World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2021
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2245
This year's theme for World Wetlands Day ?eWetlands and Water,' highlights the importance of wetlands as a source of freshwater and encourages action to restore them and stop their loss. 
The UNESCO World Heritage Convention works continuously with other entities to protect the most important wetland systems in the world. Wetlands are currently protected under different designations, including the Ramsar Convention on wetlands, the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme and ...
UNESCO supports Ghana for Forts and Castles management plan
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2244
On 19 January 2021, UNESCO and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) launched the development of the Conservation and Management Plan for the Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions of Ghana, during a hybrid (physical and online) four-day capacity-building workshop and marked a major step in the implementation of the International Assistance, under the World Heritage Fund.
"This workshop is crucial, as the new Management Plan will introduce priority ...
The Sultanate of Oman supports capacity-building for nomination and promotion of World Heritage sites in five Eastern African countries
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2243
On 22 January 2021, the Sultanate of Oman signed an agreement with UNESCO in the amount of Euros 583,566 to provide support for capacity-building of nomination projects and promotion of World Heritage sites in five Eastern African countries: Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia and United Republic of Tanzania. The three-year capacity-building programme will support the updating of the Tentative Lists of these countries, assist in the preparation of robust nomination files, and strengthen ...
Resilient Reefs launches first economic valuation at Ningaloo Coast
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2241
The World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Coast generates more than 1000 jobs for its local community and contributes over AU$100 million to the economy of Western Australia. The economic valuation is the first major milestone toward the design of a climate change adaptation strategy at World Heritage-Listed coral reefs as part of the global Resilient Reefs Initiative.
Ningaloo Coast - a striking stretch of land- and seascape along the western coast of Australia with globally significant ...
Call for Applications: 2021 Scholarship for Decorated Farmhouses of Halsingland, Sweden
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2240
This year's scholarship for the World Heritage site Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland is now open for applications until 18 February 2021.
The World Heritage site was inscribed in 2012 and consists of seven large timber farmhouses with richly decorated interior. They are part of a concentration of over a thousand surviving timber structures in the Hälsingland area of reflect a timber building tradition that originated in the Middle Ages.
Objective
The World Heritage ...
Support to the architectural design of new bridges after destruction by heavy rains of essential infrastructure at Rwenzori Mountains National Park
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2246
Following the destruction of protected area infrastructures caused by excessive rain and the resulting flooding that occurred in May 2020, UNESCO, through the Government of China Funds for Capacity Building and Cooperation for World Heritage in Africa, and in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, supported the preparation of architectural designs for five bridges along Central circuit and Kilembe tourist routes within the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, a World Heritage ...
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 ...
UNESCO and Zanzibar to cooperate in rehabilitation of Stone Town of Zanzibar World Heritage property
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2238
Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, 13 January--During a meeting yesterday, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, and Tirso Dos Santos, Head of the UNESCO Office in Dar es Salaam and UNESCO Representative to the United Republic of Tanzania, reviewed emergency response measures following the collapse on 25 December 2020 of the Beit-al-Ajaib historic building, also known as the House of Wonders, in the Stone Town of Zanzibar World Heritage property.
The House of Wonders is an ...
Norway supports animal surveillance in Pendjari and W National Parks (Benin)
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2236
From 24 November to 12 December 2020, the Pendjari national park and the W national park in Benin carried out the largest regional initiative for the installation of satellite collars on a total of 25 elephants and 14 antelopes in this large cross-border complex.
With a view to safeguarding the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, this initiative aimed to increase monitoring and ensure the protection of these species in these two national parks, which are components of the ...
Five youth-led projects bring together heritage and peacebuilding in the Arab States region
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2237
Five youth-led projects bring together heritage and peacebuilding in the Arab States region
Following the success of the Arab World Heritage Young Professionals Forum, and continuing their sense of engagement and purpose beyond the participation in the Forum, five young professionals implemented follow-up projects in the region, making heritage accessible to all, and leveraging it as a channel for peacebuilding in the communities.
Through these projects, the participants put to ...
