UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of global significance that have been designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These sites represent the best of humanity, and they deserve to be preserved for future generations. In 2018, three sites were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List: the Minoan culture site at Knossos in Crete, the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh. The decision to designate these sites was based on their cultural and historical importance, as well as their ecological value. This means that these sites are important not only for people today, but for future generations as well. There is no doubt that UNESCO’s World Heritage List is an important way to protect our environment and heritage. If you care about these things, make sure you visit these three sites soon!
The three sites that were added to UNESCO’s list
The World Heritage Committee has added three sites to its World Heritage List: the Historical Monuments of Ahvaz in Iran, the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, and the Bundelsi Wildlife Sanctuary in Zimbabwe. The committee noted that all three are facing threats from development, conflict, and climate change.
The Kathmandu Valley is home to a number of Buddhist monuments, as well as Hindu and medieval temples. The valley has been hit hard by earthquakes, and there is now increased concern about the impact of climate change on the area.
The Historical Monuments of Ahvaz are a group of ancient Zoroastrian tombs and temples that were first inscribed on the list in 1979. Since then, they have been threatened by archaeological looting and vandalism.
The Bundelsi Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a number of endangered animals, including lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, and rhinos. The sanctuary has also been affected by poaching for ivory and other animal parts.
What happens next for these sites?
The World Heritage Committee has added three more sites to the list of endangered World Heritage Sites: the cultural landscape of Bamiyan in Afghanistan, the forests of Proserpine in French Polynesia, and the coral reefs of the Philippines.
Since 1978, when UNESCO first designated World Heritage Sites, 223 sites have been added to the list. Of those, 106 (45%) are classified as “in danger,” meaning that they may face significant threats to their integrity. The addition of these three sites brings the total number of endangered World Heritage Sites to 54.
The Committee cited concerns over damage from illegal mining and tourism as reasons for inclusion on the list for Bamiyan and Proserpine. Tourism is one of main sources of income for many countries and can lead to increased damage to natural resources and cultural heritage. In addition, illegal mining activities can destroy cultural heritage sites completely or cause them irreversible damage.
The Committee also cited concern over the potential impact of climate change on these sites. Warmer temperatures are causing glaciers to melt faster, which could lead to an increase in water levels flooding surrounding areas and damaging archaeological remains. In addition, changes in rainfall patterns could affect important ecosystems and lead to a decline in biodiversity.
Conclusion
UNESCO World Heritage sites are some of the most iconic and historically significant places on Earth, so it is important to keep them safe. Three sites in danger have been added to UNESCO’s list, including the Pompeii ruins and the Gran Sasso mountain range. The sites are at risk from natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, as well as human activities like development and pollution. It is vital that we do everything we can to protect these irreplaceable heritage sites for future generations.
