Friday, March 14, 2014
Reconstruction of World Heritage mausoleums starts in Timbuktu (Mali)
Residents of Timbuktu today launched the reconstruction of World Heritage mausoleums damaged by the armed extremists who occupied the north and centre ...

Monday, March 3, 2014
Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, for CITES communication campaign for the first edition of World Wildlife Day
Today, we celebrate the first World Wildlife Day, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly. Since time immemorial, humanity has marvelled at the wild ...

Thursday, February 27, 2014
3rd edition of ‘The World’s Heritage’ by UNESCO Publishing and Collins features all 981 sites
The third edition of The World’s Heritage is available now, published by UNESCO Publishing and Collins. Featuring all 981 entries on the UNESCO ...

Monday, February 24, 2014
Policy-makers in Uzbekistan meet to discuss implementation of World Heritage Convention
On 20 February 2014 in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, a discussion on the requirements of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and ...

Thursday, February 20, 2014
UNESCO Director-General condemns military presence and destruction at World Heritage Sites in Syria
In the face of a deteriorating situation inside Syria, the UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, made the following statement : "The situation in ...

Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Workshop increases community involvement in African natural World Heritage sites
Managers of natural World Heritage sites in Africa met with national coordinators of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Small Grants ...

Thursday, February 13, 2014
First mission to Gao since end of military occupation of northern Mali takes stock of serious damage to the city’s cultural heritage
UNESCO, Malian and international experts have completed the first assessment of damage to cultural heritage in Gao, following the occupation by armed ...

Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Over 3 million USD pledged for the African World Heritage Fund at African Union Head of State Summit
On Friday 31 January 2014, UNESCO joined forces with the African Union Commission to raise awareness and funds for the African World Heritage Fund ...

Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Potential boundary modification to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage site
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre has taken note of information provided by individuals and civil society organizations concerning the Tasmanian ...

Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Banc d’Arguin National Park and Wadden Sea sign historic Twinning Arrangement
The Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania) and The Wadden Sea (Germany /The Netherlands) are the most critical sites for migratory birds on ...

Tuesday, February 11, 2014
South Asia World Heritage Serial Nomination for the Silk Roads Project Launched with the Support of the UNESCO/Korea Funds-in-Trust
The UNESCO/Korea Funds-in-Trust project, “Support for the Preparation of the World Heritage Serial Nomination for the Silk Roads in South ...

Friday, February 7, 2014
The OWHC’s Regional Secretariat for Northwest Europe publishes position paper
The Regional Secretariat Northwest Europe of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), one of the organization’s 8 regional ...

Monday, February 3, 2014
UNESCO welcomes growing commitment by oil, gas and mining corporations to keep out of World Heritage sites
UNESCO has welcomed confirmation from French-based oil and gas corporation Total that it will refrain from prospecting or exploiting oil and gas in ...

Friday, January 31, 2014
Great Barrier Reef state of conservation
The World Heritage Committee, at its last meeting in June 2013, expressed concern for the Great Barrier Reef and requested Australia ensure that ...

Friday, January 24, 2014
UNESCO Director-General Condemns Destruction to the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, Egypt
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today expressed grave concern about the damage to Egypt’s Museum of Islamic Art, following ...

Friday, December 20, 2013
Angkor: Managing Success
The millennial temples of Angkor with their monumental architecture, infinitely fine bas-reliefs, enduring spiritual significance and complex ...

Friday, December 20, 2013
Five World Heritage sites in Azerbaijan and Belgium granted “enhanced protection” in the event of armed conflict
Two World Heritage sites in Azerbaijan and three in Belgium have been given "enhanced protection" status by the Committee for the Protection of ...

Friday, December 20, 2013
Happy New Year from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Happy New Year from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)World Heritage fosters ...

Wednesday, December 18, 2013
UNESCO publishes proceedings of the International Colloquium on the World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP)
The proceedings of the International Colloquium on the conservation of World Heritage Earthen Architecture have been published in the latest edition ...

Tuesday, December 17, 2013
A cultural centre and museum to be built at the Bamiyan World Heritage Site
The World Heritage site in Bamiyan has received further support today with the Government of the Republic of Korea committing to provide US$5.4 to ...

Monday, December 16, 2013
UNESCO expert mission assesses recovery measures after Philippines disasters
UNESCO dispatched an expert mission to the Philippines from 4 to 11 December following the massive earthquake and powerful typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), ...

Thursday, December 12, 2013
Panasonic World Heritage 2014 Calendar in paper, online and tablet PC app formats now available
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Panasonic Corporation have released the 2014 World Heritage calendar. Featuring stunning photographs of World ...

Wednesday, December 11, 2013
28 students from 11 countries recognized at UNESCO for their work on preserving the environment
Ádám Riba, from Hungary, the laureate of this year’s Panasonic Eco Picture Diary award, was one of the 28 children from 11 ...

Friday, December 6, 2013
Nelson Mandela “a giant among men” says Director-General
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today paid tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday night, 5 ...

Thursday, December 5, 2013
Download the new World Heritage magazine app – free for a limited time!
Available for iPad, Android and Kindle Fire tablets, this new app allows you to download World Heritage magazine. Lavishly illustrated, and published ...

Wednesday, December 4, 2013
"Benefits Beyond Boundaries" published in French, Korean
Published on the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, this thematic collection of case studies provides a thorough understanding of ...

Monday, December 2, 2013
Mobilizing living heritage for sustainable development
The 24 members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will meet in Baku (Azerbaijan) from 2 ...

Monday, December 2, 2013
World Heritage Volunteers 2014 - Action for Sustainability
Are you a youth organization and want to sensitize young people about the value of World Heritage sites?  Or are you an NGO and wish to organize ...

Monday, December 2, 2013
Heritage protection efforts underway after natural disasters in Philippines
A massive earthquake and powerful typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) successively struck central Philippines in October and early November 2013, causing ...

Friday, November 29, 2013
Cocos Island National Park receives exceptional donation from Jaeger-LeCoultre
On 27 November, Swiss watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre, a partner of the World Heritage Centre, donated 30,000 Euros for the preservation of Cocos ...

Tuesday, November 26, 2013
UNESCO strengthens cooperation with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
UNWTO is the specialized agency of the United Nations in charge of promoting a responsible, sustainable and universally accessible ...

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Twelve new members elected to World Heritage Committee
On 19 November, representatives of the 190 States Parties to the 1972 World Heritage Convention elected 12 new members to the 21-member ...

Monday, November 18, 2013
40th anniversary: Proceedings of the Closing Event published
Celebrating 40 years of the World Heritage Convention, the proceedings of the Closing Event of the Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the World ...

Saturday, November 16, 2013
'Managing Cultural World Heritage' reference manual published
This manual provides guidance for States Parties and all those involved in the care of World Heritage cultural properties on how to comply with the ...

Saturday, November 16, 2013
New database : State of Conservation of World Heritage properties
The significant number of reports prepared by UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee represents an exceptional documentation ...

Monday, October 28, 2013
Free app download for one day only: Atlas by Collins, including all World Heritage sites
The Atlas by Collins app can be downloaded for free on Tuesday, October 29th. The app comes with one globe pre-installed and includes 10 other globes ...

Monday, October 21, 2013
UNESCO provides cultural heritage training to UN personnel in Mali
UNESCO on 14 October delivered a first training course in cultural heritage protection to military, police and civilian staff from Benin, Côte ...

Thursday, October 17, 2013
Managing Marine World Heritage: Our Crown Jewels of the Ocean
Managers from 46 marine World Heritage sites will meet in Ajaccio, Corsica, from October 18-20, for the second World Heritage Marine Site ...

Monday, September 30, 2013
UNESCO Director-General deplores suicide attack near Djingareyber Mosque in Timbuktu
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, deplored the suicide attack that took place on 28 September, near the Djingareyber Mosque in Timbuktu, ...

Monday, September 30, 2013
Emergency Red List of Syrian Antiquities at Risk is launched in New York
On Wednesday, 25 September, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova joined the President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), Dr. Hans-Martin ...

Monday, September 23, 2013
Lumbini, Birthplace of Buddha: new book of photographs
A joint publication of UNESCO and the Paris-based NGO Oriental Cultural Heritage Sites Protection Alliance, Lumbini, Birthplace of Buddha is a ...

Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Conclusions of the 3rd and 4th HERITY International Conferences
The results of the 3rd and 4th HERITY Conferences, held in Rome, Italy in December 2010 and 2012, are now available. The conferences and their ...

Friday, August 30, 2013
“Stop the destruction!” urges UNESCO Director-General
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today called on all parties involved in the conflict in Syria to safeguard the country’s cultural ...

Monday, August 19, 2013
In Memoriam: Professor Walter Santagata
The World Heritage Centre has learnt with deep sadness of the recent passing away of Professor Walter Santagata, a long-time collaborator of UNESCO ...

Monday, August 19, 2013
Cahokia Mounds welcomes 10 millionth visitor since it became a World Heritage site
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site on Tuesday welcomed its 10 millionth visitor since achieving the rare distinction of being designated a World ...

Sunday, August 18, 2013
Report on the Historic Urban Landscape Workshops and Field Activities on the Swahili coast in East Africa 2011-2012
On 10 November 2011 UNESCO’s General Conference adopted the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, six years after the General Assembly ...

Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Val de Loire World Heritage (France) information and one day workshop on Economy, Heritage and Landscape
The Val de Loire World Heritage cultural landscape (France) is organizing a one-day workshop on Economy, Heritage and Landscape, to be held 12th ...

Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Report published on the initiative "Engaging Local Communities in the Stewardship of World Heritage" (COMPACT)
New report on lessons learned to engage local communities in the Conservation of World Heritage sites launched during the 37th session of the World ...

Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Africa Nature risk preparedness workshop held in South Africa
The Africa Nature risk preparedness workshop took place from the 20th-25th May 2013 at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Organized by African ...

Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Wildlife crime is robbing the future of Africa - Jeune Afrique
Given the current rate of poaching, children from West or Central Africa will one day speak of elephants and rhinoceros as we speak of mammoths: as ...

Friday, July 26, 2013
Best practice management at the Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems
For the first time, the Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems brought together all the local communities actively ...

Thursday, July 18, 2013
UNESCO, Turkey and Japan launch project to safeguard the World Heritage site of Cappadocia (Turkey)
H.E. Gürcan Balik, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Turkey to UNESCO, and Kishore Rao, Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, on ...

Tuesday, July 16, 2013
UNESCO Director-General deplores the escalation of violence and the damage to World Heritage in Syria
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has expressed deep shock at news of further destruction to cultural heritage in Syria, and particularly ...