World Heritage

Natural World Heritage sites include iconic places such as the Great Barrier Reef, Yellowstone, the Galápagos Islands and Kilimanjaro, and are recognised as the world's most significant protected areas.

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Natural World Heritage sites are recognised as the planet’s most important protected areas, providing life-supporting benefits to millions of people worldwide. And yet, they are under increasing pressure from climate change, infrastructure development, mining, poaching and other threats.

IUCN is the official advisory body on nature under the World Heritage Convention. IUCN evaluates sites nominated for the World Heritage List and monitors the state of conservation of listed sites. IUCN aims to improve the management of World Heritage sites and enhance the role of the World Heritage Convention in nature conservation and sustainable development.

 

News

  • Photo: Jim Thorsell

    Henry Cleere, a pillar of the World Heritage Convention

    11.09.2018

    The IUCN World Heritage Programme mourns the loss of Professor Henry Cleere, who recently passed away at the age of 91. Prof Cleere is remembered as a major figure in the history of the World Heritage Convention and in the conservation of archaeological...

  • Mount Sanqingshan National Park, China - World Heritage site Photo: IUCN / Chris Wood

    New IUCN report helps choose the right tools to assess how key natural areas benefit people

    07.08.2018

    IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA) today has issued new guidance to help practitioners assess ecosystem services within important sites for biodiversity and nature conservation. The report reviews nine assessment tools, focussing on their...

  • Photo: Christopher Graz

    Pearl in a plastic bag

    12.07.2018

    Lake Ohrid is Europe’s oldest lake, straddling the mountainous border between southwestern Macedonia (FYR) and eastern Albania. It was formed by tectonic shifting over two million years ago and is home to a large number of unique flora and...

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