News

Celebrated annually on 2 February, World Wetlands Day aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and the planet. In every corner of the world, human beings have depended on wetlands for centuries, drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these important environments. This year’s theme: ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing' highlights the linkages between ...

UNESCO expresses its full support to the Argentinian fire-fighters and authorities regarding the fire that broke out on the night between 25 and 26 January 2024 in the Eastern side of the World Heritage site of Los Alerces National Park in Argentina, located in northern Patagonia. We commend the hundreds of Argentinian fire-fighters working to bring the blaze under control and the national ...

On January 19, the Museum of Science in Boston, inaugurated a new exhibition in partnership with UNESCO which sheds light on World Heritage sites threatened by climate disruption. Until 5 May, visitors can experience an immersive journey through 4 UNESCO-listed sites. From the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt) and the Lagoon of Venice (Italy) to the island community of Rapa Nui (Chile) and the cliff ...

UNESCO is deeply concerned about recent reports of military activities on the Island of Meroe, in Sudan, whose archaeological sites are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Organization calls on parties not to target or use these sites for military purposes. The Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe, a semi-desert landscape between the Nile and Atbara rivers, were the ...

Following an oil spill that occurred from the stranded “Gulf Dove” tanker in early 2023, polluting the coast of Delisha in Socotra Archipelago, a World Heritage site in Yemen, emergency assistance has been provided by UNESCO World Heritage to carry out an impact and pollution risk assessment and to prepare a response. © Mario Caruso  Although the coast of Delisha had been mostly cleaned ...

After sixteen years of grassroots youth activities and international cooperation, the World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Initiative continue to involve young people, communities and site managers in building together new, inclusive societies where World Heritage is a source of resilience, humanity and innovation, beyond the challenges that faces the World. This year, the WHV Campaign will also ...

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) have signed an agreement to reinforce capacity building and quality assurance for Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) for World ...

You are invited to submit a proposal for services of [Support the Comoros in the preparation of the proposal to include the Historical Sultanates of the Comoros on the World Heritage List] in accordance with this invitation to tender. The call for proposals with annexes Download Appendix I Instructions to Bidders Annex II General Conditions of the Contract Annex III Terms of Reference ...

A training workshop on strengthening World Heritage site management planning in Egypt took place in Luxor, Egypt, from 10 to 14 December 2023. Focusing on the site ‘Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis’ in particular, the workshop provided site managers and practitioners concerned with the management, conservation and planning of World Heritage sites in Egypt, with a global perspective on ...

Application Deadline: 8 January 2024 (Midnight Paris Time).  Application materials: CV and Motivation letter to be sent to: WH-Africa@unesco.org with copy to Jessica Roland Williams j.roland-williams@unesco.org The need to enhance capacities of African experts in heritage management and conservation is urgent. The World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy has acknowledged that States ...

On 1 December 2023, the Director of World Heritage at UNESCO and H.E. Ms Kerstin Pürschel, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Germany to UNESCO signed an agreement for a contribution to the World Heritage Convention, for a total amount of 600 000 Euros.  This generous contribution has been provided by the German Federal Foreign Office to support UNESCO activities linked to the World ...

On 5 and 6 December 2023, World Heritage focal points in the Arab States region, along with representatives from ICOMOS, ICCROM and IUCN, came together in Manama, Bahrain, to review and discuss progress in the implementation of the Regional Action Plan for the Arab States (2021-2027). The Action Plan was endorsed at the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2021, and a ...

On 17 November 2023, a session on culture and digital technologies was organized by UNESCO in the framework of the Partnerships Hub at the sideline of the 42nd session of UNESCO’s General Conference, with the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The session highlighted the UNESCO innovative approaches to the implementation of six different cultural projects funded by the Kingdom of Saudi ...

In 2018, the region of Gävleborg, Sweden, created the international World Heritage Residence Scholarship at the World Heritage site ‘Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland’. The 6th call for applications is now open until 15 February 2024. One aim of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention is to create links between people and promote international cooperation with peace as a central concept. The ...

On 14 December 2023, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre organized the Third Coordination Group meeting on ‘Post COVID-19 World Heritage Site Management: Integration of Conservation, Tourism and Local Livelihood Strategies at World Heritage Sites’, a project funded by the government of Japan through the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust. The Deputy Director of World Heritage welcomed Tunisia as a ...

Approximately 200 participants – World Heritage secretariat, Advisory Bodies, National Focal points, Site managers and category 2 Centres representatives from the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region –  took part, on 11 December, in the launching of the World Heritage Action Plan for the LAC region (2023–2029). The launching was held in the form of an on line 3-hour meeting where the ...

The World Heritage community deeply mourns the death of Jukka Jokilehto who passed away on 23 November 2023. Jukka Jokilehto was a Finnish architect and urban planner and his involvement in World Heritage dates back to 1972 when he joined the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) as coordinator of the programme in architectural ...

The UNESCO Chairs Workshop on "Protecting Historic Cities and Landscapes - Compatible Design for New Interventions" was held from 28 to 29 September 2023, marked with the 15th anniversary of the inscription of ‘Mantua and Sabbioneta’ on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The event was organised by UNESCO Chair in Architectural Preservation and Planning in World Heritage Cities, with support from ...

On 14 November 2023, UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands signed a new four-year (2023-2026) Funds-in-Trust Agreement for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, for a total amount of 1.5 million Euros. The Netherlands Funds-in-Trust (NFiT) at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre started in 2001 and is one of the longest and continued FiT ...

In the face of Africa's modernization and socioeconomic transformation lies the intrinsic challenges of nurturing sustainable development that considers the invaluable threads that weave through the continent’s diverse heritage. Recognizing this pivotal moment, the Strategy for World Heritage in Africa aligned with UNESCO Global Priority Africa, Flagship Programme 3 (Fostering Cultural ...