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Thursday, December 24, 2015
Director-General condemns destruction of vestiges in the Ancient City of Bosra, a Syrian World Heritage site
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has condemned the destruction of parts of the Ancient City of Bosra during combats in the World Heritage ... -
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Almaty Agreement adopted in the Fourth meeting of the Coordinating Committee on the World Heritage Serial Nomination of the Silk Roads
Following the Fourth meeting of the Coordinating Committee on the World Heritage Serial Nomination of the Silk Roads in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 24-25 ... -
Monday, December 21, 2015
French Marine Protected Areas Agency steps up World Heritage Conservation
The work at the World Heritage Marine Programme would not be possible without the help of its partners and donors. This month, the Marine Programme ... -
Monday, December 21, 2015
The Management of Natural Heritage in Support of Sustainable Development: An Institutional Challenge in the Arab States
The World Heritage Centre organized an international meeting on natural heritage protection and management in the Arab States on 21 December at the ... -
Saturday, December 19, 2015
World Heritage Centre Director Mechtild Rossler discusses impact of climate change on World Heritage sites
In the framework of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), Mechtild Rössler, ... -
Friday, December 18, 2015
#FestiveVirunga Matching Challenge Launches Today!
Virunga National Park, a World Heritage site in Democratic Republic of the Congo, has launched a #FestiveVirunga appeal to raise funds for the park’s ... -
Friday, December 18, 2015
International Conference on “Culture for Sustainable Cities” (Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, 10-12 December 2015)
On 12 December 2015, the participants of the International Conference on “Culture for Sustainable Cities” (10-12 December 2015, Hangzhou, People’s ... -
Friday, December 18, 2015
The European Commission supports a new phase of the Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative
The European Commission continues its support of the Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initative (CAWHFI) by allocating 5 million Euro over the ... -
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
United Nations exhibition highlights the protection of cultural heritage
On 15 December, the Representatives of Italy, Jordan, UNESCO, INTERPOL, UNODC officially opened an exhibition on the protection of cultural heritage ... -
Friday, December 11, 2015
Malagasy government stepping up the conservation of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana
On 7 December 2015, during the COP 21, the Malagasy Minister of the Environment, Ecology, the Sea and the Forests, Ralava Beboarimisa, met with Edmond ... -
Friday, December 11, 2015
Call for Participants: Regional Youth Forum for World Heritage in Africa (Deadline 31 January 2016)
UNESCO is pleased to announce the Call for Participants for the Regional Youth Forum for the World Heritage in Africa, which will take place 28 April ... -
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Congonhas Museum will be inaugurated at World Heritage site
On 15 December, UNESCO in Brazil, the Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) and the Municipal Government of Congonhas will inaugurate ... -
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Qatar Development Fund boosts UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund
The Qatar Development Fund (QDF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) signed today their first Memorandum ... -
Monday, December 7, 2015
COP21: President of Kiribati reaffirms commitment to World Heritage conservation
At COP21 on 5 December 2015, the President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, met with Mechtild Rössler, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The ... -
Monday, December 7, 2015
Improved Safeguarding for Cultural Heritage Threatened by Armed Conflict and Natural Disasters Aim of Regional Conference
Armed conflict and natural disasters pose a dire threat to cultural heritage throughout the Asia-Pacific region. News stories are becoming all too ... -
Thursday, December 3, 2015
International Expert Meeting on the Responsibility to Protect as applied to the Protection of Cultural Heritage
UNESCO organized an International Expert Meeting on the Responsibility to Protect as applied to the Protection of Cultural Heritage from 26 to 27 ... -
Thursday, December 3, 2015
2015-2016 World Heritage Map Published
The latest version of the World Heritage map, produced by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and National Geographic Maps with the generous support of ... -
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Government of Belize bans offshore oil exploration at Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage site
At its cabinet meeting yesterday, the Belize government approved a policy that will legally ban offshore exploration in all seven areas that make up ... -
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Striving toward Sustainable Tourism at the World Heritage sites in Southeast Asia
In the framework of the project entitled “The Power of Culture: Supporting Community-Based Management and Sustainable Tourism at World Heritage Sites ... -
Monday, November 30, 2015
COP21: German Environment Minister meets with Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre
On 29 November 2015, Barbara Hendricks, Federal Environment Minister for Germany, met with Mechtild Rössler, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage ... -
Friday, November 27, 2015
Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation joins Marine World Heritage
The Arctic stretches across the top of the planet, spanning 5.5 million square miles. Its icy waters are home to wildlife found nowhere else, ... -
Friday, November 27, 2015
Regional heritage management training centre - Lucio Costa Centre establishes its governance offices
On 26-27 November 2015, at a meeting held within the framework of a signed agreement between Brazil and UNESCO the first Board of Directors of the ... -
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Stepping up capacity to assist East Rennell’s removal from Danger List
The Solomon Islands host a chain of coral atolls in the western Pacific, about 1800 kilometers northeast of Australia. The southernmost island in the ... -
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Marine World Heritage at COP21
Beginning next week, world leaders are convening in Paris for the 21st Conference of Parties (also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference). Their ... -
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre visits Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam
On 24 November 2015, at the occasion of a visit to Viet Nam to attend the celebration of the 70th anniversary of UNESCO, Mechtild Rossler, Director of ... -
Monday, November 23, 2015
20th General Assembly of the World Heritage Convention adopts new policy on sustainable development
On 19 November 2015, the 20th General Assembly of the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention adopted a Policy on the integration of a ... -
Friday, November 20, 2015
HIA & EIA Discussion held at World Heritage General Assembly Side Event
The World Heritage Centre, with the participation of ICOMOS, IUCN and ICCROM, organized a side event on Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) and ... -
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage property (Australia)
A reactive monitoring mission by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) to ... -
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Nine new members elected to World Heritage Committee
The 20th General Assembly of the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention met from 18 to 20 November 2015 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, ... -
Thursday, November 19, 2015
UNESCO Director-General condemns the murder of a guard at Okapi Wildlife Reserve, World Heritage site
On November 13, 2015, a guard of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) was the victim of an attack that cost him his life at ... -
Thursday, November 19, 2015
World Heritage Youth Project on Marine Biodiversity & Climate Change in Panama: Call for Participants
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is pleased to announce the Call for Participants for the Caribbean World Heritage Youth Project on Marine ... -
Thursday, November 19, 2015
TV weather presenters interpret climate change impacts on World Heritage sites
The World Meteorological Organization is launching a series of climate change videos featuring TV weather presenters ahead of the COP21 climate ... -
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
May 5th: African World Heritage Day
On 16 November 2015, the 38th Session of the General Conference of UNESCO adopted a resolution proclaiming May 5th as African World Heritage Day, in ... -
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre meets with Haitian Minister of Culture
On 17 November 2015, the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Mechtild Rössler and her team met with the Haitian Minister of Culture, Ms ... -
Saturday, November 14, 2015
The Director-General of UNESCO expresses solidarity with France following the attacks in Paris
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today condemned the attacks, unprecedented in the history of France, perpetrated in Paris on 13 ... -
Friday, November 13, 2015
UNESCO celebrates 10 years of achievements of the African World Heritage Fund
On the occasion of the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, Ms. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Stanley Mutumba Simataa, ... -
Friday, November 13, 2015
Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre meets team from the European Bank for Reconstruction (EBRD)
The Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre has met with the team from the European Bank for Reconstruction and exchanged views on heritage ... -
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities gives $200,000USD for Arab States World Heritage sites conservation
On 12 November 2015, H.E. Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Chairperson of the ... -
Thursday, November 12, 2015
UNESCO and IUCN welcome new no-go pledge for World Heritage sites by Tullow Oil
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, the official advisory body on natural World Heritage, have ... -
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
World Heritage Centre Director and Panama Minister of Environment discuss conservation issues in Coiba National Park
On 10 November 2015, World Heritage Centre Director Mechtild Rössler, and Panama Minister of Environment Mirei Endara, met for the first time since ... -
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Modern Heritage: Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre meets with DOCOMOMO Chair
The meeting between Mechtild Rössler, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and Ana Tostões on 10 November 2015 focused on conservation and ... -
Monday, November 9, 2015
Syrian Antiquities Director attends General Conference and meets with UNESCO Director-General to discuss heritage protection
Today Mr Mamoun Abdulkarim, Director-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM, Syrian Arab Republic) met with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, ... -
Monday, November 9, 2015
2015 WHITRAP Asia-Pacific Region Training on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL)
Pacific Region Training on HUL in Shanghai (China) 14-17 December 2015 The 2015 WHITRAP Asia-Pacific Region Training on Historic Urban Landscaoe ... -
Friday, November 6, 2015
Exceptional cooperation for updating Cabo Verde’s Tentative List
On 22 October 2015, the UNESCO Regional Office in Dakar united 31 experts, site managers, advisory body and community representatives in Cabo Verde to ... -
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
World Heritage Volunteers 2016 - Call for Projects
The World Heritage Centre (WHC) is pleased to announce the Call for Projects for the World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Campaign 2016. In the framework ... -
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Emergency support for elephant crisis in DRC
The Rapid Response Facility has made an emergency grant to Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help tackle the continuing ... -
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Published: Our Common Heritage: the Finnish National World Heritage Strategy 2015 – 2025
The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has published a positive strategic plan for the preservation of world’s heritage for the next ten ... -
Monday, November 2, 2015
Korean National Commission for UNESCO donates 100,000 USD to World Heritage Fund
On 1st November 2015, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO announced a donation of 100,000 USD to the World Heritage Fund. The announcement ... -
Monday, November 2, 2015
International Course on First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis
Many different types of professionals respond to an unfolding crisis.This course provides strategies for interlocking culture specialists with ... -
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Scientists convene in Paris to explore World Heritage in High Seas
Christmas Eve 1968 might seem like a strange date to mark as a pivotal point in our understanding of Earth. Yet it was on that date that William ... -
Monday, October 26, 2015
Proposal for wind park offshore from Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage site rejected
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre welcomes the U.K. government's decision to reject the planning permission for the Navitus Bay Wind Park proposal ... -
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
A 7000 Eur Grant for a Project Awarded to a young person from the Mediterranean
Call for Applications for Cultural Mediterranean Projects. The Marc de Montalembert grant - 7000 euros - helps young people from countries bordering ... -
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Albania supports UNESCO's efforts for the Lake Ohrid region
The Albanian government has joined the EU in supporting UNESCO’s project aimed at the sustainable development of the Lake Ohrid region, a ... -
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Shell’s departure ends oil threat to Arctic gem
On September 27, six weeks after it began exploratory drilling off the Northwest Coast of Alaska, Royal Dutch Shell announced that it is abandoning ... -
Monday, October 5, 2015
Biodiversity Award of Prince Albert III of Monaco Foundation given to Emmanuel de Merode, Director of Virunga National Park
During the eighth Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Awards prize-giving ceremony, held in Monaco on 2 October 2015, H.S.H. Prince Albert II ... -
Monday, October 5, 2015
UNESCO Director-General condemns the destruction of the Arch of Triumph in Palmyra - "Extremists are terrified of history"
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, strongly condemned the destruction of the Arch of Triumph in Palmyra, a civil monument two thousand ... -
Monday, October 5, 2015
Turin to build on EXPO theme by showcasing sustainable management of UNESCO designated territories
From 13 to 16 October 2015, Turin will host the 3rd World Forum on Local Economic Development and launch the EXTO-EXPO 2015 programme. Within this ... -
Sunday, October 4, 2015
State of conservation of Venice and its lagoon (Italy)
In October 2015, a joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/RAMSAR reactive monitoring mission will take place to the World Heritage site "Venice and its lagoon”(Italy), ... -
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Joint Statement by the Liaison Group of the Biodiversity-related Conventions on the occasion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 25-27 September 2015
Biodiversity and sustainable development are inextricably linked. Biodiversity, at the level of ecosystems, species and genes, forms the foundation of ... -
Monday, September 28, 2015
UNESCO to develop capacities of World Heritage site managers in Romania
Sustainable planning and management of tourism is one of the most pressing challenges facing the World Heritage Convention today and is the focus of ... -
Sunday, September 27, 2015
World Tourism Day, 27 September 2015: “One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities”
The UNESCO Heritage Division and its World Heritage Centre is very pleased to participate in World Tourism Day, especially given the collaboration of ... -
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Impunity for war crimes against cultural heritage must stop
New York, 26 September — The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today welcomed transfer of an alleged extremist to the International Criminal ... -
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Second Transboundary Meeting for Lake Ohrid region
The second Transboundary Platform Meeting of the project “Towards strengthened governance of the shared transboundary natural and cultural heritage of ... -
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Mechtild Rössler appointed Director Division for Heritage & World Heritage Centre
Mechtild Rössler has been appointed Director of the Division for Heritage and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. An expert in both cultural and ... -
Monday, September 21, 2015
West Norwegian Fjords and Glacier Bay join forces to strengthen conservation in marine World Heritage
Last month, the Marine World Heritage Programme traveled to Norway to facilitate an exchange between the West Norwegian Fjords - Geirangerfjord and ... -
Monday, September 21, 2015
Jaeger-LeCoultre helps Cocos Island National Park fight poaching
Illegal fishing threatens 30% of Marine World Heritage sites, and resources for monitoring and enforcement are always a challenge. Thanks to long-time ... -
Thursday, September 17, 2015
UNESCO workshop “African World Heritage: challenges, opportunities and prospects” held 9-11 September 2015
Following the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee and in view of the 10th anniversary of UNESCO/African Union launching of the African World ... -
Monday, September 14, 2015
1st Youth Regional Forum for World Heritage in Asia: Call for Participants
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is pleased to announce the Call for Participants for the First Youth Regional Forum for the World Heritage in ... -
Sunday, September 13, 2015
New Episode of Patrimonito’s World Heritage Adventures Available
The thirteenth Episode of the Patrimonito cartoon films on the theme of World Heritage and Biodiversity is now available. The plot is set in the ... -
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Corps established to strengthen security in DRC National Parks
The World Heritage Centre congratulates the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for the establishment of a Corps with the aim of securing national ... -
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
World Heritage Site Management Workshop in Belgium
The City of Brussels recently hosted a workshop entitled "Inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: New perspectives for local development", ... -
Monday, September 7, 2015
Bhutan 2015: Workshop and Forum on the Cultural Landscape and Sustaining its Significance
UNESCO World Heritage Centre and UNESCO New Delhi Office, in close collaboration with the Department of Culture of the Royal Government of Bhutan, ... -
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Director-General Irina Bokova expresses consternation at the destruction of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, expressed profound dismay as she condemned the destruction of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, one of the ... -
Monday, August 24, 2015
Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova firmly condemns the destruction of Palmyra's ancient temple of Baalshamin, Syria
The Director-General of UNESCO firmly condemns the destruction of the ancient temple of Baalshamin, an iconic part of the Syrian site of Palmyra, a ... -
Friday, August 21, 2015
Director-General Irina Bokova deplores the loss of two leading scholars of Syrian antiquity
The Syrian cultural heritage community suffered two immense blows within one week with the murder of archaeologist Khaled Assad in Palmyra and the ... -
Friday, August 21, 2015
Director-General Irina Bokova condemns the destruction of the Mar Elian monastery in Syria
The Director-General of UNESCO strongly condemns the destruction of the Mar Elian monastery located in the Syrian town of al-Qaryatayn. The monastery ... -
Friday, August 14, 2015
Building capacity in the Galapagos Islands to strengthen fisheries compliance
World Heritage marine sites are only as effective as their compliance programs, and marine protected areas around the world struggle to combat illegal ... -
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
World Heritage Volunteers 2015 Action Camps welcome the International Youth Day on 12 August
On the occasion of International Youth Day, over ten Action Camps will be carried on in the framework of the World Heritage Volunteers 2015 campaign. ... -
Friday, August 7, 2015
Job Vacancy: Deputy Director, World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region (WHITRAP Shanghai)
Job Vacancy: Deputy Director of the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of ... -
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
State of conservation of Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Over the last several months,the World Heritage Centre has been receiving numerous messages from citizens and NGOs expressing their concern regarding ... -
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
UNESCO and Iraq launch project for conservation of World Heritage site of Samarra
UNESCO and Iraq today signed an agreement for the Conservation and Management of the World Heritage site of Samarra Archaeological City, which will ... -
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Vacancy: Integrated Management Planning Capacity Building Expert
European Union and UNESCO initiative: "Towards strengthened governance of the shared transboundary natural and cultural heritage of the Lake Ohrid ... -
Monday, July 20, 2015
Historic Local community meeting in New Caledonia to strengthen World Heritage conservation
From 3 to 4 July 2015, almost 120 people that are involved in the management of the World Heritage site Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and ... -
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Director-General praises the people of Timbuktu for the reconstruction of the city’s mausoleums
Timbuktu, Mali, 19 July—The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova yesterday visited Timbuktu whose mausoleums have been rebuilt three years after ... -
Friday, July 17, 2015
Aggtelek National Park, Hungary celebrates 20 years on World Heritage List
Aggtelek National Park (ANP) was established in 1985 to protect the uniquely rich natural and cultural heritage in the region, and in particular the ... -
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Call for applications for the new edition of the Masters in "World Heritage and Cultural Projects for Development” - English and Spanish
The call for applications for the new edition of the Masters in "World Heritage and Cultural Projects for Development", offered by the University of ... -
Thursday, July 16, 2015
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova Presents World Heritage Certificate to President Peña Nieto of Mexico
Director-General Irina Bokova presented the President of Mexico, HE Enrique Peña Nieto, the certificate of inscription to UNESCO’s World Heritage List ... -
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage announced
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today announced an Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage upon the conclusion of ... -
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Private Sector partners for World Heritage meet in Bonn during 39th Committee session
A World Heritage partners’ event and panel discussion took place on 2nd July hosted by the German Television Deutsche Welle in Bonn, on the occasion ... -
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
World Heritage Committee announces 2016 meeting in Istanbul, 24 new sites inscribed in Bonn
The World Heritage Committee ended its meeting today announcing it will hold its next session in Istanbul, Turkey, from 10 to 20 July 2016. During ... -
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
UNESCO takes World Heritage to Archeologists
From July 1 to 3, 2015, University of Zimbabwe hosted the Biennial Conference of the Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists ... -
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Sites in Japan, Turkey, Mexico, Uruguay inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, extension of Spanish site approved
The World Heritage Committee this afternoon approved the inscription of four cultural sites on the World Heritage List: Sites of Japan’s Meiji ... -
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Sites in Norway, Germany, Israel, UK and USA inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
The World Heritage Committee this morning approved the inscription of five cultural sites on World Heritage List: Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage ... -
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Sites in Denmark, France and Turkey inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
The World Heritage Committee this afternoon approved the inscription of five cultural sites on World Heritage List. Two Danish sites were added to the ... -
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Sites in China, Iran, Mongolia and Singapore inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
The World Heritage Committee this morning approved the inscription of six cultural sites on World Heritage List: Tusi Sites (China), Susa, Cultural ... -
Friday, July 3, 2015
Sites in Italy, Jordan and Saudi Arabia inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
The World Heritage Committee inscribed three new cultural sites on the World Heritage List this afternoon: Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral ... -
Friday, July 3, 2015
Irina Bokova condemns latest destruction of cultural property from the site of Palmyra in Syria
The Director-General of UNESCO firmly condemned the destruction of cultural property at Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, particularly damage to ... -
Friday, July 3, 2015
World Heritage Committee approves extensions to two natural sites in South Africa and Viet Nam and inscribes Jamaica’s first site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
The World Heritage Committee this morning approved the extension of two natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage List: Cape Floral Region ... -
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Yemen’s Old City of Sana’a and Old Walled City of Shibam added to List of World Heritage in Danger
The World Heritage Committee today inscribed two sites in Yemen on the List of World Heritage in Danger: the Old City of Sana’a and the Old Walled ... -
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
The Iraqi site of Hatra added to the List of World Heritage in Danger
The World Heritage site of Hatra in Iraq has been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to damage inflicted to the property by armed ... -
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
UNESCO and UNITAR-UNOSAT team up to protect cultural heritage with geo-spatial technologies
UNESCO and UNITAR (the UN Institute for Training and Research) have signed an agreement to protect cultural and natural heritage sites with the latest ... -
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Colombia’s Los Katíos National Park removed from List of Heritage in Danger
Significant improvements in the management of Los Katíos National Park in Colombia have allowed for the site to be removed from the List of World ... -
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Reconstruction of Timbuktu mausoleums nears completion
Three years after their destruction by extremists, the Timbuktu mausoleums are nearly restored through the extraordinary work carried out by local ... -
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Special Issue of World Heritage Review on Iraq
Iraq, a country in turmoil within a very unstable region, is fighting a cultural battle in the real sense of the word. This special issue of World ... -
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Chairpersons of six UNESCO Culture Conventions meet
On 29 June, during the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in Bonn, Germany, the Chairs of the six UNESCO culture conventions* met for the ... -
Monday, June 29, 2015
Launch of global Unite for Heritage Coalition in Bonn
Bonn, 29 June—The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today launched the Global Coalition, Unite for Heritage, during the 39th session of the ... -
Sunday, June 28, 2015
World Heritage Committee opens with an appeal to protect cultural heritages sites targeted for destruction
Bonn (Germany) - An appeal for the international community to counter the new threat of violent extremism and cultural cleansing was issued at the ... -
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Managing effectively the world’s most iconic marine protected areas: A Best Practice Guide
The publication launched today, “Managing effectively the world’s most iconic Marine Protected Areas. A Best Practice Guide” lays the groundwork for a ... -
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Great Apes Emphasize Biosphere Importance
Chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans are essential to the visibility and viability of many biosphere reserves across Africa and Asia, according to an ... -
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
In memoriam: Professor Chahryar Adle
The World Heritage Centre and the History and Memory for Dialogue Section of UNESCO have learned with deep sadness of the recent passing of Professor ... -
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
World Heritage in Germany: Game created for young people
Kulturweit, a volunteer organization of the German Commission for UNESCO and the German Federal Foreign Office, has designed a card game called “World ... -
Thursday, June 18, 2015
[in French only] Formation internationale "Construire ensemble l'avenir des sites patrimoniaux,élaborer et mettre en œuvre une gestion durable", 5ème édition, 29 juin - 10 juillet 2015
[in French only] Du 29 juin au 10 juillet 2015, 13 gestionnaires de sites patrimoniaux issus de 11 pays (Burkina Faso, Colombie, Comores, Côte ... -
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Sourcebook on national level cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions published
UNEP has published a Sourcebook of Opportunities for Enhancing Cooperation among the Biodiversity-related Conventions at National and Regional Levels, ... -
Monday, June 15, 2015
World Heritage Volunteers 2015 and #UNITE4HERITAGE
The World Heritage Centre is pleased to announce the Call for Participants for the World Heritage Volunteers 2015 and #Unite4Heritage common ... -
Friday, June 12, 2015
The Director General of UNESCO condemns the destruction of historic buildings in the Old City of Sana’a, Yemen
In the early hours of 12 June 2015, the Old City of Sana’a, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was hit by a bombing raid. Several houses and historic ... -
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in Europe
The Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting Exercise in the Europe and North America region was launched at the 36th session of the World Heritage ... -
Thursday, June 11, 2015
State of Conservation of the Historic Centre of Vienna (Austria)
The World Heritage Centre is receiving correspondence from many NGOs and concerned citizens regarding a proposed high-rise project, and other matters, ... -
Thursday, June 11, 2015
UNESCO raises safety concerns on the reopening of Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site
The devastating earthquakes of 25 April and the aftershocks that followed have heavily damaged the monuments and sites within the Kathmandu Valley ... -
Monday, June 8, 2015
Relais & Châteaux and SeaWeb Europe celebrate Marine World Heritage on World Oceans Day by promoting sustainable seafood
As the world’s population grows, demand for fresh seafood is rising, and stocks are being stretched to the limit. Climate change impacts further ... -
Friday, June 5, 2015
World Heritage Committee to meet in Bonn 28 June to 8 July
The World Heritage Committee will examine proposals to inscribe 37 properties on UNESCO’s World Heritage List when it meets at the international ... -
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
UNESCO Director-General condemns airstrikes on Yemen’s cultural heritage
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has condemned the airstrikes on the ancient city of Marib in Yemen and is calling on all parties ... -
Thursday, May 28, 2015
“Saving the cultural heritage of Iraq” ‒ Director-General welcomes Adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova addressed today’s Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly, which adopted unanimously a resolution on “Saving ... -
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
1st Management Planning Workshop in Korça, Albania, to improve transboundary management at Lake Ohrid
The 1st Management Planning Workshop to protect the transboundary Lake Ohrid region took place on 25-26 March in Korça, Albania. The workshop is part ... -
Friday, May 22, 2015
Vice Premier of China Asserts Significance of UNESCO for Dialogue and Peace
The Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Ms Liu Yandong, pledged her country’s ambition to push her Government’s broad collaboration with ... -
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Mauritania, Philippines and Australia apply for better protection for marine World Heritage sites at International Maritime Organisation
Worldwide shipping traffic has increased 300% since 1992, and this growing industry does not leave World Heritage marine sites immune to its ... -
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
UNESCO Director-General calls for immediate cessation of hostilities in Palmyra
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has called for an immediate end to hostilities in Palmyra (Syria) following reports from several sources ... -
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
State of conservation of Venice and its lagoon (Italy)
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is receiving messages expressing concern about the state of conservation of the World Heritage property "Venice and ... -
Thursday, May 14, 2015
“We must save Palmyra" says UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today expressed her deep concern over reports of fighting near Palmyra, endangering the local population ... -
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
UNESCO launches emergency response plan to safeguard Yemen cultural heritage
Amid reports of several cultural heritage sites being damaged across Yemen, UNESCO Office for the GCC and Yemen has developed a series of emergency ... -
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
UNESCO Director-General calls on all parties to protect Yemen’s cultural heritage
Amid alarming reports about bombing of the World Heritage Site of the Old City of Sana’a, UNESCO’s Director-General calls on all parties to protect ... -
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Director-General Signs Condolences Book for Nepal
On 6 May, the Director-General expressed her sincere condolences to the Government and people of Nepal in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake ... -
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
State of conservation of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is receiving petitions expressing concern about the state of conservation of the World Heritage property Monarch ... -
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
#Unite4Heritage: United Nations University joins UNESCO campaign to protect heritage in danger
The United Nations University (UNU) and UNESCO today brought together scholars, archeologists, historians and writers to discuss ways of opposing the ... -
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Director-General meets Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
On 4 May, during her official visit to Estonia, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Ms ... -
Monday, May 4, 2015
Attacks against Cultural Heritage – What can UNESCO do?
On 4 May, on the occasion of her official visit to Estonia, the Director General, Ms Irina Bokova, gave a lecture at the Estonian Academy of Arts on ... -
Monday, May 4, 2015
Director-General meets Estonian Minister of Culture
On 4 May, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, met with the Minister of Culture, Mr Indrek Saar. The Minister congratulated UNESCO on the ... -
Monday, May 4, 2015
Director-General on Official Visit to Estonia
From 4 to 5 May, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, is travelling to Estonia for an official visit, where she is expected to meet with a number of ... -
Thursday, April 30, 2015
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) trek in the Dja Faunal Reserve
Following an AWF-led great apes conservation workshop in Yaoundé scheduled from April 22nd to 23rd, the AWF will lead a trek initiative from April ... -
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
In memoriam: Dr Ronald Van Oers
The World Heritage Centre announces with profound sadness the passing on 28 April 2015 of Dr Ronald Van Oers, Vice Director of the World Heritage ... -
Monday, April 27, 2015
UNESCO to assess the impact on Nepal’s cultural heritage of the devastating earthquake
“As we are receiving more information from the ground, I am deeply aggrieved by the magnitude of human loss caused by the earthquake in Nepal. I am ... -
Monday, April 27, 2015
"Culture stands on the front-line of conflict - it should be at the front-line of peace building,” Director-General states to UN Security Council
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, and the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Jürgen Stock, addressed members of the UN Security Council on ... -
Saturday, April 25, 2015
UNESCO Director General expresses distress after earthquake in Nepal
The Director-General, Irina Bokova, has expressed her profound sympathy to the government and people of Nepal after the devastating earthquake that ... -
Friday, April 24, 2015
Great Apes Infographic Highlights World Heritage Importance
The endangered chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and bonobos found at World Heritage sites in Africa and Asia underscore the importance of these ... -
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Virunga: a challenge for conservation and sustainable development
A screening of the movie “Virunga” was organized at UNESCO Headquarters, attended by a thousand people, in the framework of the celebration of the ... -
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Jaeger-LeCoultre brings spotlight on marine World Heritage on Earth Day
UNESCO could not conserve the Crown Jewels of the Ocean without support from public and private partner organizations around the world. In a world ... -
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
[in French only] L’approche basée sur le paysage urbain historique contribue à la conservation durable de Cidade Velha
[in French only] Les gestionnaires de Cidade Velha et de plusieurs villes de Cabo Verde, les communautés locales, les experts nationaux et ... -
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Vacancy: Local Facilitator to the Advisory Bodies
Towards strengthened governance of the shared transboundary natural and cultural heritage of the Lake Ohrid Region: Local Facilitator, Albania IUCN ... -
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Inventory and cultural mapping of Sultanate’s architectural and urban heritage
In 2008 the NGO “Collectif du patrimoine des Comores” launched an inventory and cultural mapping project of the architectural and urban heritage of ... -
Monday, April 13, 2015
UNESCO Director-General condemns destruction at Nimrud
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today denounced further destruction at the archeological site of Nimrud in Iraq, shown in graphic detail on a ... -
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Mayor of Istanbul and the Director-General celebrate the 30th anniversary of the inscription of the Historic Areas of Istanbul on the World Heritage List
H.E. Mr Kadir Topbas, Lord Mayor of Istanbul, visited UNESCO on the occasion of the Organization’s 70thanniversary, coinciding with the 30th ... -
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
New management plan at Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park puts focus on Outstanding Universal Value
The Philippines’ Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a spectacular reef system in the famed Coral Triangle. The park encompasses 970 km² of coral atolls ... -
Thursday, April 2, 2015
The Director-General of UNESCO calls for all Syrians to commit to the safeguarding of cultural Heritage in Bosra and Idlib
In the context of the recent escalation of hostilities in Bosra and Idlib, the UNESCO Director-General, Ms Irina Bokova, reiterates her call for the ... -
Monday, March 30, 2015
Peer learning between Galapagos Islands and Great Barrier Reef
The differences in culture might be as big as the ocean between them, but Australia and Ecuador are home to two of the world’s best-known natural ... -
Saturday, March 28, 2015
#Unite4Heritage campaign launched by UNESCO Director-General in Baghdad
UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, launched #Unite4Heritage at Baghdad University – a social media campaign to counter the propaganda of cultural ... -
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Ngorongoro Conservation Area sets path for sustainable tourism
Ngorongoro Conservation Area joins Lake Malawi National Park, Maloti-Drakensberg Park (South Africa and Lesotho) and Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls ... -
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
“We stand together” to protect Iraq's cultural heritage, says French President with UNESCO Director-General
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and French President Francois Hollande today sent a strong message of solidarity to the people of Iraq and Syria, ... -
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova expresses solidarity with Tunisia following deadly attack at Bardo Museum
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today condemned the deadly attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunis, and expressed her support and solidarity with ... -
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Save Virunga’s elephants
“The Elephant Collaring Project Team” from Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an initiative which aims at strengthening ... -
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
First Management Planning Workshop to begin for transboundary Lake Ohrid region
The first management planning workshop in a series of five will take place on 25 and 26 March 2015 in the Korça region, Albania. The workshop is ... -
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Launch of Website – Germany looking forward to hosting World Heritage Committee
Upcoming 39th session due to take place in Bonn, Germany. The annual highlight for the World Heritage community is drawing near: From 28 June to 8 ... -
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Resiliency and Cultural Heritage discussed at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
UNESCO, in partnership with the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs (ACA), the Japanese National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH), ICCROM ... -
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
UNESCO mobilizes the international community to end cultural cleansing in Iraq
Since the beginning of the conflict in Iraq, in addition to the tragic loss of human life and the humanitarian crisis associated to the persecution of ... -
Monday, March 9, 2015
Minister of State Böhmer condemns destruction of Iraqi cultural sites in Nimrud by the ISIS terrorist group and calls for peace in Iraq
Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office and Chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee Maria Böhmer issued the following statement in Berlin ... -
Saturday, March 7, 2015
"Destruction of Hatra marks a turning point in the cultural cleansing underway in iraq" say heads of UNESCO and ISESCO
Since the beginning of the conflict in Iraq, in addition to the tragic loss of human life and the humanitarian crisis associated to the persecution of ... -
Friday, March 6, 2015
UNESCO Director General condemns destruction of Nimrud in Iraq
“I condemn in the strongest possible manner the destruction of the archaeological site of Nimrud site in Iraq. This is yet another attack against the ... -
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Director-General welcomes UN Security Council statement on destruction of artifacts at Mosul Museum
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has welcomed the UN Security Council's statement denouncing the attack on the Mosul Museum. "This ... -
Saturday, February 28, 2015
UNESCO Director-General welcomes the reopening of the Baghdad Museum
"The reopening of the Baghdad Museum is a powerful symbol, coming in the wake of the destruction perpetrated in Mosul. To fight violent extremism and ... -
Friday, February 27, 2015
March 3rd is World Wildlife Day
"It is time to get serious about wildlife crime" This year’s theme for World Wildlife Day is right in line with one of the key goals of the World ... -
Friday, February 27, 2015
UNESCO calls for mobilization to stop "cultural cleansing" in Iraq
“I was filled with dismay by images of the attack on the Mosul Museum, as well as on other archaeological sites in the Nineveh region in Iraq,” said ... -
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Director-General requests UN Security Council meeting on destruction of heritage in Mosul
“I am deeply shocked by footage released today showing the destruction of statues and other artefacts of the Mosul Museum. I condemn this as a ... -
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
International Conference on Archaeological Parks and Sites held in Oman 23-25 February 2015
A major international conference was organized by ICOMOS Oman at Dhofar University in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman to review archaeological heritage ... -
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Call for expression of interest for the evaluation of the African World Heritage Fund
Established as a Category II Centre under the auspices of UNESCO in October 2009, the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is an inter-governmental ... -
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
World Heritage Young Experts Forum 2015 in Germany “Towards a Sustainable Management of World Heritage Sites”
Prior to the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee, a Young Experts Forum will be held from 18 to 29 June 2015 in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley ... -
Thursday, February 12, 2015
UNESCO Director-General welcomes UN Security Council Resolution to step up protection of cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq
The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Irina Bokova, welcomed the adoption of a new UN Security Council Resolution 2199 that condemns the destruction of ... -
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture gathers Ministers of Tourism and Culture for the first time
Over 900 participants, including over 45 Ministers and Vice Ministers of Tourism and Culture, international experts, speakers and guests from 100 ... -
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Banc d’Arguin National Park inspires young people to preserve World Heritage
With support from UNESCO’s World Heritage Marine Programme, the Banc d’Arguin National Park in Mauritania organized a series of educational activities ... -
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Director General, job vacancy
The secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is currently recruiting a Director General (DG). SPREP is the regional ... -
Friday, February 6, 2015
Ecuador intensifies actions to reduce risks from ship stranding in Galápagos Islands
On Wednesday, 28 January, the cargo ship Floreana stranded near San Cristobal, an island that is part of the Galápagos islands World Heritage ... -
Friday, February 6, 2015
2014-2015 World Heritage Map Published
The latest version of the World Heritage map, produced by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and National Geographic Maps with the generous support of ... -
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
UNESCO and Panasonic inspire pupils in Fujian, China, to become ambassadors of World Heritage protection
Since their first agreement signed in 2011, UNESCO and Panasonic have worked together to educate young people about protecting natural and cultural ... -
Monday, February 2, 2015
World Heritage stakeholders come together to develop a sustainable tourism strategy for Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls
World heritage site managers and tourism stakeholders from Zambia and Zimbabwe came together for the first time to initiate the process to develop a ... -
Monday, February 2, 2015
World Heritage N° 74: Disasters and resilience
Issue 74 of World Heritage magazine World Heritage sites are exposed to a wide variety of natural and human-induced hazards, such as earthquakes, ... -
Friday, January 30, 2015
Bamako conference urges emergency action to safeguard manuscripts
Storage conditions of ancient manuscripts smuggled out of Timbuktu to Bamako in 2012 must be improved rapidly to avoid decay, concluded participants ...