The World Conservation Union recommends three new sites for inscription on World Heritage List
World Heritage Committee will take decisions next week at its 30th session in Vilnius, Lithuania
Gland, Switzerland (IUCN) – China’s Giant Panda Sanctuaries, the species rich Pacific waters surrounding Colombia’s
Malpelo Island, and the uplifting Kvarken Archipelago of Finland are the three natural sites that IUCN recommends for
inscription on the World Heritage List this year. These recommendations are based on a rigorous year-long evaluation
process, including expert missions to all sites, and wide consultation.
The World Heritage Committee will consider 37 new cultural and natural sites nominated for UNESCO’s prestigious World
Heritage List at its meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania from 8-16 July 2006. As the official advisory body on natural World
Heritage sites, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) will present recommendations to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee
on the eight natural and two mixed sites (both natural and cultural) applying for World Heritage status this year. These
sites are located in Azerbaijan, China, Colombia, Finland, Gabon, Indonesia, Israel, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, and
Spain. IUCN will also propose action to take for other World Heritage sites under threat.
Sites under threat
Out of 184 natural and mixed World Heritage sites, currently 15 feature on the List of World Heritage in Danger,
endangered by dam construction, war, poaching, deforestation, and poor management, amongst other issues.
Amongst the sites IUCN will report on are the Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo), in danger of loosing
the last Northern white rhino alive in the wild; the so-called ‘Three Parallel Rivers’ of Yunnan (China), possibly
threatened by dam construction; the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) whose unique biodiversity is in jeopardy by fishing and
invasive species; and Sumatra’s Tropical Rainforest (Indonesia), endangered by extensive deforestation and agricultural
encroachment. Following field missions to a large number of sites, IUCN will be advising the Committee to make strong
statements to governments and to call for international collaboration and support in relation to sites under threat.
Climate Change
With climate change high on the international agenda, next week’s meeting will look at ways in which World Heritage
sites can be affected and possible response strategies that might build on the collaborative network and flagship
functions of the Convention.
Outstanding Universal Value
With many countries striving to achieve World Heritage status for their heritage sites, the Committee will debate the
interpretation and application of the concept of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’, the standard required for a site to
attain World Heritage status. IUCN believes that the credibility of the Convention lies in ensuring that only the very
best, globally important sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List. IUCN will present a paper to the Committee next
week outlining its position and proposals for ensuring a technical, non-biased approach to evaluating nominated sites
and assessing ‘Outstanding Universal Value’.