Activities

2010 International Year of Biodiversity
The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). The term biodiversity describes the variety of all life and natural processes on Earth, including all living things from microscopic bacteria to large animals and small plants; we also form ...

Business Skills for Natural World Heritage Site Managers programme
The Business Skills for Natural World Heritage Site Managers programme is a collaboration between international environmental charity Earthwatch, global energy company Shell and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The programme seeks to improve the management effectiveness of ...

Case study: Dorset
Located on the south coast of the United Kingdom, the nominated site comprises approximately 155km of undeveloped coastline and countryside. The cliff exposures along the Dorset and East Devon coast provide an almost continuous sequence of rock formations spanning the ...

Case study: Galapagos
Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the South American continent, these islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique 'living museum and showcase of evolution'. Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galapagos are a ...

Case study: Sian Ka'an
Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more ...

Case study: Tongariro
In 1993 Tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised criteria describing cultural landscapes. The mountains at the heart of the park have cultural and religious significance for the Maori people and symbolize the spiritual ...

Case study: Tubbataha
The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 33,200 ha, including the North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. 1. Raising Awareness Angelique ...

Case study: Ujung Kulon
This national park, located in the extreme south-western tip of Java on the Sunda shelf, includes the Ujung Kulon peninsula and several offshore islands and encompasses the natural reserve of Krakatoa. In addition to its natural beauty and geological interest, it contains ...

Control and Eradication of Invasives Species:A Necessary Condition for Conserving Endemic ...
The project was developed in response to the threats resulting from the introduction of alien species and is laying the foundations for the creation of a systematic approach to dealing with alien species in island ecosystems. The approval of this project was critical in ...

Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape Project
This 3-year project by UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Conservation International, and with financing from the UN Foundation and Global Conservation Fund, calls for the promotion of long-term management and conservation of five marine protected areas within the Eastern ...

Enhancing our Heritage- Monitoring and managing for success in World Natural Heritage sites
Enhancing Our Heritage - Monitoring and Managing for Success in World Natural Heritage Sites was a seven-year UNESCO/IUCN project funded by the United Nations Foundation. The project commenced in 2001 and operated in nine World Heritage sites in Africa, South Asia and Latin ...

Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest
"As cultures encompass lifestyles, different ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs, the protection and promotion of their rich diversity invite us to rise to new challenges at the local, national and international levels. This will involve ...

OWHC Case Studies on the Conservation and Management of Historic Cities
Reconciling Heritage Conservation and Urban Development The Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) holds a specific responsibility for the promotion and implementation of the World Heritage Convention in its Member Cities. Given this responsibility and based on the ...

Promouvoir le Patrimoine Mondial à Madagascar
« Promouvoir le Patrimoine Mondial à Madagascar » est un programme du Centre du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO qui a pour finalité la mise en œuvre de la Convention du patrimoine mondial comme outil de conservation de la ...

Rapid Response Facility
Natural World Heritage sites represent the world's pre-eminent areas of biodiversity, and their identification and protection are key parts of the global community's responsibility for conservation. When emergencies occur or urgent threats to these sites arise, critical time ...