UNESCO has inscribed seven new areas on the World Heritage List following recommendations by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The announcement was made during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris. Notably, Africa saw significant progress, with Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau securing their first World Heritage inscriptions and Mozambique achieving its first natural site recognition. First-time natural site listings were also awarded to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Brazil and Denmark had outstanding geological sites newly inscribed. The Committee also acknowledged the Eastern Mongolian Steppes as a priority for future protection, planning its potential inscription within the next three years.
Among the seven new listings, three are located in Africa. These recognitions mark a milestone in the global effort to protect and elevate natural heritage in the region. Guinea Bissau’s Bijagós Archipelago, Sierra Leone’s Gola-Tiwai Complex, and Mozambique’s Maputo National Park are now included in the World Heritage List, reflecting their ecological significance and the effectiveness of national conservation efforts.
The Bijagós Archipelago – Omatí Minhô in Guinea Bissau hosts a remarkable coastal and marine ecosystem. It supports around 50,000 nesting green sea turtles and serves as a critical habitat for up to 850,000 migratory birds each year. Its inscription reflects the ecological importance of this West African archipelago and marks Guinea Bissau’s first World Heritage site.
In Sierra Leone, the Gola-Tiwai Complex has been recognized for its unique biodiversity. It is a critical refuge for globally threatened species such as the Western chimpanzee and pygmy hippopotamus. As one of the last intact segments of the Upper Guinean Rainforest, the site is vital for conservation and now stands as Sierra Leone’s first World Heritage listing.
Hin Nam No National Park in Lao PDR was added as a transboundary extension of Viet Nam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Known for its tropical karst landscape, the area features vast cave systems and significant terrestrial and subterranean biodiversity, including endemic species adapted to unique environments. It represents Lao PDR’s first natural World Heritage site.
In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mount Kumgang – Diamond Mountain from the Sea was inscribed for its dramatic natural beauty. Featuring jagged peaks, waterfalls, and color-changing pools, the landscape holds cultural and aesthetic value, particularly within the context of Korean Buddhist heritage. This is DPRK’s first natural site on the World Heritage List.
Maputo National Park in Mozambique was recognized as a transboundary extension of South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The park encompasses coral reefs, sandy beaches, and seagrass meadows, hosting large populations of nesting turtles and endangered bird species. It is Mozambique’s first natural World Heritage site.
Møns Klint in Denmark showcases striking chalk cliffs that form a well-preserved glaciotectonic complex. The site offers significant geological insights into the Pleistocene era. This marks Denmark’s fourth World Heritage site.
Brazil’s Peruaçu River Canyon was also listed. Situated within Peruaçu National Park, the area features vast karst formations, cave systems, and unique rock structures. This is Brazil’s ninth natural World Heritage Site.
IUCN, the official advisory body for natural World Heritage under the World Heritage Convention, plays a critical role in evaluating nominations, monitoring sites, and guiding conservation practices. Since the convention’s inception in 1972, IUCN has contributed to both the designation and protection of globally significant natural sites. Its World Heritage Outlook tool provides evidence-based assessments to inform and improve site management and conservation strategies worldwide.
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