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Friday, 7 October 2016
Professionals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia are the beneficiaries of the sub-regional workshop on “Managing Disaster Risks in UNESCO Designated Sites” that will take place in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 10-13 October 2016. The event is organised by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, Venice (Italy), in support of the World Heritage ...
3 min read
Friday, 30 September 2016
Since South Sudan’s ratification of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in March 2016, UNESCO has been working closely with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to support the development of the newest African country’s first Tentative List of potential World Heritage sites.
A ‘Tentative List’ is a detailed inventory of natural, cultural or mixed (both natural and cultural) ...
4 min read
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has recognized Ahmed Al-Faqi Al-Mahdi guilty of war crime and has sentenced him to 9 years in prison for his responsibility in the deliberate destruction in 2012 of nine mausoleums and the secret gate of the Sidi Yahia mosque in UNESCO’s World Heritage site of Timbuktu (Mali).
“The decision of the International Criminal Court is a landmark in gaining ...
2 min read
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
With almost 1.2 billion people travelling abroad each year, tourism has become a powerful economic sector, a passport to prosperity, dialogue and peace, and a transformative force improving millions of lives.
Tourism and World Heritage are natural partners. Almost all World Heritage sites are or become tourist destinations-some are among the most iconic places on Earth. The key objective of ...
1 min read
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Destruction of cultural heritage has reached unprecedented levels. In light of this, and culture’s unique contribution to peace and sustainable development, the ratification, implementation and visibility of UNESCO’s six Culture Conventions are more important than ever.
This was the focus of the Second Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Committees of UNESCO Culture Conventions at UNESCO ...
3 min read
Wednesday, 21 September 2016
On 19 September 2016 at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine (Architectural and Heritage Centre), Paris, the representatives of seven States Parties, Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Japan and Switzerland were presented with the certificates of inscription on the List of World Heritage of the serial property “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding ...
1 min read
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
The sacred gate of the mosque of Sidi Yahia in Timbuktu, which bears testimony to cultural traditions dating back to the 15th century CE, was officially reinstalled on 19 September in a ceremony organized by the inhabitants of the World Heritage site.
The gate, regarded as sacred, had been pulled out and damaged on 2 July 2012 by armed extremists who occupied the city. The restoration and ...
2 min read
Friday, 16 September 2016
A joint reactive monitoring mission by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) to assess the state of conservation of the World Heritage property “Wood Buffalo National Park” will take place from 25 September to 4 October 2016, at the invitation of Canada, and in keeping with the request made by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in ...
2 min read
Friday, 16 September 2016
In May/June 2016, the World Heritage Centre, in collaboration with its partners, organized a travelling exhibition displayed on the railings of UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and, subsequently, at the international conference in Arusha on the theme of African World Heritage Safeguarding as a Driver of Sustainable Development.
For the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee held in ...
Tuesday, 13 September 2016
The more than 1,800 UNESCO designated sites around the world – World Heritage sites, biosphere reserves and UNESCO Global Geoparks – are impacted by climate change, and can play a significant role in understanding, adapting to and mitigating these impacts.
These were the key messages from the opening day of the 2nd Huangshan Dialogue, a global forum on UNESCO-designated sites and sustainable ...
1 min read
Monday, 5 September 2016
It is with great sadness and concern that the World Heritage Centre learnt of the impact of the heavy rains and windstorms of 23 August 2016 that affected local communities, historic buildings and the villages of Albreda and Juffureh at Gambia's World Heritage site of Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites.
The storms caused destruction of property, including the loss of part of the roof of ...
1 min read
Monday, 5 September 2016
The Nature-Culture Journey of the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress concluded with a call for commitments, “Malama Honua - to care for our island Earth”. It recognizes the nature-culture links as vital for addressing contemporary conservation challenges.
The 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress, which took place in Honolulu, Hawai’i from 1 to 10 September 2016, was attended by some ...
2 min read
Sunday, 4 September 2016
New guidelines launched at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress aim to support the management of areas recognised simultaneously under several international designations, all of which have environmental conservation at their heart.
The publication, “Managing MIDAs – Harmonising the management of Multi-Internationally Designated Areas: Ramsar Sites, World Heritage sites, Biosphere ...
3 min read
Sunday, 4 September 2016
The winner of the Heritage Heroes award was announced on 4 September 2016 at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii, USA. The Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Dr Mechtild Rössler, congratulated the Heritage Hero nominees from Virunga National Park (DRC), Western Caucasus (Russian Federation) and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Mr. Bibhuti Lakhar was the people’s ...
1 min read
Friday, 2 September 2016
On 1 September, the UNESCO Director-General, Ms Irina Bokova participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress opening ceremony, in the presence of several Heads of State of the Pacific Islands, Ms. Sally Jewell, US Secretary of State of the Interior and Senator of Hawaii, Mr Shatz.
Irina Bokova held several bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Conservation leaders, where she ...
3 min read
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, welcomed the establishment by the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, of the largest nature reserve in the world, by expanding the marine reserve Papahānaumokuākea, in Hawaii (USA), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010.
"This decision is a powerful symbol of determination to protect the environment. It is a way to strengthen ...
1 min read
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, will undertake a mission to Honolulu (USA) from 1st September to 3rd September to participate in the World Conservation Congress organized by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), an advisory body to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
The main purpose of IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii is to bring together leaders ...
1 min read
Director-General of UNESCO expresses solidarity with the people of Myanmar after earthquake in Bagan
Friday, 26 August 2016
25 August – The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has expressed her profound sympathy to the government and people of Myanmar after the devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar, including the ancient city of Bagan, causing loss of life and extensive damage to nearly 200 historic monuments and iconic pagodas.
“I wish to express my sincere sympathy following the ...
1 min read
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Paris, France – From 27-31 August 2016, managers from the 49 marine sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List will convene in the Galapagos Islands to explore solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conservation challenges including climate adaptation strategies and market-based approaches to strengthen sustainable fisheries. Along with leading experts and ocean conservationists they will ...
2 min read
Tuesday, 23 August 2016
UNESCO today welcomed the opening of the hearings of the case of Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for alleged war crimes and the destruction of historical monuments and buildings of religious significance, including nine mausoleums and a mosque at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Timbuktu (Mali) in 2012.
This first trial at an international ...
2 min read
Tuesday, 9 August 2016
The Director of the Centre met with the Minister for Culture, Arts and Civic Education of Gabon Ms. Paulette Mengue M’OWONO and her team to discuss collaboration on a number of topics including African Heritage and sustainable development, national World Heritage Committees and reinforcing national capacities and expertise towards more nominations from African countries.
Gabon has currently ...
Friday, 5 August 2016
Just over one year ago, on 25 April 2015, Nepal was devastated by an earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks. This natural disaster heavily damaged Nepal’s cultural and natural heritage, including 691 historic buildings in 16 districts, of which 131 fully collapsed. Rapid visual assessment showed that the monuments, institutions and sites within the World Heritage site of Kathmandu Valley ...
3 min read
Thursday, 4 August 2016
The Director of the World Heritage Centre, Dr.Mechtild Rössler, attended a ceremony on the occasion of the new inscriptions from India on the World Heritage List. The ceremony was organized by the Wildlife Institute of India with the Indian authorities and representatives of the Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar, and the mixed property of ...
1 min read
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Paris, 3 August- Sunken coral islands, floating rainforests, giant undersea volcanoes or even spires of rock resembling sunken cities: none of these sites can be inscribed on the World Heritage List because they are found in the High Seas, outside of any national jurisdiction.
A report launched today by UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ...
2 min read
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
On 3 August 2016, the Director of the World Heritage Centre and the Home and Cultural Affairs Secretary of Bhutan, Mr Sonam Topgay, launched a two year UNESCO – Japan Funds in Trust project for South Asian Cultural Landscape Initiatives in Thimphu, Bhutan.
The launch took place at the successful conclusion of the Workshop for Cultural Landscape and Sustaining its Significance – Bhutan 2016 ...
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
On Wednesday 20 July 2016, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA) and the municipalities of Bethlehem and Battir organized an official ceremony to celebrate the inscription of the two World Heritage properties in Palestine: “The Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem” and “Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern ...
4 min read
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
By Decision 40 COM 17, the World Heritage Committee, decided to continue the work of its 40th session at UNESCO’s Headquarters in the course of October 2016.
Therefore, please save the date for this meeting which will take place in Room II at UNESCO’s Headquarters from 24 to 26 October 2016. More detailed information regarding this meeting will be available in due ...
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
The World Heritage Centre has learned with great sadness of the recent passing of Luc Hoffmann, a pioneer in nature conservation whose impact touched all the corners of the globe.
An ornithologist, conservationist and philanthropist, Mr Hoffmann co-founded the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and helped establish the Ramsar Convention for the protection of Wetlands. He set up the Tour du Valat ...
1 min read
Monday, 25 July 2016
A World Heritage partners’ event and panel discussion took place on the 15th of July in Istanbul sponsored by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, on the occasion of the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee
The Partners' event, for the third consecutive year, provided a platform for discussing private sector partners’ contributions to World Heritage conservation and promotion ...
2 min read
Thursday, 21 July 2016
The UNESCO Dolomites Foundation is the first Italian organisation to sign up to the Google Trekker Loan Program, so from today it will be possible to enjoy the Dolomites online, anywhere from New York to Calcutta, on Google Maps Street View.
The result of the combined effort put in by volunteer mapping team from the Dolomites regional mountaineering clubs, the UNESCO Dolomites park ...
3 min read
Sunday, 17 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey, 17 July—The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Istanbul, Turkey from 10 to 17 July with Ambassador, Director General of Cultural Affairs and Promotion Abroad of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lale Ülker as its Chairperson has inscribed 21 sites on the World Heritage List. They include 12 cultural sites, six natural and three mixed sites. The World Heritage List ...
2 min read
Sunday, 17 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey 17 July—The World Heritage Committee, on the last afternoon of its 40th session which opened on 10 July, inscribed eight new sites on the List: one transnational site (in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan), and others in Canada, Chad, China, Iraq, Iran, Mexico and Sudan.
The newly inscribed natural sites are:
Hubei Shennongjia (China)—Located in Hubei Province, in ...
4 min read
Sunday, 17 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey, 17 July—The World Heritage Committee this morning inscribed four new sites on the World Heritage List: the transnational serial site of The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Japan, Switzerland), along with sites in Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil and India. Today’s inscription gives ...
3 min read
Saturday, 16 July 2016
The 40th session of the World Heritage Committee will resume on Sunday 17 July at Istanbul Congress Center, with a Bureau meeting at 9 am, followed by the Plenary at 9.30 am.
The agenda of tomorrow's meeting will be restricted to a limited number of items. The 40th session will end on Sunday evening after these items are examined.
Watch Follow the Committee’s live ...
Friday, 15 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey, 15 July—The World Heritage Committee inscribed five new sites on the World Heritage List this afternoon. One of the new sites, a transboundary property, is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, the others are in Greece, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
The new sites, in the order of their inscription, are:
Stećci – Medieval Tombstones ...
3 min read
Friday, 15 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey, 15 July—The World Heritage Committee, meeting for its 40th session since 10 July, this morning inscribed four new sites in China, India, Iran and Micronesia on the World Heritage List. Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia in the Federated States of Micronesia was inscribed both on the World Heritage List and on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The new ...
3 min read
Thursday, 14 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey, 14 July—The World Heritage Committee today placed the five World Heritage sites of Libya on the List of World Heritage in Danger because of damage caused by the conflict affecting the country and the threat of further damage it poses.
The five sites are: Archaeological Site of Cyrene, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Archaeological Site of Sabratha, Rock-Art Sites of ...
1 min read
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey, 13 July — The World Heritage Committee has decided to add Uzbekistan’s Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz to the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the over-development of tourist infrastructure in the site.
The Committee expressed concern over the destruction of buildings in the centre of the World Heritage site’s Medieval neighbourhoods and the construction of modern ...
1 min read
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey, 13 July—The World Heritage Committee has decided to remove Georgia’s Historical Monuments of Mtskheta site from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee’s decision reflects recognition of Georgia’s efforts to improve the safeguarding and management of the site, which had been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 2009. It had been put on the List in ...
1 min read
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Istanbul, Turkey, 13 July—The World Heritage Committee has added the Old Towns of Djennéthe List of World Heritage in Danger due to insecurity, which is affecting the area and preventing the implementation of protective measures for the Malian World Heritage site.
The Committee has expressed concern over the property, which is situated in an area affected by insecurity. This situation is ...
1 min read
Sunday, 10 July 2016
Istanbul, 10 July - The 40th session of the World Heritage Committee opened today in Istanbul (Turkey) under the chairmanship of Lale Ülker, Ambassador, Director General of Cultural Affairs and Promotion Abroad of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The opening ceremony was an opportunity to stress that World Heritage, which is now, more than ever, the subject of numerous threats, must ...
4 min read
