World Heritage Sites Rising Steadily

From June 30 through July 5, the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee will meet to designate new World Heritage Sites.

Between 1978 and 2002, the number of World Heritage Sites worldwide increased from 12 to 730. These properties are now located in 125 countries on six continents.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) confers World Heritage status on cultural or natural sites considered to be of “outstanding value to humanity.”

Earning World Heritage status can be an important way for national parks, historic landscapes, and other properties to attract tourist dollars and other resources. Yet many sites already risk deterioration or disappearance in the face of threats ranging from uncontrolled tourism development, to abandonment, to political unrest. UNESCO’s list of World Heritage in Danger now includes 33 properties, most of which are in Africa.

Source:

World Heritage Sites Rising Steadily, Vital Signs 2003, pp. 52-53.

Worldwatch Links:

Vital Signs 2003 press release
More research from Worldwatch

Additional Resources:

UNESCO World Heritage