World Oceans Day: How marine World Heritage shapes the future of science and innovation
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2122
This year's United Nations World Oceans Day - which is traditionally celebrated on 8 June - highlights the critical importance of innovation for a sustainable ocean. 
From drone wildlife tracking in Russia's Wrangel Island Reserve System to the use of artificial intelligence at Australia's Great Barrier Reef, UNESCO marine World Heritage sites are spearheading scientific innovation in ways that are rapidly transforming the future of ocean conservation.
While ...
Devastating fire at the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2124
UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Culture, Mr. Ernesto Ottone R., joined the Buganda Kingdom and local communities in mourning the serious destruction of one of the sacred houses (Abalongo) at the Tombs of Buganda Kings of Kasubi, following a devastating fire which took place on 5 June, in Uganda, a property inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000.
"We are in contact with the authorities, at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, who currently carrying out ...
UNESCO welcomes bp commitment to refrain from exploiting oil and gas resources in and around World Heritage sites
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2123
UNESCO has welcomed the announcement by Bernard Looney, CEO of bp, that the energy giant will refrain from undertaking new oil and gas exploration or production activities within natural, cultural or mixed UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The company has furthermore agreed to consult with UNESCO in case they consider such projects in buffer zones or other areas adjacent to World Heritage sites. bp has also committed to avoid associated activities that could impact the value or ...
UNESCO'S online international expert workshop on Culture|2030 Indicators begins
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2120
On 2 June 2020, UNESCO successfully launched its first online international Expert Workshop on the Culture|2030 Indicators, with an opening speech by Mr Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture and Ms Silvia Montoya, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS).
The Culture|2030 Indicators were developed in collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) as well as a number of international organizations and experts. As a framework of ...
World Environment Day 2020: Time for Nature
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2119
June 5th is World Environment Day.
The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature. These are exceptional times, and to care for ourselves we must care for nature. A few projects:
Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative The conservation, sustainable exploitation and management of forest sites in Central Africa, and in particular in Cameroon, Congo, Gabon and the Central African Republic, have ...
Cyclone Amphan makes landfall across Sundarbans World Heritage properties (Bangladesh, India)
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2121
UNESCO expresses its deep concern over cyclone 'Amphan', which recently hit Bangladesh and eastern India, and wishes to express its deepest sympathy for the loss of human life and the material damage caused by this disaster, in solidarity with the people affected.
On 20 May 2020, cyclone Amphan made landfall across the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast, which includes two World Heritage properties: "Sundarbans National Park?h (India) and "The Sundarbans?h (Bangladesh), ...
Monitoring World Heritage site closures
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2103
Monitoring World Heritage site closures
Introduction to the global map on the closure of World Heritage sites due to Covid-19 and analysis.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, many governments have taken measures to restrict movements of people and access to certain areas.
This includes the closure of natural and cultural World Heritage sites in the 167 countries they are located in. Please consider the following when reviewing the map:
The World Heritage Convention has been ratified ...
Let's celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2117
The theme of the 2020 International Day for Biological Diversity is "Our Solutions are in Nature?h.
The year 2020 was defined as a 'biodiversity super year', but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, major events dedicated to Biodiversity protection have been postponed to a later date. The current pandemic has shaken the international biodiversity agenda but has also revealed our total interdependence with the living world, and our global interconnectedness.Our shared destiny as ...
Videos: Site managers report on Covid-19
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2101
Site managers report on Covid-19
World Heritage sites are also affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the managers of World Heritage sites tell us how they are coping with the crisis.
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre would like to warmly thank the site managers and staff who made the effort to update us during this particularly difficult time.This page will continue to be updated.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda)
Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ...
COVID-19 and marine World Heritage: A pathway for a Resilient Ocean
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2118
As nearly half of the global population went into lockdown in recent months, rare wildlife sightings emerged in the most unexpected places. CO2 emissions dropped by 8% since the start of the year, the largest decrease ever recorded.  Nature seemed to finally take a breath from the relentless human pressures that have been the primary reason for biodiversity reduction and habitat loss for at least a century.
Yet, the first online meeting with the local guardians of UNESCO's 50 ...
