World Heritage

Category

Protecting architectural masterpieces a key to our past and future

The director of the World Heritage Centre Mechtild Rössler – who I have been privileged to have had direct communication with – has announced that after 30 years she will step down.  For “LearnFromNature Today “ blog I will begin a new series of weekly posts on world heritage and architecture topics. The mother art is architecture. Without architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilisation.  Frank Lloyd Wright    What people build reflect the soul...

World heritage sites impacted by COVID-19 for years to come

COVID-19 has impacted all sectors and all regions, and the world’s over 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage properties are no exception.   To understand the impact of COVID-19 on World Heritage one year after the start of the pandemic, UNESCO launched a far-reaching survey of site managers and national authorities and have published the results in the report ‘World Heritage in the face of COVID-19’. The survey found that many respondents expect the effects of the crisis on World Heritage properties...

World Heritage – Stone Town – very sad collapse

News from The World Heritage Centre : Following news of the collapse of a part of the House of Wonders (Beit-al-Ajaib) in Stone Town, Zanzibar on 25 December 2020, the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Ms Mechtild Rössler joins the people of Zanzibar, and the United Republic of Tanzania in general to mourn this sudden and significant loss. The House of Wonders is one of the outstanding monuments in the Stone Town of Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania), a property inscribed on...

World Heritage celebrates 48th anniversary

The 16th of November marks the 48th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. This Convention protects the world’s most outstanding places, belonging to us all. Where it all began The idea of creating an international movement for protecting heritage emerged after World War I. The 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage developed from the merging of two separate movements: the first focusing on the preservation of cultural sites, and the other dealing with the conservation of nature. The...

Goldfields hopefully world Heritage

A campaign to win UNESCO recognition for Victoria’s goldfields has united two former premiers from opposing parties and gained the support of a world heritage expert. Former Labor premier John Brumby and ex-Liberal premier Denis Napthine have both been appointed patrons of the bid for UNESCO World Heritage listing for Victorian gold rush era sites. They hope a successful bid will spur another gold rush by bringing international recognition to Victoria’s goldfields and drive a major economic boost from international...

Invasive species threat to World Heritage

A new paper indicates that impacts on natural World Heritage sites from invasive alien species, such as house mice, Argentine ants and rainbow trout, may be greater than previously assessed. It presents results of a proposed framework tested in seven affected sites, recording the presence of more invasive alien species in almost all cases. The authors, a team of international scientists including from IUCN, call for improved monitoring and reporting as a first step towards more effective protection. Natural World...

World Ranger Day

World Ranger Day is celebrated on 31 July to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the world’s natural and cultural heritage. Climate change, poaching and armed conflict are some of the challenges facing World Heritage. The Covid-19 pandemic has amplified these issues affecting sites and the managers who protect them. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre would like to use the occasion of World Ranger Day to commemorate...

Natural world Heritage

They are a ‘litmus test’ to protect biodiversity •    Natural World Heritage sites are globally recognised as the most significant protected areas on Earth.•    These sites provide life-supporting benefits to millions of people – 90% of sites provide jobs, two-thirds are crucial sources of water and about half help prevent natural disasters such as floods or landslides.•    Natural World Heritage sites are under increasing pressure from climate change, infrastructure development, mining, poaching and other threats. •    To protect sites from threats, investment in their protection and management is urgently needed. Closely monitoring the...

‘Celebrating’ world Heritage

Yesterday was African #WorldHeritage Day…. What is World Heritage? Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world’s heritage. World Heritage sites –...