World Heritage status signifies that a place is unique and irreplaceable. But the recognition comes with responsibilities.
As a condition for receiving the World Heritage designation, nations commit to safeguarding these sites of Outstanding Universal Value for future generations. Once a site achieves World Heritage status, its conservation is continuously monitored. The monitoring results inform the World Heritage Committee who holds nations accountable for their action (or non-action) to protect the special place for humanity. This oversight is carried out by UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre in collaboration with its Advisory Bodies and is the only such mechanism in the world.
Explore over 40 years of conservation decisions for the 50 World Heritage marine sites across 37 nations
State of Conservation Highlights
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System removed from UNESCO List in Danger
On 26 June 2018, the World Heritage Committee decided to remove the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the world’s second largest coral reef, from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The decision followed an intensive period of landmark conservation action by the government of Belize including a permanent oil moratorium, new regulations for mangrove protection and measures to regulate unsustainable development.
Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California declared in Danger
In July 2019, the World Heritage Committee inscribed the Islands and Protected areas of the Gulf of California in Mexico on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Central to the decision is the current vulnerable situation of the critically endangered vaquita species. The vaquita population has declined drastically mainly due to the continued illegal use of gillnets to capture the endemic totoaba.
Experts assess state of conservation at East Rennell in Solomon Islands
In May 2019, the World Heritage Centre and IUCN visited East Rennell in Solomon Islands to evaluate conservation progress of the site currently on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The mission team discussed avenues for sustainable livelihood development with the property’s local Chiefs and evaluated the impact from the recent oil spill.
World Heritage Committee expected to review status Great Barrier Reef in 2020
At its 39th session in 2017, the World Heritage committee welcomed the progress made with the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability plan for the Great Barrier Reef, encouraged the government of Australia to accelerate efforts to meet the plan’s targets, and noted with serious concern the coral bleaching and mortality that affected the property in 2016 and 2017. The World Heritage committee is expected to review of the state of conservation of the Great Barrier Reef at its next session in 2020.
© UNESCO; © UNESCO/Anna Nickolya; © Getty Images/renacal1; © UNESCO/Adam Stewart Hogg; © Chris Jones;
News (13)
- Danger Listing and international cooperation to protect the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Mexico) 19-Jul-2019
- The Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Mexico) inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger 03-Jul-2019
- Update on East Rennell oil spill, Solomon Islands 04-Apr-2019
- Landmark Conservation Action leads to Belize Barrier Reef removal from List of World Heritage in Danger 26-Jun-2018
- Director of World Heritage Centre welcomes oil moratorium at Belize Barrier Reef 09-Jan-2018
Events (1)
- Technical support mission to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System 19-Jan-2015-26-Jan-2015