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3 October 2017 – A stunning exhibit of the world’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’s World Heritage List. Through a series of photos, virtual reality experiences, films and educational activities for children, the exhibit will raise awareness of ...

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. “We all recognize that the loss of biodiversity has clear ramifications for global food security and ...

As we celebrate International Day for Monuments and Sites 2019, with the theme of Rural landscapes, we highlight the value of conserving this heritage formed through long-term, harmonious interaction between humankind and the natural environment. Protecting these landscapes is key for sustainable development. Rural landscapes are biocultural mosaics—using land sustainably ...

Heritage authorities from six heritage cities in Asia, Pacific and Africa gather in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, from 20 to 21 June 2019 to attend a workshop entitled “Experience Sharing Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy among Heritage Cities in Southeast Asia, Pacific and Africa“ held by UNESCO Office Jakarta in collaboration with George Town World ...

The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Baku since 30 June, decided to remove the site of Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) from the List of World Heritage in Danger thanks to the national authorities’ measures to ensure its sustainable conservation and management. The Saltpeter Works were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005 and, simultaneously, ...

The theme of this year’s World Tourism Day is, ‘Tourism and jobs, a better future for all.’ Given the booming worldwide travel industry, tourism now generates 10% of the world’s jobs or 313 million employees.Tourism is increasingly a major source of growth, employment and income for many of the world’s countries, and is included in Sustainable Development Goal 8 for its ...

International Day for Disaster Reduction promotes a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction by celebrating how people around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters. This year’s theme is based on one Target of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030: ‘Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and ...

Three participants from Ethiopia, together with 16 other representatives from Anglophone Africa, are taking part in an online World Heritage Nomination Workshop for Advanced Dossiers under the framework of the World Heritage Nomination Capacity Building Programme from 10 to 17 September 2020. The  online workshop, which was organized by the African World Heritage Fund ...

Unprecedented fires are blazing through the Pantanal, threatening numerous endangered species and the highly valuable ecosystem. The Rapid Response Facility, a joint initiative of UNESCO and Fauna and Flora International (FFI), is supporting firefighting activity in the Pantanal Biosphere Reserve to prevent fires from spreading into the Pantanal Conservation Area World ...

International Day for Biological Diversity 2022 is being celebrated under the theme: Building a shared future for all life. This slogan is very fitting as the 1972 World Heritage Convention celebrates its 50th anniversary and we reflect on the next 50 years of the Convention and its shared future for all life. It follows the 50th anniversary of UNESCO's Man and the ...

African World Heritage Day is celebrated annually on the 5th of May to remember and acknowledge the importance of promoting and safeguarding the UNESCO World Heritage in Africa for the benefit of present and future generations. To celebrate the 7th edition of African World Heritage Day, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC), in collaboration with the African World ...

The 5th World Heritage Site Managers' Forum (WHSMF23), in conjunction with the 45th extended session of the World Heritage Committee, started its first online session on 19 June 2023. This year's Forum, with the theme "Managing World Heritage for the Next 50 Years" is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the National ...

A highly anticipated inception workshop titled "Heritage for Peace: Enhancing Transboundary and Regional Cooperation for Natural and Mixed World Heritage Sites in Asia" was successfully held on 6 July 2023, in an online format. This experts’ workshop marked a crucial step towards promoting transboundary conservation efforts and unlocking the immense potential of Asia's ...

Working On The Future After seventeen 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 ...

Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage This publication highlights the impacts of climate change on 26 natural and cultural World Heritage properties, along with ongoing and planned adaptation and mitigation measures. There are five chapters on glaciers, marine biodiversity, terrestrial biodiversity, archaeological sites, and historic cities and settlements, and ...

Italy,,Following information about a planned waste dump and a development project in the vicinity of the World Heritage property, the World Heritage Centre requested the State Party to submit details on the above. On 27 March and 5 April 2012, the State Party submitted a response including maps, and on 30 May 2012 a further response on the status of the waste dump ...

Belize,,There is a great demand for land on which to carry out tourism related real estate development projects in the Caribbean. The many islands of the Belize Barrier Reef have not escaped global investor attention and in this regard, projects are already being aggressively pursued (see for example: http/:www.treasurecovebelize.com). In late 2007, the World Heritage ...

Egypt, Growing number of visitors (issue resolved) Uncontrolled development of the nearby village (issue resolved) Deterioration of the stones (issue resolved) Road construction project (issue resolved)  Tunnel construction project (issue resolved) Urban encroachment Infrastructure and tourism developments Development projects (highway or tunnel) ,At the time of ...

Panama,a) Deterioration and destruction of the fabric of the sites by environmental factors, lack of maintenance,as well as polluted water; b) Erosion; c) Absence of management policies; d) Uncontrolled urban development e) Tourism pressures (in particular at Portobelo).,The State Party sent information that confirmed damage that had already been detected in 2001, ...

Georgia,a) General need for interior and exterior conservation work on the monuments; b) Insufficient coordination between the Georgian Church and the national authorities; c) Lack of co-ordinated management system; d) Major reconstruction of the structure of Bagrati Cathedral.,The World Heritage Committee at its 29th session (Durban, 2005) encouraged the State Party to ...

Algeria, Natural erosion; Lack of maintenance of housing; Loss of traditional conservation techniques; Uncontrolled land-use; Constant collapse of houses (three dead and others injured in May 2002); Conservation Plan existing but not operational; Lack of coordination activities at the property. ,Referring to the decion of the 28th session of the Committee (Suzhou, 2004), ...

China, Bad state of conservation of many buildings Need to better manage visitors Urban development project Air pollution ,The Bureau, at its twentieth extraordinary session in 1996, recommended that the Chinese authorities adopt a development plan for the town of Chengde in line with World Heritage conservation needs. The Chinese authorities reported to the Secretariat, ...

Yemen, Renovations seriously threatening the authenticity and integrity of the Great Mosque No system for the evacuation of waste water Increase of the permanent humidity of the ground, posing the threat of erosion to the brick walls  Need for a safeguarding and urbanism plan Lack of traditional materials (noura bricks) Lack of coordination between the ...

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Commercial development in the area surrounding the site Redevelopment of a complex for visitor facilities Need for an integrated management plan ,WHC: UNESCO and IUCN carried out a monitoring mission to this site from 16 to 19 February 2003, as requested by the 26th session of the Committee. The mission team was ...

Mexico, Urban pressure (issue resolved); Lack of monitoring system (issue resolved); Earthquake in 1999 (issue resolved). ,In 2012, information on the Integral Project for motorways and bridges was received from the State Party and in 2013, information was received regarding the construction of a cable car. Additional information was requested by the World Heritage Centre ...