World Heritage
Marine Programme
50 flagship marine protected areas of Outstanding Universal Value:
Beacons of Hope In a Changing Ocean
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Where we work
Since the inscription of the first marine site on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981, our network has grown in to a global collection of unique ocean places stretching from the tropics to the poles. Today, the List includes 50 unique ocean places across 37 countries – recognized for their unique marine biodiversity, singular ecosystem, unique geological processes or incomparable beauty.
Learn more →Marine World Heritage Highlights
Blue Carbon and UNESCO Marine World Heritage
In March 2021, UNESCO released the first global scientific assessment of its World Heritage marine sites’ blue carbon ecosystems, highlighting the critical environmental value of these habitats. While these sites represent less than 1% of the world’s ocean, they host at least 21% of the world’s blue carbon ecosystem area, and 15% of the world’s blue carbon assets.
The impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic and the wave of lockdowns across the globe had unprecedented effects for UNESCO marine World Heritage sites. The steep decline in tourism revenues left many sites struggling to keep rangers on the payroll, prevent illegal activity or to continue much needed research and monitoring. While local communities have seen a drastic reduction of their income, managers and their teams find creative ways to respond to the crisis and prepare for a future that allows people and nature to live in harmony.
Protecting UNESCO marine World Heritage through scientific research
From 7 to 30 October 2020, the photo exhibition 'Protecting UNESCO marine World Heritage through scientific research' highlights how local experts are spearheading scientific innovation. Through four scientific research missions carried out by Monaco Explorations, the exhibition illustrates how scientific research has become crucial for the sustainable conservation of the world’s most treasured places.
Empowering local managers through a new digital knowledge platform
In April 2020, the World Heritage Marine Programme launched a new digital knowledge platform that brings local managers from across the 50 marine World Heritage sites together to share best practices and success stories. The goal is to bring the best of expertise, scientific innovation and conservation solutions within reach of local management teams.
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Images of the video in chronological order: ©Martial Dosdane - province sud; ©UNESCO/Daniel Correia; ©Brian Sullivan; ©Erick Higuera; ©Ministry of Trade, Sudan Government; ©Mary Bomford; B Navez Public Domain; ©Mary Bomford; Nikita Ovsayanikov/Wild Russia/Public Domain; ©James Watt/Seapics; ©UNESCO/Mark Kelley; ©FAICO; ©Brian Sullivan; ©UNESCO/Daniel Correia; ©Ministry of Trade, Sudan Government; ©UNESCO/Andreas Kruger; ©KfW Stiftung / Stefan Daub; ©UNESCO/Daniel Correia;© @mdf; ©UNESCO/Daniel Correia;
- Aldabra Atoll
- Archipiélago de Revillagigedo
- Area de Conservación Guanacaste
- Banc d'Arguin National Park
- Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
- Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves
- Cocos Island National Park
- Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection
- East Rennell
- Everglades National Park
- French Austral Lands and Seas
- Galápagos Islands
- Gough and Inaccessible Islands
- Great Barrier Reef
- Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve
- Ha Long Bay
- Heard and McDonald Islands
- High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago
- Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park
- Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California
- Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek
- Komodo National Park
- Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems
- Lord Howe Island Group
- Macquarie Island
- Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
- Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve
- New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands
- Ningaloo Coast
- Ogasawara Islands
- Papahānaumokuākea
- Península Valdés
- Phoenix Islands Protected Area
- Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park
- Rock Islands Southern Lagoon
- Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park
- Shark Bay, Western Australia
- Shiretoko
- Sian Ka'an
- Socotra Archipelago
- St Kilda
- Sundarbans National Park
- Surtsey
- The Sundarbans
- Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
- Ujung Kulon National Park
- Wadden Sea
- West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord
- Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino
- Resilient Reefs launches in Belize to strengthen climate adaptation 30-Jul-2021
- How marine World Heritage sites successfully manage invasive species 16-Jun-2021
- World Oceans Day: How Marine World Heritage builds resilience for people and nature 08-Jun-2021
- International Day for Biological Diversity - We are part of the solution 21-May-2021
- New research demonstrates crucial role of World Heritage marine sites in fighting climate change 01-Mar-2021
- UNESCO Conference: Identifying Critical Science Gaps at Marine World Heritage Sites 04-Oct-2021-04-Oct-2021
- Online Meeting: How to manage invasive alien species at marine World Heritage sites? 20-May-2021-20-May-2021
- Online Press Conference: UNESCO Marine World Heritage – Custodians of the Globe’s Blue Carbon Assets 02-Mar-2021-02-Mar-2021
- Online Meeting: How to apply the Climate Vulnerability Index to your marine World Heritage site? 03-Dec-2020-03-Dec-2020
- Protecting UNESCO marine World Heritage through scientific research 30-Nov-2020-31-Dec-2020