On 16 July 2019, US$ 2.9 million (NOK 25 million) were received from Norway as part of a partnership agreement signed last month supporting UNESCO's work in various fields, including heritage preservation.
These funds will be dedicated to the preservation of natural World Heritage sites in Africa. The significant increase in Norway’s contribution vividly demonstrates its commitment to the protection of natural heritage, in the wake of the announcement in 2018 that the Norwegian parliament adopted zero-emission regulations in World Heritage fjords.
“We very much appreciate receiving this support from Norway,” stated Mechtild Rössler, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. “This is a country that is vitally aware of the importance of protecting natural sites around the world, and extremely engaged in taking concrete steps to make it happen.”
Norway has already funded World Heritage activities in Africa for the past two years, in the amount of US$ 482,000.
Norway is a member of the World Heritage Committee for the period 2017-2021.
