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EXPERT REPORT

What do the Serengeti, the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands have in common?
They are among the world’s most outstanding natural areas that have been designated as a World Heritage site and placed under the guardianship of the international community. World Heritage sites make up some 8% of the world’s protected areas and are places of cultural or natural significance.
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Tim Badman
IUCN's Special Adviser on World Heritage

DID YOU KNOW?
. World Heritage is the designation for places on earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity.
.There are 10 criteria for the nomination of World Heritage Sites.
. The prestige of a World Heritage listing often helps raise awareness among citizens and governments for heritage preservation.
> Test your knowledge

THE WORD
"Outstanding universal value"
refers to an attribute of cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional that it crosses national boundaries and is important for present and future generations. Protection of this heritage is of the highest importance to the international community. .

SPOTLIGHT ON

Two new natural wonders on World Heritage List

Fighting for forest frogs

The Wadden Sea and the Dolomites mountains have been inscribed on the World Heritage List, following IUCN’s recommendations.
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> Listen to interview

Thirteen World Heritage Sites stay on Danger List

danger

The Galapagos Islands and the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary are the only two natural sites on the danger list outside Africa.....
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> New sites on the List
> The Danger List needs radical change
> Listen to interview

ON THE GROUND

Maritime momentum

maritime

The world is awash with conventions and agreements that are supposed to conserve our oceans...
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Even volcanoes have rights

beauty

Volcanoes are perhaps the best known and most spectacular of the earth's geological features.
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WHAT'S ON?

World Heritage Committee
22-30 June, Seville, Spain
UNFF The Committee considers requests for the inscription of new sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List ...
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RESOURCES

Books
Natural World Heritage nominations
A manual for practitioners.
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World Heritage in Danger
> Download PDF

Outstanding universal value : standards for Natural World Heritage
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Protected landscapes and cultural and spiritual values
Set of case studies.
> Read more

PHOTO GALLERY

World Heritage Sites 2009
> View images
photo gallery

OTHER NEWS

A third of open ocean sharks threatened with extinction
Sharks are particularly sensitive to overfishing as they take many years to mature and have relatively few young.
> Read full story

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IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) © 2009 IUCN helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.
Photo credits@ IUCN: Sue Mainka, Alicia Wirz, Dan Laffoley, Jim Thorsell, Pedro Rosabal, Martin Price.