritage, and the General Assembly declared that ethical principles have to be developed for heritage. Cultural identities should not be compromised by uniform and insensitive  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1767</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1767</guid>
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      <title>Towards a World Heritage Policy Compendium – First Meeting of Experts takes place at UNESCO Headquarters</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The first meeting of the World Heritage Policy Compendium Working Group took place at UNESCO Headquarters from 6 to 7 December 2017. The Policy Compendium initiative, which will see the development of a consolidated source of World Heritage policies for use by the World Heritage Committee, States Parties and other stakeholders, is being implemented through financial support received from the government of Australia.
The Working Group is composed of representatives of the UNESCO Advisory  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1766</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1766</guid>
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      <title>Inter-Regional Workshop held in Pakistan: &quot;World Heritage and Sustainable Development: The Role of Local Communities”</title>
      <description><![CDATA[An inter-regional workshop entitled &quot;World Heritage and Sustainable Development: the Role of Local Communities” was organized at the National Museum in Karachi, Pakistan (23-24 November 2017) by the World Heritage Centre in close co-operation with the UNESCO office in Islamabad and the Department of Archaeology of the Government of Sindh Province, Pakistan.
The Workshop, opened by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and antiquities of the Government of Sindh and the UNESCO Representative to  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1765</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1765</guid>
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      <title>UNESCO and UNWTO Sign Muscat Declaration on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Culture, in all of its wondrous expressions, inspires more than 1.2 billion tourists to pack a bag and cross international borders each year.&#xa0; It is an important means to promote inter-cultural dialogue, create employment opportunities, curb rural migration, and nurture a sense of pride among host communities. Yet unmanaged, it can also harm the very heritage cultural tourism relies on.
Recognizing that a sustainable, approach with buy-in from all partners, is crucial to cultural tourism,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1763</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1763</guid>
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      <title>Mechtild R&#xf6;ssler, Director of UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre,&#xa0;gives Opening Address at 19th ICOMOS General Assembly</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The triennial meeting of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), taking place in New Delhi, India from 11-15 December 2017, began with the Scientific Council Meeting on 11 December in the India International Centre, New Delhi. The&#xa0;Opening Ceremony of the ICOMOS General Assembly was held on 12 December 2017 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium-Auditorium in New Delhi.
The triennial meeting of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), taking place in New Delhi,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1762</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1762</guid>
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      <title>Message from Mechtild R&#xf6;ssler, Director of UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre, for International Mountain Day  </title>
      <description><![CDATA[International Mountain Day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003 and celebrated on 11 December, highlights the importance of mountains to life on Earth. The theme for 2017, &quot;Mountains under Pressure: climate, hunger, migration”, draws our attention to some of the most critical challenges that mountains and people living in mountain areas are currently facing. It also reiterates roles that the World Heritage Convention is fulfilling in order to safeguard mountain  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1761</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1761</guid>
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      <title>UNESCO World Heritage Centre participates in Annual Meeting of the International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is participating in the Annual Meeting of the International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes in New Delhi, India, on 7–8&#xa0;December 2017, ahead of the 19th ICOMOS General Assembly (11–15 December 2017).
Organized by the International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes ICOMOS-IFLA (ISCCL) and ICOMOS India, this two-day ISCCL Annual Meeting focused on reviewing the activities undertaken during the past year, and on planning a new set of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1760</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1760</guid>
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      <title>Inter-Convention synergy in action</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The first joint STAB/ICOMOS Advisory Mission to a World Heritage property was carried out within the framework of the World Heritage Convention and the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
The World Heritage property &quot;Ancient City of Nessebar&quot; (Bulgaria) hosted an Advisory Mission invited by the Bulgarian authorities and carried out jointly by experts of the UNESCO Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) to the Convention on the Protection of the  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1758</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1758</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Meeting held on Heritage and Environmental Impact Assessment (HIA/EIA)</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 5 December 2017, the World Heritage Centre, Europe and North-America Unit organized a meeting on Heritage and Environmental Impact Assessment (HIA/EIA) at UNESCO Headquarters, with the support of the French Ministry of Ecology. It was a follow up to Decision 39 COM 7.11 on HIA and EIAs adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015) and to the side events organized on the occasion of the 20th session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1759</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (Tournoux Marie-No&#xeb;l)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1759</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>The World Heritage State of Conservation Information System – 5 Successful Years&#xa0;!</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Five years ago, on 5 December 2012, the World Heritage State of Conservation Information System was publicly launched. This database offers a trove of reliable information on the state of conservation of natural and cultural World Heritage properties since 1979 and the threats they have faced in the past, or are currently facing.
The State of Conservation Information System currently proposes over 3.400 reports on 547 World Heritage properties located in 143 States Parties and with close  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1756</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1756</guid>
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      <title>Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict Grants Enhanced Protection to Angkor</title>
      <description><![CDATA[At the request of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, meeting at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris from 29 to 30 November 2017, granted &quot;enhanced protection” status to Angkor, a cultural World Heritage site.&#xa0;&#xa0; Enhanced protection is a mechanism established by the&#xa0;1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (&quot;the 1954 Hague Convention”) aimed at  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1754</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1754</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre welcomes expansion of Mexican ocean reserve</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Mechtild R&#xf6;ssler, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, welcomes the initiative by the Government of Mexico to create a vast ocean reserve spanning 150,000 sq km around the Revillagigedo islands, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016.
The establishment of the reserve follows the request of the World Heritage Committee when inscribing the Archipi&#xe9;lago de Revillagigedo on the World Heritage List, to increase legal protection for the area to extend the no-take zone. The  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1753</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1753</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>South Sudan prepares a conservation and management plan for Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape that considers its potential World Heritage values</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Just a month after the submission of South Sudan&apos;s first ever Tentative List of potential UNESCO World Heritage sites, UNESCO hosted a workshop on 23 November 2017 in Juba in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in order to guide the State Party in the preparation of a conservation and management plan for Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape, which could be used as part of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1751</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1751</guid>
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      <title>The UNESCO World Heritage Centre participates in a workshop on sustainable tourism development in Slovakia: enhancing livelihoods for local communities</title>
      <description><![CDATA[22nd November – 24th NovemberOrganized by the State Nature Conservancy, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Commission for UNESCO and Carpathian Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, this three day workshop focused on the development of sustainable tourism for the UNESCO World Heritage Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. The workshop was an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1750</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1750</guid>
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      <title>Message of the Director of the World Heritage Centre at the occasion of the 45th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 16 November 2017, we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, one of the most powerful international tools for heritage preservation and one of UNESCO&apos;s most successful programmes. Almost universally adopted, with 193 signatory countries, the Convention is unique in combining the protection of cultural and natural heritage in one legal instrument. Since its adoption by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972, the World Heritage List has grown to include 1,073  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1747</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1747</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>World Heritage Committee&apos;s 42nd session to be hosted by Bahrain</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Government of Bahrain, newly elected member of the World Heritage Committee, will host the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee from 24 June to 4 July 2018, in Manama, Bahrain.
The Chair of the Committee, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, is an international lawyer who served as Bahrain&apos;s first female ambassador when she became Ambassador to France (1999 to 2004) and was the third woman to preside at the UN General Assembly. The Rapporteur is Anna E. Zeichner of Hungary.  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1749</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1749</guid>
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      <title>UNESCO welcomes the support for the &quot;No-Go Commitment” in the new investment policy of the Church of England National Investing Bodies</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 6 November 2017, The Church of England National Investing Bodies announced the launch of its new policy on investing in extractive industries: &quot;Extractive Industries: Ethical Investment Policy”. The policy acknowledges the positive contribution than mining can make to development but also highlights the ethical importance of protected areas such as World Heritage Sites and the threats that extractives can pose. The policy identifies particular &quot;ethical risks” in five broad areas: human  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1746</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1746</guid>
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      <title>Twelve new members elected to World Heritage Committee</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The 21st General Assembly of the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention is meeting on 14 and15 November 2017 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, convening the 193 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, under the chairmanship of H.E. Mr Adrian Cioroianu, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Romania to UNESCO.
During the session, the General Assembly elected twelve new members to the World Heritage Committee: Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1748</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1748</guid>
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      <title>World Heritage Volunteers 2018 – Call for Projects</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is pleased to announce the Call for Projects for the World Heritage Volunteers&#xa0;(WHV)&#xa0;Campaign 2018. This Call welcomes the participation of all interested organisations and institutions. In addition, it offers a new opportunity to apply for not only one-year cycle, but also two-year cycle process, with the aim to foster and encourage the commitment to World Heritage.
Join the World Heritage Volunteers Campaign 2018! &quot;Empowering the Commitment to World  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1745</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sat, 11 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1745</guid>
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      <title>UNESCO and Partners stand against Cultural Cleansing and Violent Extremism</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On the occasion of UNESCO&apos;s General Conference, an international high-level panel on 6 November 2017, brought together Ministers from Iraq and Mali, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and international experts to strengthen cooperation in response to cultural cleansing and violent extremism.
Opening the panel, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, highlighted the key role of heritage protection in forging new strategies for peace and social cohesion in  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1744</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1744</guid>
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      <title>International Criminal Court and UNESCO Strengthen Cooperation on the Protection of Cultural Heritage</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Recognizing the importance of protecting cultural heritage from attack in times of conflict, Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, and Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), today signed a Letter of Intent formalizing and further enhancing their collaboration.
The signing of the Letter of Intent took place in the margins of an international high-level panel on &quot;Responding to Cultural Cleansing, Preventing Violent Extremism” at UNESCO Headquarters, in  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1742</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1742</guid>
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      <title>Oil and gas industry body recommends companies to take into consideration the &quot;no go commitment” in a new report</title>
      <description><![CDATA[In a recent publication on the &#xa0;SDG, the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) recognizes that many World Heritage sites are impacted by industrial activities and operations, including oil and gas exploration and extraction.&#xa0; The report on Mapping the oil and gas industry to the Sustainable Development Goals: an Atlas was co-authored with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Finance Cooperation (IFC).
The report  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1741</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Nov 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1741</guid>
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      <title>UNESCO and the Principality of Monaco sign strategic partnership in favour of Marine World Heritage</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Paris, 1 November 2017 – The Principality of Monaco announced the signature of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the activities of the World Heritage Marine Programme. The announcement follows an initial cooperation earlier this year that led to the identification of potential new World Heritage marine sites in the Arctic region.
The UNESCO World Heritage List currently includes 49 marine sites, distributed across 37 countries, recognized for their unique marine biodiversity,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1740</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 01 Nov 2017 16:30:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1740</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Heritage experts meet to examine update of World Heritage policy on climate change</title>
      <description><![CDATA[An international expert workshop took place from 16 to 20 October 2017 at the International Academy for Nature Conservation in the Baltic Sea island of Vilm, in Germany, to discuss the challenges posed by climate change to the conservation and management of World Heritage sites. The meeting was funded by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and organized in cooperation with IUCN, ICOMOS, ICCROM and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
The meeting brought together 20 international  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1736</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1736</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>World Heritage Committee launches Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 10 July 2017, during its 41st session in Krakow, Poland, the World Heritage Committee officially launched the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting while also adopting the revised format of the Periodic Reporting questionnaire and endorsing the recommendations of the Periodic Reporting Reflection Expert Group.
The decision taken by the Committee sets out the timetable for reporting in each region, which will begin with the Arab States in 2018 (report to the Committee 2020), followed by  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1735</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1735</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Convention (BLG) gathers to discuss ways to join forces</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 28-29 September 2017, the Heads of eight bio-diversity-related Conventions, known as the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions (BLG), met at FAO Headquarters to discuss ways to join forces in support of global biodiversity and sustainable development agendas.
&quot;We all recognize that the loss of biodiversity has clear ramifications for global food security and nutrition,” said Ren&#xe9; Castro Salazar, FAO Assistant Director-General for Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1734</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1734</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>UNESCO and ICCROM Join Forces to Protect Cultural Heritage</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Paris - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) signed a landmark agreement on Friday 13 October in a new effort to address mounting threats to cultural properties worldwide.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at UNESCO&apos;s Paris headquarters, the two agencies agreed to intensify efforts to implement the 1972 World Heritage  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1738</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1738</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>South Sudan overcomes challenges of ongoing conflict to designate potential World Heritage sites</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 3 October 2017, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of South Sudan submitted three heritage sites to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to be included on its first ever Tentative List of potential World Heritage sites: Sudd Wetlands (Mixed Natural/Cultural site); Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape (Natural site); and DeimZubier Slave Route Site (Cultural site).

Following its ratification of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 2016,&#xa0;South Sudanhas been working  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1737</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 15 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1737</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>UNESCO technical meeting and International Symposium on &quot;The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues: Technical Considerations and Potential Effects on Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value” </title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 27-30 September 2017, UNESCO, together with the Government of Afghanistan and Tokyo University of the Arts, convened a three-day closed technical meeting followed by a public Symposium in Tokyo, Japan, entitled &quot;The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues: Technical Considerations and Potential Effects on Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value”. Funded by the Government of Japan within the framework of the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust for the Safeguarding of the Bamiyan Buddha Niches  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1733</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1733</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Call for Applications for Mediterranean Cultural Projects 2018</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The&#xa0;Marc de Montalembert grant - 7000 euros - helps young people&#xa0;from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and below 28&#xa0;years of age to undertake a project corresponding to a personal&#xa0;vocation and dedicated to the cultures or arts and crafts of the&#xa0;Mediterranean.&#xa0;Since 1994 the Foundation has provided financial support to 27 projects undertaken by young grant winners from 8 Mediterranean countries. Projects have been realized in the following fields : creative writing, architecture,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1732</link>
      <author>montalembert@fondationmdm.com (Fondation Marc de Montalembert)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1732</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>UNESCO and the State Hermitage Museum join forces to protect heritage in conflict areas</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 9 October, Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, and Prof. Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovskiy, General Director of the State Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation), signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the protection and restoration of cultural property in conflict areas, notably in the Middle East.
Under this agreement, the State Hermitage Museum will provide support for the assessment of damage to cultural property, the devising of operational plans for  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1731</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1731</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Georgian delegation visits UNESCO&apos;s Headquarters and World Heritage properties in France</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From 17 to 23 September 2017, UNESCO welcomed representatives from Georgia to discuss protection of World Heritage properties. The tour was part of a Technical Assistance project by UNESCO to Georgia within the framework of the Agreement signed between UNESCO and Georgia in 2015. This Cultural heritage advisory service by UNESCO is implemented with financial support from the World Bank.
The visit began with a discussion at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and continued with visits to World  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1729</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1729</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Ramsar and World Heritage: lasting cooperation to foster conservation</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Gland, Switzerland – Conservation of cultural and natural values can highly benefit from dual designations under the Ramsar and World Heritage conventions, finds a new report released today. &quot;Ramsar and World Heritage Conventions converging towards success” illustrates through six case studies the benefits and challenges of managing wetland ecosystems and gives examples on how community participation contributes to positive conservation of both natural and cultural heritage. The case  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1709</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 05 Oct 2017 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1709</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Conservation completed on Lion of Al-lāt statue from ancient city of Palmyra, damaged by ISIL</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The 2000-year old statue Lion of Al-lāt, that once watched over the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, stands proudly once again, thanks to UNESCO&apos;s Emergency Safeguarding of the Syrian Cultural Heritage project.
The limestone lion, also known as the Lion Statue of Athena, measuring 345 centimetres and weighing 15 tons, once marked and protected the entrance to the temple of Al-lāt. Since its discovery by Polish archaeologists in 1977, it has been a renowned fixture of the Museum of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1727</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 05 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1727</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>&quot;World Heritage Coral Reefs” Exhibit opens in Paris</title>
      <description><![CDATA[3 October 2017 – A stunning exhibit of the world&apos;s most iconic coral reef systems opened today at the Aquarium of Paris. The display sheds light on the condition of these coral reef systems inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List. Through a series of photos, virtual reality experiences, films and educational activities for children, the exhibit will raise awareness of the unique diversity of these reefs and the impacts of climate change on them.
Since 1972, the UNESCO World Heritage  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1713</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1713</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Youth from Caribbean SIDS and Central American Countries Develop Tourist Guides for Coiba National Park in Panama</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Fourteen young people, with common interests in marine biodiversity and climate change, developed two tourist guides for the Coiba National Park in Panama, in the framework of the World Heritage Youth Project on Marine Biodiversity and Climate Change that was organized in January 2016 by the World Heritage Centre in cooperation with MarViva Foundation.
The creation of tourist guides was initiated by the participants during the activities carried out under the youth project. Afterwards,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1723</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1723</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>[in French only] Atelier r&#xe9;gional sur le processus de proposition d&apos;inscription de sites culturels sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial</title>
      <description><![CDATA[[in French only] Le Centre du patrimoine mondial de l&apos;UNESCO, et l&apos;Organisation arabe pour l&apos;&#xe9;ducation, la culture et les sciences (ALECSO), ont organis&#xe9; un atelier de formation pour les pays du Maghreb sur le processus de pr&#xe9;paration de proposition d&apos;inscription sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial, &#xe0; Djerba en Tunisie du 11 au 15 septembre 2017.
Cet atelier r&#xe9;gional a &#xe9;t&#xe9; rendu possible gr&#xe2;ce au soutien du Centre r&#xe9;gional arabe pour la protection du patrimoine mondial (ARC-WH) et &#xe0; la  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1724</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1724</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Message from the Director of the World Heritage Centre on World Tourism Day</title>
      <description><![CDATA[World Tourism Day is an opportunity to recognize the importance of sustainable tourism as a tool for intercultural dialogue, peace building and economic development. The United Nations&apos; International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 has focused its efforts on promoting tourism as a catalyst for positive change.
For UNESCO, tourism presents both opportunities and challenges. With more than 1.2 billion people travelling across borders each year, World Heritage sites,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1722</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1722</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>State of conservation of the World Heritage Property &quot;Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites&quot; (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Centre has received numerous messages from citizens and NGOs expressing their concerns regarding the announcement by the United Kingdom&apos;s government of the preferred route and tunnel, to widen the highway A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down that runs across the World Heritage property &quot;Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites”.
The World Heritage Centre is fully informed of the concerns raised by the citizens&apos; campaign and the state of conservation of the property is  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1717</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1717</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Working across borders to protect Eastern Tropical Pacific gems</title>
      <description><![CDATA[For decades, UNESCO has worked to protect cultural and natural treasures on land and sea by facilitating cooperation across borders. World Heritage is built on the premise that some places are so special that all of humankind should work together to protect them.
This spirit of international cooperation has been evident among World Heritage marine sites in the Eastern Tropical Pacific for years. This region that stretches from Mexico to the northern tip of Peru is home to whales, turtles,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1718</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1718</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Ministries and customary owners discuss future East Rennell World Heritage site</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From 16 to 18 August 2017, about 80 people met in Honiara, Solomon Islands, to discuss the future of the East Rennell World Heritage site. The Government, together with the customary owners, is currently striving toward the removal of the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger by 2021. This meeting was a first step to discuss the future work plan with heads of Ministries, local communities and international partners. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is supporting this  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1719</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1719</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Preliminary evaluations undertaken following earthquakes in Mexico</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Another earthquake struck the region of Oaxaca, Mexico on Saturday 23 September, further devastating a region where more than 400 people have been killed by two other powerful earthquakes this month.
The Mexican authorities are carrying out coordinated actions at the federal, state and municipal levels and with the inhabitants of the affected regions to prepare a comprehensive and precise report of damage to buildings with historic and cultural value.
For the time being, preliminary  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1716</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1716</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>UNESCO&apos;s Director General calls on all parties to cease violence and to protect the World Heritage Site of Sabratha in Libya</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 21 September, UNESCO was informed by several sources that military action is intensifying within and around the Archaeological Site of Sabratha in Libya, inscribed on the World Heritage List since 1982. According to reports, military action is growing within and around the property.
In view of this situation, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, calls on all parties to cease violence and ensure the protection of Sabratha&apos;s invaluable cultural heritage, including its  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1714</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1714</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO Convenes International Symposium on &quot;The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues: Technical Considerations and Potential Effects on Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value”&#xa0;</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 27-29 September 2017, UNESCO will convene a three-day technical symposium in Tokyo, Japan, entitled &quot;The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues: Technical Considerations and Potential Effects on Authentic and Outstanding Universal Value”. This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the potential reconstruction of the Buddha statues in the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan), which were destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban Regime.
Following the intentional destruction of the Buddha statues,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1715</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (Masanori Nagaoka)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1715</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Director of World Heritage Centre&apos;s Message on the occasion of European Heritage Days 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Since 1984, the European Heritage Days have provided an open access to cultural heritage, allowing anyone and everyone to get involved with the continent&apos;s rich past - from chateaux to archives, 17,000 monuments and sites will open their doors, with 25,000 different events happening. The European Heritage Days are the most widely celebrated participatory cultural events shared by the citizens of Europe.
The World Heritage Centre takes this opportunity to commend the commitment of the  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1710</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1710</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Assessment of damage from hurricane Irma&#xa0;to cultural heritage&#xa0;underway</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The UNESCO Heritage division&#xa0;extends its condolences to the residents of the Caribbean islands struck by hurricane Irma between 5 and 11 September 2017, for the loss of human lives and the hardship resulting from the devastation.
The first priority after such a disaster is always rescuing people and providing humanitarian aid. Following that, UNESCO is in close contact with local authorities, assisting with efforts to assess damage to cultural heritage in the region and supporting initial  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1711</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1711</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Workshop on the South Asian Silk Roads Serial Transnational World Heritage Nomination Process </title>
      <description><![CDATA[About 60 participants from China, Nepal, ICOMOS and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre participated in a Workshop on the South Asian Silk Roads Serial Transnational World Heritage Nomination Process, Xi&apos;an, China, 5-7 September 2017 organised by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) of China, Xi&apos;an Municipal People&apos;s Government and the ICOMOS International Conservation Center-Xi&apos;an (IICC Xi&apos;an).
This was a follow-up activity to the Kathmandu  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1708</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1708</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Ugandan youth are at the centre of the reconstruction process at Kasubi Tombs World Heritage Site in Danger</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Following the fire that ravaged the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi World Heritage property in 2010, the site was added to the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger.
The local community of the Buganda Kingdom have been working hand-in-hand with the Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities with support from UNESCO to rebuild the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga building, which houses the four tombs of the Buganda Kings and is considered an architectural masterpiece. The training of youth  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1752</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1752</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>The Netherlands Funds-in-Trust to UNESCO supports the development of a Management Plan for Boma National Park in South Sudan</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Following its ratification of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 2016, South Sudan is now preparing its Tentative List of World Heritage sites, which includes Boma National Park.
The Netherlands Funds-in-Trust to UNESCO&#xa0;has granted USD 32,000 to the Republic of South Sudan to support the development and finalisation of a conservation and management plan for Boma National Park in view of its future inclusion on South Sudan&apos;s&#xa0;Tentative List&#xa0;as well as its potential future World Heritage  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1707</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1707</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Central Asian Sub regional meeting (13-14 September 2017) and training-workshop (12-20 September 2017)  along the Silk Roads in Central Asia, Uzbekistan</title>
      <description><![CDATA[In the framework of the 2nd phase of the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust project on &quot;Support for Documentation Standards and Procedures of the Silk Roads World Heritage Serial and Transnational Nomination in Central Asia”, the World Heritage Centre and the UNESCO Office in Tashkent in cooperation with the Principal Department for the Preservation and Utilization of Cultural Objects of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan will organize a sub-regional meeting and on-site  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1705</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1705</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Another fire at the historical Museum&apos;s crafts centre of the Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin)</title>
      <description><![CDATA[During the night of 28 to 29 August, a fire broke out in the crafts centre of the historical Museum of Abomey, located within the Royal Palaces of Abomey&apos;s court, destroying numerous stands of craftsmen.
The fire was caused by a short circuit around 1:30 am in the crafts centre of the historical Museum of Abomey. It destroyed thirteen of the twenty-eight stands intended for the exhibition and sale of crafts, whereas the museum space as well as the museum&apos;s collections were fortunately not  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1704</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Sep 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1704</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>International Workshop on Heritage Impact Assessments for Qhapaq &#xd1;an, Andean Road System, Santiago de Chile, 7-10 August 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Within the framework of the project &quot;Support to the reinforcement of the participative management structure of the Qhapaq &#xd1;an, Andean Road System”, a workshop entitled &quot;Heritage Impact Assessments International Workshop” took place in Santiago de Chile from 7 to 10 August 2017. This meeting organized by &#xa0;the National Center of World Heritage Sites of the National Subdivision of Heritage Management of the Directorate of Libraries, Archives and Museums, counted with the support of the UNESCO  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1703</link>
      <author>c.moreno-triana@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1703</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre deplores the death of Wayne Lotter, renowned elephant conservationist and anti-poaching activist</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Centre has learned with great sadness of the recent passing &#xa0;of Wayne Lotter, courageous defender of natural heritage and wildlife, who was attacked by a gunman in Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) on 16 August 2017. &#xa0;The Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Dr. Mechtild R&#xf6;ssler, presents her sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the renowned elephant conservationist and anti-poaching activist.
&quot;The death of Wayne Lotter is a great loss for the  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1702</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 22 Aug 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1702</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Third Meeting of European World Heritage Associations, 5 and 6 October 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The 3rd Meeting of European World Heritage Associations will take place in the Hanseatic City of L&#xfc;beck from 5 to 6 October 2017. It is being organized by the German World Heritage Sites Association, the German Commission for UNESCO and L&#xfc;beck &amp;amp; Travem&#xfc;nde Marketing GmbH, and features as its theme&#xa0;&quot;Sharing World Heritage”.
Following the launch of the initiative in Strasbourg in 2015 and its successful continuation in Segovia in 2016, the third meeting aims to further consolidate this  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1700</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 22 Aug 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1700</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Reactive Monitoring Mission to &quot;Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve&quot;</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 12 August 2017, a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring&#xa0;mission arrived on Wrangel Island (Russian Federation). Together with Herald Island and a vast ocean territory, Wrangel Island forms part of the World Heritage property&#xa0;&quot;Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve”, which is the northernmost site inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO headed the mission at the invitation of the Russian Federation. In  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1701</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Aug 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1701</guid>
    </item>
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      <title>Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Youth Day</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Youth Building Peace
The world has never been so young and it is getting younger every day. The development of any society depends on how well it nurtures its young women and men, how well they are supported.
In 2015, there were 1.2 billion young people in the world, and more than 600 million lived in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Young people carry the heaviest burdens of conflict and violence -- they are also essential for any lasting solution leading to peace.
We have  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1698</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sat, 12 Aug 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1698</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>World Heritage Centre expresses condolences for victims of earthquake in China</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Director of the World Heritage Centre expresses her deep condolences at the loss of lives and destructions caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck China&apos;s southwestern province of Sichuan on Tuesday 8 August.
According to initial reports, the epicentre of the earthquake in southwestern Sichuan province was in the mountainous Jiuzhaigou County, which includes the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area&#xa0;World Heritage property.
While the impact of the earthquake  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1699</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Aug 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1699</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day of the World&apos;s Indigenous Peoples</title>
      <description><![CDATA[This year, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the landmark UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. This is an opportunity to honour the rights of indigenous peoples and their unique contribution to achieving mutual understanding, peace and sustainable development. Indigenous peoples are custodians and practitioners of unique cultures and relationships with the natural environment. They embody a wide range of linguistic and cultural diversity at the heart of our shared humanity.  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1697</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 09 Aug 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1697</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Tubbataha Reefs protected from international shipping impacts</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (Philippines) has been officially designated as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)—and an &quot;area to be avoided”—by the International Maritime Organization. The endorsement is a major breakthrough, as it will require international vessels to avoid the World Heritage site, reducing&#xa0;the impact of noise and pollution, and decreasing the risk of future ship groundings. This is the result of years of collaboration between the IMO and the Government of the  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1696</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Jul 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1696</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>State of Conservation of &quot;Białowieża Forest”</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the last several months, the World Heritage Centre has received numerous messages from citizens and NGOs expressing their concerns regarding logging activities within the Polish part of the transboundary World Heritage property &quot;Białowieża Forest” (Belarus/Poland).
The competent authorities of the State Party of Poland as well as the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Body IUCN are fully informed of&#xa0;the concerns raised by recent campaigns. The logging activities are being very  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1695</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1695</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Close of World Heritage Committee session in Krakow, after inscription of 21 new sites on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Krakow, Poland, 12 July—The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Krakow since 2 July, closed its annual session today. During the session, the Committee inscribed 21 new sites on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List. It also extended or modified the boundaries of five sites already on the List.
The new inscriptions bring to 1,073 the total number of sites on the World Heritage List. Angola and Eritrea saw their first sites joint the List during the present session.
The Committee furthermore added  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1694</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Jul 2017 13:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1694</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Partners for World Heritage meet in Krakow during 41st Committee Session</title>
      <description><![CDATA[A World Heritage partners event and panel discussion, sponsored by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, took place on the 7th&#xa0;of July in Krakow on the occasion of the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee.
The Partners&apos; event, for the fourth consecutive year, provided a platform for discussing private sector partners&apos; contributions to World Heritage conservation and promotion activities. Private sector companies, foundations and institutional partners shared experiences and  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1693</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Jul 2017 11:56:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1693</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Gelati Monastery, Georgia, removed from UNESCO&apos;s List of World Heritage in Danger</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Krakow, Poland, 10 July—The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Krakow since 2 July, has decided to remove Georgia&apos;s Gelati Monastery from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
A decision adopted on Sunday, introduced a major reduction in the boundaries of the Georgian site of f Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1994 and on the List in Danger in 2010. The new boundaries exclude Bagrati Cathedral, which has undergone major reconstruction  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1692</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Jul 2017 13:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1692</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Three new sites and two extensions added to UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Krakow, Poland, 9 July—The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Krakow since 2 July, this afternoon ended the inscription of sites on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List with the final addition of three cultural sites in Brazil, Turkey and the United Kingdom, and the approval of the extensions of Strasbourg: from Grande-&#xee;le to Neustadt, a European urban scene (France) and The Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau (Germany).
The sites added, in order of inscription, are:
Aphrodisias  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1691</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 09 Jul 2017 20:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1691</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Eight new sites inscribed on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee meeting in Krakow since 2 July today inscribed cultural sites in Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Poland, and the Russian Federation, along with one that spans Croatia, Italy and Montenegro.
The sites added, in order of inscription are:
Historic City of Yazd (Islamic Republic of Iran)
The City of Yazd is located in the middle of the Iranian plateau, 270 kilomtres southeast of Isfahan, close to the Spice and Silk Roads. It bears living testimony to the use of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1689</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 09 Jul 2017 15:15:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1689</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>‘Marketplace for World Heritage&apos; launched at an event held during the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 7 July, the new donor platform Marketplace for World Heritage went live on the World Heritage Centre website. The webpage was launched at an event held during the 41st World Heritage Committee, which is currently taking place in Krakow, Poland.
Participants attending the World Heritage Committee were invited to explore this innovative new platform, which showcases global priority projects and helps donors find relevant opportunities to target their funding and see real impacts. This  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1690</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 09 Jul 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1690</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Sites in Cambodia, China and India added to UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Krakow, Poland, 8 July—The World Heritage Committee this afternoon inscribed three cultural sites in Cambodia, China and India.
The sites added, in order of inscription are:
Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura (Cambodia)
The archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk, &quot;the temple in the richness of the forest” in the Khmer language, has been identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the Chenla Empire that flourished in the late 6th and early 7th centuries  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1688</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sat, 08 Jul 2017 19:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1688</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Three sites in Angola, Eritrea and South Africa added to UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee this morning inscribed three cultural sites in Angola, Eritrea and South Africa. With these inscriptions, Angola and Eritrea make their first entries to the World Heritage List.
The sites added, in order of inscription are:
Mbanza Kongo, vestiges of the capital of the former Kingdom of Kongo (Angola)
The town of Mbanza Kongo, located on a plateau at an altitude of 570 metres, was the political and spiritual capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, one of the largest  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1687</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sat, 08 Jul 2017 14:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1687</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>World Heritage Committee inscribes three natural sites and one extension on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Krakow, Poland, 7 July—The World Heritage Committee, in this afternoon&apos;s session, inscribed natural sites in Argentina and China on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List as well as a transboundary site in Mongolia and the Russian Federation. It also approved the extension of the World Heritage site of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany, which now stretches over 12 countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Romania,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1686</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jul 2017 20:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1686</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>World Heritage Committee inscribes new site and approves extension of existing site on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee meeting in Krakow has inscribed Hebron / Al Khalil Old town (Palestine) and W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (Benin, Burkina Faso) on the World Heritage List during its morning session. The Committee simultaneously added the site of Hebron / Al Khalil to the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The new sites in order of inscription are:
Hebron / Al Khalil Old town&#xa0;(Palestine)
The use of a local limestone shaped the construction of the old town of Hebron / Al-Khalil  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1685</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1685</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Historic Centre of Vienna inscribed on List of World Heritage in Danger</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Krakow, Poland, 6 July—The World Heritage Committee has inscribed the Historic Centre of Vienna on List of World Heritage in Danger due to high-rise projects in the middle of the Austrian capital.
In its decision, the Committee regrets that the Vienna Ice-Skating Club—Intercontinental Hotel project fails to comply fully with previous Committee decisions, notably concerning the height of new constructions, which will impact adversely the outstanding universal value of the site.
Vienna  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1684</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Jul 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1684</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Ethiopian World Heritage site, Simien National Park no longer in danger</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Krakow, Poland, 4 July—The World Heritage Committee meeting in Krakow has decided to remove Simien National Park from the List of World Heritage in Danger in recognition of improvements in its management and of measures taken to reduce overgrazing and visitor impact.
The World Heritage Committee welcomed Ethiopia&apos;s commitment in building an alternative road to alleviate the disturbance of traffic on the main road that crosses the property, reduce cattle overgrazing and visitor impact. The  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1683</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jul 2017 18:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1683</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>The World Heritage site of Como&#xe9; National Park in C&#xf4;te d&apos;Ivoire no longer in danger</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Krakow, Poland, 4 July—The World Heritage Committee meeting in Krakow since 2 July has decided to take Como&#xe9; National Park, the Ivorian World Heritage site, off the List of World Heritage in Danger following improvements in the conservation of its fauna and habitat.
In its decision, the World Heritage Committee congratulated C&#xf4;te d&apos;Ivoire for its work to fight poaching. It noted that populations of iconic species such as elephants and chimpanzees that were thought to have disappeared from  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1682</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jul 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1682</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Annual Meeting of World Heritage Committee opens in Krakow</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The opening ceremony of the 41st&#xa0;session of the World Heritage Committee took place on 2 July at the Royal Palace of Wawel in Krakow, Poland, in the presence of nearly 1,000 people, among them the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and other leading personalities. The Committee will be in session until 12 July.
Notable speakers at the opening included the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, the Chairperson of UNESCO&apos;s Executive Board, Michael Worbs, the Mayor of Krakow, Jacek  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1681</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jul 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1681</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Almaty Manifesto on Sustainable Tourism Adopted During Silk Roads Sub-Regional Meeting</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Central Asian Silk Roads sub-regional meeting &quot;Reinforcement of Sub-Regional Management Coordination and Knowledge: Sustainable Tourism and Development Initiatives”, was held in Almaty on 24 May 2017 and fifty participants attended.
The participants came from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and included experts, representatives and officers in the field of heritage management, sustainable tourism, national parks, along with representatives of the National Commissions  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1679</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1679</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>New Publication: The Application of the Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) in Cuenca, Ecuador </title>
      <description><![CDATA[&quot;The application of the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape in Cuenca, Ecuador - A New Approach to Cultural and Natural heritage” collects the research project &quot;Reassessment of the cultural and natural heritage of the city of Cuenca departing from sustainable development strategies supported by the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape” (PUH_C project). This project was&#xa0;jointly undertaken by the University of Cuenca, Municipality of Cuenca and the World Heritage  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1678</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1678</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title> World Heritage Young Professional Forum 2017 launched in Poland</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Under the theme &amp;lt;Memory: Lost and Recovered Heritage&amp;gt;, the World Heritage Young Professional Forum 2017 was launched in Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland on 25 June. 32 selected participants from 32 different countries will take the opportunity to visit Warsaw and Krakow during 25 June to 4 July 2017,&#xa0; to exchange ideas, contribute to the discussions and immerse themselves in topics within the scope of lost and recovered heritage.
The opening ceremony started with a short documentary  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1677</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1677</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>International Workshop on Preservation of Stone Structures of Qhapaq &#xd1;an, Ecuador</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The international workshop &quot;Strengthening of the capacities of national and local teams in the preservation of the stone structures of Qhapaq &#xd1;an” was held from 21 to 23 June 2017 in the municipality of Alaus&#xed;, Ecuador. The workshop was the second activity conducted within the framework of the project &quot;Support of the strengthening of the participatory management system of the Qhapaq &#xd1;an, Andean Road System”, supported by UNESCO and the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of World  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1712</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Jun 2017 13:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1712</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Assessment: World Heritage coral reefs likely to disappear by 2100 unless CO2 emissions drastically reduce</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Today, UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre released the first global scientific assessment of climate change impacts on World Heritage coral reefs. Soaring ocean temperatures in the past three years have subjected 21 of 29 World Heritage reefs to severe and/or repeated heat stress, and caused some of the worst bleaching ever observed at iconic sites like the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Papahānaumokuākea (USA), the Lagoons of New Caledonia (France) and Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles). The analysis  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1676</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1676</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>The Director-General of UNESCO deplores the destruction of the Al Hadba Minaret and Al Nuree Mosque in Mosul</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, deplores the destruction of the Al Nuree Mosque and Al Hadba Minaret in Mosul.
&quot;The Al Hadba Minaret and Al Nuree Mosque in Mosul were among the most iconic sites in the city, and stood as a symbol of identity, resilience and belonging. When Daesh targeted the mosque and minaret a few month ago, the people of Mosul formed a human chain to protect the site, proving once again that the protection of heritage cannot be delinked from the protection  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1675</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1675</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>World Heritage Committee to Meet in Krakow, Poland, from 2 to 12 July</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Committee will assess the nomination of 34 sites for inscription on UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage List during its 41st session, which will be chaired by Jacek Purchla, founder and director of the International Cultural Centre in Krakow, the Polish city that will host the session from 2 to 12 July.
This year&apos;s nominations for inscription on the World Heritage List number seven natural sites, one mixed (i.e. both natural and cultural) and 27 cultural sites.
The Committee will  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1673</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1673</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>2017 State of conservation reports now publicly accessible online</title>
      <description><![CDATA[At its 41st session to be held in Krakow, Poland, from 2 to 12 July 2017, the World Heritage Committee will examine the state of conservation of 154 World Heritage properties.&#xa0; The full reports on these properties are now publicly available through the World Heritage Centre&apos; State of conservation Information System at the following Web address:&#xa0;https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc
As part of the Reactive Monitoring process for properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and on the List of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1672</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1672</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Nakhon Phanom Statement on World Heritage of Religious Interest in Asia-Pacific Region</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From 17 to 19 May 2017, thanks to the support of the Thai Government, the International Consultation Workshop on World Heritage of Religious Interest focused on Asia-Pacific Region was organized within the framework of the UNESCO Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest.
The meeting was attended by the States Parties&apos; representatives from Kingdom of Bhutan, People&apos;s Republic of China, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People&apos;s Democratic Republic, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1671</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1671</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Children call on world leaders to save the ocean, launch #My Ocean Pledge campaign at World Oceans Day event </title>
      <description><![CDATA[New York, NY – 8 June.&#xa0;HSH Prince Albert of Monaco II was the first to sign The Ocean Pledge launched by youth from UNESCO World Heritage Marine sites at the United Nations. He was joined by, Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO as well as Adrian Grenier United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment.
The pledge, which reads ‘I pledge to protect the ocean for future generations&apos; was also signed by a representative from the government of Australia among other  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1669</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 08 Jun 2017 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1669</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>World Heritage Centre Statement on the Greater Blue Mountains Area</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Centre has taken due note of the concerns expressed by various stakeholders concerning the Western Sydney Airport project, located in the vicinity of the World Heritage property ‘Greater Blue Mountains Area (Australia) and appreciates their commitment to the safeguarding of World Heritage.
In the framework of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, and in line with its Operational Guidelines, we have been following this matter since early 2015, in close collaboration with  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1670</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1670</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5 June 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Connecting People with Nature
It may seem hard to believe now, but, fifty years ago, it was thought the best way to protect nature was to make it off-limits to the human population…
Today, we know better.
We now know that the closer the relationship between people and their natural environment the more likely people are to appreciate the importance of nature and its biodiversity, heritage and water, for their personal well-being and the planet&apos;s future.
This spirit guides all UNESCO&apos;s  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1668</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Jun 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1668</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Symposium &quot;Rallying for the protection of culture and heritage in SIDS under a sustainable 21st-century climate change agenda”</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From 29 to 31 May 2017, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES) of Jamaica, in cooperation with UNESCO Kingston and the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, hosted a three-day Symposium and workshop on the impacts of climate change on World Heritage in the Caribbean under the theme &quot;Rallying for the protection of culture and heritage in SIDS under a sustainable 21st-century climate change agenda.&quot;
In the Caribbean sub-region, hurricanes, prolonged periods of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1667</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 31 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1667</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Completion of the Testing Phase of the Revised Format of the Periodic Reporting Questionnaire</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From April to May 2017, the World Heritage Centre carried out a Testing Phase of the revised format of the Periodic Reporting questionnaire. Over 40 State Parties volunteered to test the revised questionnaire for content and usability. Feedback collected during this exercise is being used in the finalization of the revised questionnaire, prior to the presentation of its format to the World Heritage Committee during its 41st session (2-12 July 2017, Krak&#xf3;w, Poland).
Periodic Reporting  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1650</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 28 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1650</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Workshop held for the &quot;Formulation of the axes of the plan for safeguarding the intangible heritage associated to Qhapaq &#xd1;an”</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From 24 to 26 May 2017, in La Paz, Bolivia, in the framework of the project &quot;Support to the reinforcement of the participative management structure of the Qhapaq &#xd1;an, Andean Road System” and with the financial support of UNESCO/ Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism of Bolivia, organized&#xa0;the international workshop for the &quot;Formulation of the axes of the plan for safeguarding the intangible heritage associated to  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1674</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 28 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1674</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism
For more than 70 years, UNESCO has been working to foster scientific knowledge and cooperation on biodiversity and ecosystems, such as tropical forests, oceans, mountains. In recent years, the effect of human activities -- magnified by population growth and global climate change -- has reduced deeply biodiversity in ecosystems around the world. We need to join forces and find new ways to protect and promote biodiversity as our shared heritage, and a  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1666</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1666</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, 21 May 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Just as natural diversity is vital to sustain ecosystems, cultural diversity is the lifeblood of vibrant societies. Cultural diversity provides fresh ideas and perspectives that enrich our lives in countless ways, allowing us all to grow and thrive together. A culturally diverse classroom is not only more inclusive, it boosts student learning and achievement. A culturally diverse workplace is not only more innovative, it is also more productive and economically profitable.
Today is an  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1662</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 21 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1662</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Mission to Potos&#xed;, Bolivia for eventual removal from List of World Heritage in Danger </title>
      <description><![CDATA[In the framework of the implementation of Decision 40 COM 7A.1 adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session (Istanbul, 2016), a Technical Advisory Mission was conducted by UNESCO World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS International, in support of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, from the 8 to the 11 May 2017.
The World Heritage Committee inscribed the City of Potos&#xed; on the World Heritage List in 1987 for its historical value as an outstanding example of major silver mine  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1665</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1665</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO Celebrates International Museum Day with the Global Museum Community</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Celebrated each May, this year&apos;s International Museum Day theme, &quot;Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums”, highlights the essential role of museums as promotors of the free flow of ideas and knowledge, contributing to a more informed society.
As part of its International Museum Day celebrations, UNESCO is hosting a roundtable on the Reproduction of Art and Cultural Heritage (ReACH) project launched by the Victoria &amp;amp; Albert Museum in London and a FacebookLive  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1663</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1663</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO Beirut organizes a technical workshop on the conservation and restoration works of Baalbek and Tyre World Heritage sites</title>
      <description><![CDATA[
In the framework of the &quot;UNESCO Documentation and Advisory Services” (UDAS) project, UNESCO Beirut launched on 8 May 2017 a Third Consultation Workshop for &quot;Baalbek and Tyre Archaeological Project” (BTAP). The workshop was organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and in collaboration with the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA) and the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR). The UDAS project aims to provide Technical Assistance to the Ministry of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1661</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1661</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>World Migratory Bird Day 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[With the slogan &quot;Their Future is Our Future – A Healthy Planet for Migratory Birds and People”,&#xa0;the World Migratory Bird Day 2017&#xa0;on 10 May aims to highlight the interdependence of people and nature, and more specifically people and migratory birds, as they share the same planet and the same limited resources.&#xa0;
For more than ten years now, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) has raised awareness about the need for conservation of migratory birds and their habitats, about the threats they face,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1660</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1660</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>CEO of iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority receives 2017 KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek-Preis</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, the environmentalist Andrew Zaloumis, has been awarded the prestigious 2017 KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek-Preis for his outstanding commitment and visionary management of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage site in South Africa. The award is presented every two years to honour individuals and organizations for their commitment to protecting the world&apos;s globally significant biodiversity, and comes with a prize of 50,000 Euros.&#xa0;
South  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1659</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 May 2017 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1659</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>5 May 2017 – African World Heritage Day</title>
      <description><![CDATA[
&quot;On this International Day, I call upon all African stakeholders, States, civil society and local communities to assume the protection of the unparalleled richness of Africa&apos;s heritage.”
&quot;Supporting local communities – and especially young people – to promote and develop the abundant cultural and natural resources means paving the way for long-term, inclusive and socially cohesive development.”
Excerpts from the official Message by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO

Proclaimed  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1656</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 May 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1656</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO Director-General welcomes the liberation of Hatra and will send Emergency Assessment mission &quot;as soon as possible”</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Following several reports and discussions with the Iraqi authorities, UNESCO has confirmed the liberation of the archeological site of Hatra, located in the Governorate of Nineveh in Iraq. The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has reiterated her support to the government and people of Iraq and expressed the readiness of UNESCO to help protect and promote Iraqi heritage as a force for national cohesion, peace and recovery for the country.
&quot;The liberation of the ancient city of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1658</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Apr 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1658</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Youth Mobilize for Creativity, Heritage and Peace along the Silk Roads</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over 80 young people from 65 countries have adopted an international Declaration affirming their desire to promote peaceful coexistence and sustainable development through recognition and celebration of the Silk Roads.
At an International Youth Forum held in Changsha and Quanzhou, China, from 17 to 22 April 2017, participants agreed to expand their engagement in protecting and preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritage and to promote creativity in their respective home countries,  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1657</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Apr 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1657</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Director of World Heritage Centre&apos;s Message on the occasion of International &quot;Earth Day” 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[International Earth Day is celebrated every year on 22 April to remind each of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance. It also recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for by the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.
The 2017 campaign theme for Earth Day is &quot;Environmental &amp;amp; Climate Literacy”.  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1655</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Apr 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1655</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Message from the Director of the World Heritage Centre on International Day for Monuments and Sites</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The 2017 International Day for Monuments and Sites is dedicated to the theme &quot;Cultural Heritage &amp;amp; Sustainable Tourism”, chosen in relation to the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
In designating 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the United Nations General Assembly noted &quot;the importance of international  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1654</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Apr 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1654</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Polynesian Voyaging Society concludes tour of eight World Heritage marine sites</title>
      <description><![CDATA[At their best, World Heritage marine sites are like time capsules that provide a glimpse into the oceans of our parents and grandparents. Thanks to the expert care of managers and support from the global community, we can still experience the prehistoric Komodo Dragon, the dugongs of Dungonab Bay, or the pristine volcanic island of Surtsey. Our partners at The Polynesian Voyaging Society appreciate the importance of understanding our history. They work to inspire care for the natural world  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1653</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Apr 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1653</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Wannsee Memorandum recognizes Universal Practices</title>
      <description><![CDATA[An Expert Meeting on ‘Outstanding Universal Value of Auschwitz – Historical Identity of Europe and Pars Pro Toto Borders&apos; was held at the House of the Wannsee Conference (Berlin) on 7 April 2017. Organized by the Polish National Commission, the National Heritage Board of Poland and the Auschwitz Birkenau State Museum, the meeting brought together some 30 experts from around the world.Conclusions are contained in the Wannsee Memorandum.&#xa0;



Wannsee  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1680</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sat, 08 Apr 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1680</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Join the World Heritage Volunteers 2017 campaign!</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) 2017 campaign: Heritage in our hands will take stock of the progress made over the past ten years to mobilize youth to preserve and promote World Heritage by reaching out to their peers and their communities.&#xa0;
Over the past ten years, the World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Initiative has tremendously grown due to&#xa0;the increasing interest and appreciation for the protection and preservation of World Heritage sites. In the year of its 10thanniversary, 51 youth  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1651</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Apr 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1651</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>New IUCN World Heritage report stresses urgency of protecting the Arctic from ships and oil as ice melts</title>
      <description><![CDATA[4 April 2017, Monaco --&#xa0;The Arctic Ocean urgently needs protection as melting sea ice is opening up previously inaccessible areas to activities such as shipping, bottom trawl fishing and oil exploration, according to a scientific report launched today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in partnership with the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and UNESCO&apos;s World Heritage Centre. The report identifies seven globally significant marine sites in the  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1649</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Apr 2017 14:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1649</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Sixth Iberian Meeting of Site Managers Santiago de Compostela, Spain</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Sixth Iberian Meeting of Site Managers, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The 6th Iberian Meeting of Site Managers took&#xa0;place in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) from 29 to 31 March 2017 at the Museo das Peregrinaci&#xf3;ns e de Santiago. The meeting was organized by the Spanish Secretariat of State for Culture, through its General Division for the Protection of Historic Heritage, with the Xunta de Galicia, the City of Santiago with the Consortium de Santiago and in cooperation with the Portuguese  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1652</link>
      <author>sergio.ortega@mecd.es (Sergio Ortega)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1652</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UN Security Council adopts historic resolution for the protection of heritage</title>
      <description><![CDATA[New York, 24 March 2017 - UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova addressed today&apos;s public briefing of the United Nations Security Council on &quot;Maintenance of international peace and security: destruction and trafficking of cultural heritage by terrorist groups and in situations of armed conflict,” where the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2347 for the protection of heritage.
&quot;The deliberate destruction of heritage is a war crime, it has become a tactic of war to tear  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1648</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1648</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Director of World Heritage Centre&apos;s message on the World Water Day 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Water is one of the key resources required to sustain life. It has led to the development and generation of significant material culture in the form of objects, technology and places. How to obtain it, how to store it, how to harness its power and conserve it has motivated human endeavor in a myriad of ways.&#xa0; It has also been the catalyst for the development of significant cultural practices which have generated intangible cultural heritage values. Cultural World Heritage sites offer a wide  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1647</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1647</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Director of World Heritage Centre&apos;s message on the International Day of Forests 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Forests &#xa0;play a critical role in the balance of world climate as well as in vital carbon capture and retention. Forests cover 30 per cent of the Earth&apos;s surface and in addition to providing food security and shelter, forests are key to combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and are homes of indigenous peoples. While forests contribute to many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2030 Agenda contains a goal and various targets on forests, especially under SDG 15, which  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1645</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1645</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Job vacancy: Cultural Heritage Specialist, Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), Kingdom of Bahrain</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Post Title: Cultural Heritage Specialist
Organisation: Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH)
Location: Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Closing Date: 18 April, 2017
Applications: All interested applicants should submit their CV to info@arcwh.org
Background of ARC-WH:The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage was established as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO to strengthen the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention in the Arab region. The main  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1644</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1644</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title> In memoriam: Sylvio Mutal</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The World Heritage Centre expresses its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sylvio Mutal, who passed away on 18 February 2017.
Mr Mutal had a full and rich career spanning more than 40 years as a Practitioner and Executive Manager of the International Development Cooperation.  After an education in Istanbul (Turkey), London (UK), Leiden (Holland) and Santiago de Chile (Chile) in Engineering and Social Sciences, Sylvio Mutal became a member of the Ministry of Foreign  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1640</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1640</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title> UNESCO Heritage Director calls on Armed Forces to Help in Safeguarding Measures  </title>
      <description><![CDATA[Cultural heritage has been targeted in attacks or suffered collateral damage in armed conflict. Recent destruction in World Heritage sites such as Aleppo, Syria or Hatra, Iraq brought this this into the background and alerted the international community.&#xa0; One way to mitigate damage is for armed forces to be aware fully of cultural heritage sites and monuments, archaeological sites, and museums in the course of their military operations and to receive special training in cultural heritage  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1646</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1646</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Wadden Sea World Heritage showcases sustainable tourism at the ITB 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[For the third year running, the Wadden Sea World Heritage organized a stand on sustainable tourism at ITB Berlin, the world&apos;s leading travel trade show. Partnering with the UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme, the Wadden Sea World Heritage offered a rich and diverse programme around the motto &quot;People Protecting Places” at the fair grounds from 8 to 12 March 2017. The programme included activities for both tourism professionals and individual visitors, professional  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1643</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1643</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO hosts First International Coordination Meeting for the recovery of Aleppo&apos;s heritage</title>
      <description><![CDATA[UNESCO brought together Syrian stakeholders and international experts to evaluate damage to historic monuments including the citadel, madrasa al-sultaniya, grand serail, and souk of the Ancient City of Aleppo, a World Heritage site, and to strategize Aleppo&apos;s recovery during a Technical and Coordination Meeting convened by UNESCO in Beirut, Lebanon from 2-3 March, 2017.
The meeting also aimed to map existing national coordination mechanisms, overview ongoing and planned national and  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1639</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1639</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>New Conservation Initiatives Recommended for Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Members of the Lumbini International Scientific Committee (ISC) gathered at Lumbini, Birthplace of the Lord Buddha (Nepal), a World Heritage site, from 17 to 19 February 2017, to review project activities and coordinate initiatives carried out by the Government of Nepal, development partners, and donors.
International and national experts in archaeology, conservation, urban planning, the environment and heritage management exchanged with representatives of the local Buddhist community on  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1636</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1636</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Message of Director of World Heritage Centre on the occasion of 2017 International Women&apos;s Day</title>
      <description><![CDATA[This year&apos;s theme for International Women&apos;s Day highlights women in the changing world of work, and sets our collective sights on the objective of making gender equality a reality by 2030.
Gender equality is an important priority for UNESCO&apos;s work on heritage, creativity and cultural diversity. The equal participation, access and contribution to cultural life of women and men are human rights as well as cultural rights, and an important dimension for guaranteeing freedom of expression for  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1637</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1637</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>After the recapture of Palmyra, Director-General calls for renewed efforts to protect Syrian heritage</title>
      <description><![CDATA[While several sources confirm the recapture of the ancient city of Palmyra from violent extremists, the Director-General of UNESCO calls for securing the archaeological site over the long term and redoubling efforts to protect Syrian heritage as a whole.
&quot;The protection of the archaeological site of Palmyra is both a major cultural issue and an imperative for security, peace and the recovery of a whole country,&quot; said the Director-General. &quot;This heritage has survived millennia, it fosters  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1634</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1634</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the celebration of World Wildlife Day 2017 under the theme &quot;Listen to the young voices&quot;</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The stakes are higher every day.
Crimes against wildlife have been increasing over the past years, fuelled by conflicts and the trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products. The impact is devastating on the populations of both iconic and lesser-known species. Despite a range of decisions and actions, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and Natural World Heritage sites have not been safe from these crimes. &#xa0;
This calls for a new commitment by everyone to prevent these crimes and promote justice.  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1633</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1633</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Reflection workshop: Effective involvement of local communities in managing cultural heritage</title>
      <description><![CDATA[In collaboration with ICCROM, ICOMOS, AWHF and EPA, the Africa Unit of the World Heritage Centre organized a meeting of exchange and reflection on ways to strengthen involvement of local communities in the management of cultural heritage properties through concrete actions. The meeting took place at the Royal Palaces of Abomey World Heritage site in Benin on 2 and 3 March 2017.&#xa0; This initiative is consistent with objectives 2 and 3 of the Action Plan 2012-2017 for the Africa Region, which  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1641</link>
      <author>e.moukala@unesco.org (Edmond Moukala)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Mar 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1641</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO calls on international community to help revive Iraq&apos;s cultural heritage in the wake of massive destruction</title>
      <description><![CDATA[A two-day International Coordination Conference on the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Liberated Areas of Iraq ended at UNESCO&apos;s Headquarters on Friday, laying the ground for an emergency, medium and long term action plan to preserve the country&apos;s rich, diverse millennial archaeological sites, its museums, religious heritage, and historic cities.
The Iraqi government officials and some 80 heritage experts from all over the world at the meeting agreed to appoint a joint UNESCO-Iraqi  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1632</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1632</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Republic of Mauritius launches a Local Economic Development Plan for Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage property</title>
      <description><![CDATA[
The Republic of Mauritius received International Assistance from the World Heritage Fund to elaborate a Local Economic Development Plan for Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage property.


The grant followed a request from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the State Party of Mauritius to take necessary action to prevent the demolition of historical buildings in the Buffer Zone of the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Property, as well as to put in place mechanisms that ensure integrated  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1631</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1631</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Netherlands Funds-in-Trust agreement extended to 2020</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the last 16 years between 2001 and 2016, the Netherlands supported the World Heritage activities through the Funds-in-Trust agreement. In January 2017, the agreement was extended for another 4 years, which will enter its 5th cycle of the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust. A total amount of € 1.5 million (€375,000 annually) will be contributed for the 2017-2020 cycle.
&#xa0;The Netherlands Funds-in-Trust was established in 2001 by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences with the aim  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1629</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1629</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>2016-2017 World Heritage Map Published</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 Poland, can now be ordered from the World Heritage Centre website.

The featured image on the Map presents the Historic Centre of Krak&#xf3;w in Poland, country hosting the next session of the World Heritage Committee in July 2017.
This poster-sized wall&#xa0;map features&#xa0;all 1052 World Heritage properties and is illustrated with magnificent photos  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1627</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1627</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Director of World Heritage Centre addresses the First CCIVS Partnership Meeting </title>
      <description><![CDATA[The First Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) Partnership Meeting on &quot;Future of Cultural Heritage and Diversity with International partners” was held on 8 February 2017 in Paris. Ms Mechtild R&#xf6;ssler presented a keynote speech on &quot;The Challenges of Heritage Conservation and Volunteering Best Practices”.
The event brought together more than 200 international and national organizations focusing on local needs from all over the world; yearly over 40,000  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1626</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1626</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Panasonic World Heritage 2017 Calendar in paper, online and tablet PC app formats now available</title>
      <description><![CDATA[

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Panasonic Corporation have released the 2017 World Heritage calendar. Featuring stunning photographs of World Heritage sites from around the world, this popular calendar can be used in paper, online and tablet app versions.
UNESCO and Panasonic have been creating wall calendars since 1995 and a web version since 2010. The wall calendar includes brief descriptions of the featured sites in English, French and Spanish.
The web version and the tablet  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1624</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1624</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>World Wetlands Day 2017: Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction </title>
      <description><![CDATA[World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February, marking the date in 1971 when the Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar, drawing attention to the importance of wetlands.
The theme for 2017 &quot;Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction” is selected to raise awareness and to highlight the vital role of healthy wetlands in reducing the impacts of extreme events such as floods, droughts and cyclones on communities, and in helping  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1622</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1622</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>The World Heritage Convention has entered into force for Timor-Leste</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 31 October 2016, the Government of Timor-Leste officially deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage with the Director-General of UNESCO.
Timor-Leste has become the 193rd State Party to the World Heritage Convention on 31 January 2017, when the Convention entered into force for this country. To date, 44 countries in the Asia-Pacific region are party to the World Heritage Convention. By ratifying the  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1625</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1625</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Call for Applications: 2017 Business Skills for Protected Areas in Africa - deadline 24 February 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The call for applications for the business skills training programme for protected areas in Africa is now open until 24 February 2017.
Each year, the Earth Skills Network (ESN) provides funded training in:

business planning and effective management practices and,
personal development of leadership capabilities, with
12 months of mentoring from an ESN corporate member with significant business experience.

Eligibility: The programme is open to all permanent staff from protected  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1623</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1623</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Annual Newsletter 2017 - Reflecting on a year of highs and lows</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Last year was one of extremes for marine World Heritage. We broke new ground with our High Seas report that identifies a path forward for World Heritage protection in this final ocean frontier. The World Heritage Centre&apos;s Marine Programme expanded the network to include two new sites—Archipi&#xe9;lago de Revillagigedo (Mexico) and Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (Sudan)—and grew the alliance working to support effective conservation of these  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1638</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2017 14:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1638</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO Director-General receives the Mayor of Venice</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, received the Mayor of Venice, Mr. Luigi Brugnaro, at UNESCO Headquarters, in the presence of representatives of the Italian government, to discuss the protection of the city of Venice and its Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

This meeting follows the Director-General&apos;s visit to Venice on 3 and 4 November 2016, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Venice flood.
The discussion focused on measures taken by the Italian  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1621</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1621</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO Director-General condemns destruction of the Tetrapylon and severe damage to the Theatre in Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site</title>
      <description><![CDATA[UNESCO received several reports and satellite imagery released today by UNITAR-UNOSAT confirming the destruction of Palmyra&apos;s tetrapylon and parts of the theatre&apos;s proscenium.
&quot;This destruction is a new war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity,” said UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova. &quot;This new blow against cultural heritage, just a few hours after UNESCO received reports about mass executions in the theatre, shows that cultural cleansing led by violent  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1620</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1620</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO reports on extensive damage in first emergency assessment mission to Aleppo</title>
      <description><![CDATA[UNESCO led an emergency mission to Aleppo from 16 to 19 January to undertake a preliminary assessment of the extent of damages at the World Heritage site of the Ancient City of Aleppo, as well as the state of educational institutions in the city.
The UNESCO team reported extensive damage at the Great Umayyad Mosque, the Citadel, mosques, churches, suqs, khans, madrassas, hammams, museums and other significant historic buildings in Aleppo.&#xa0;According to a preliminary assessment, some 60% of  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1619</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1619</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>UNESCO Joins Launch of International Year of Sustainable Tourism 2017</title>
      <description><![CDATA[On 18 January 2017, UNESCO&apos;s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Francesco Bandarin, took part in the official launch of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid, Spain.&#xa0; With the presence of Spanish and international dignitaries, representatives from international organizations and civil society, the event offered an opportunity to explore and highlight the role of tourism in sustainable  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1618</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1618</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>State of Conservation of the World Heritage Property &quot;Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites”</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the last several months, the World Heritage Centre has received numerous messages from citizens and NGOs expressing their concerns regarding the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down project including a proposed tunnel located within the boundaries of the World Heritage property &quot;Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites”, and the adverse impact it may have on the property.
It should be noted that the competent authorities of the State Party of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1617</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1617</guid>
    </item>
  <item>
      <title>Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan </title>
      <description><![CDATA[As requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016 (Istanbul, Turkey), a joint World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) Reactive Monitoring mission is due to be undertaken in the near future as soon as the invitation letter from the Government of Pakistan (Province of Punjab) is issued.
The World Heritage Committee at its 40th session (Istanbul, 2016) expressed its serious concern about the development of the Orange Line Metro  ...]]></description>
      <link>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1616</link>
      <author>wh-info@unesco.org (World Heritage Centre)</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2017 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
      <category>World Heritage</category>
      <category>news</category>
      <guid>http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1616</guid>
    </item>
  
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