UNESCO and Venezuela reaffirm their cooperation in favour of Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2129
The Director of the World Heritage Centre held a bilateral meeting, on 1 July, with the Ambassador Permanent Delegate of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to UNESCO in order coordinate the joint actions that could be taken concerning the state of conservation of the property Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas within the framework of cooperation between UNESCO and the State Party. 
During the meeting, UNESCO was informed with regard to the important actions developed by the State Party ...
UNESCO condemns new armed attack on Virunga National Park
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2128
The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Azoulay, expressed her sorrow and deep concern over the new armed attack, perpetrated in the morning of Wednesday 24 June 2020, against guards of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), inside the Virunga National Park, a property inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After the terrible killing of four civilians and 13 staff members of Virunga National Park on 24 April, this latest ...
The oldest evidence of human presence in the Congo Basin finally dated
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2126
The Lopé National Park in Gabon is a site inscribed on the World Heritage List since 2007 under the name "Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda".
It is described as mixed (nature/culture) because of its remarkable forest-savanna landscapes and its many vestiges of past cultures. Initial research in the 1980s led to the discovery of carved stone tools, revealing very ancient human presence estimated at nearly 400,000 years according to geomorphological ...
Safeguarding the Endangered Mountain Gorilla during COVID-19 Crisis
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2125
As countries around the world grapple with COVID-19, the global pandemic also threatens our close evolutionary ?ecousins' and one of the world's most iconic threatened species - the mountain gorilla. 
UNESCO's Rapid Response Facility (RRF) has provided critical emergency support to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, to safeguard one of the world's last remaining mountain gorilla populations from this potentially existential threat.Worldwide, mountain gorillas ...
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), ...
