A joint assessment by IUCN and UNESCO reveals that World Heritage sites contain over 20% of global species richness, despite these areas comprising only 1% of Earth’s surface.
A joint assessment by IUCN and UNESCO reveals that World Heritage sites contain over 20% of global species richness, despite these areas comprising only 1% of Earth’s surface.
Over 30,000 species of animals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as 75,000 plant species are thought to find refuge in world heritage sites (which include regions of cultural and ecological value).
This number comprises 20,000 vulnerable species, which includes significant populations of numerous iconic species, including at least one-tenth of great apes, giraffes, lions, and rhinos, as well as one-third of all elephants, tigers, and pandas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM, whose most recent update will be made available in December, is used for analysis in the evaluation.
The World Heritage Convention, for which IUCN serves as the official advisor on nature, grants Heritage sites the highest degree of international protection. As this study demonstrates, these sites are among the most important in the world for biodiversity conservation.
“World Heritage sites have a unique role in preserving ecological integrity and fostering widespread conservation throughout the globe, which is essential for the survival of the most important species and ecosystems in the world.
“To assure the ongoing protection of these critically important places for the global community, we must collaborate across governments, the public and private sectors, and through accepting the guardianship of Indigenous peoples and local communities.”
“The World Heritage Convention has a special responsibility to make sure that efforts are made to preserve these regions’ natural value. Since protecting nature is essential to achieving the world’s biodiversity and climate goals, it needs to be more widely acknowledged and supported,” according to Mr. Tim Badman, Head of Heritage and Culture, IUCN.
World Heritage sites have emerged as the final line of defense for some species that are in danger of going extinct. More than half of the Sumatran Rhinos, Sumatran Orangutans, and Mountain Gorillas are found in these locations, along with all the surviving Javan Rhinos, Vaquitas, and Pink Iguanas.
The majority of the major ecosystem types are represented in natural World Heritage sites, which cover an area of over 3,500,000km2 (bigger than India) and contain 15% of the world’s coral reefs by surface area. The foundation of humanity’s relationship with nature is formed by the many advantages that biodiversity offers.
The preservation of resources and locations with religious and cultural significance as well as the creation of sustainable jobs and income are just a few of the significant environmental services that World Heritage sites offer to indigenous peoples and local communities. Biodiversity and cultural diversity are intertwined.
Due to the fact that many cultural sites, even those in urban areas, may also house significant ecosystems and are an underutilized ally in attempts to stop environmental loss, these spaces are also crucial for further strengthening the connection between nature and culture.
People can benefit from the preservation of these places in a number of ways, including as preventing the spread of disease to humans, livestock, and other animals, as well as allowing grasslands and forests to act as carbon sinks that lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Natural regions protect people from climatic consequences like harsh weather, but they are under threat from a variety of human pressures, including climate change, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, resource overuse, poaching, pollution, and invasive species.
With 16 natural World Heritage sites now on the list of World Heritage in Danger, the 2020 World Heritage Outlook reveals that one-third of these sites lack safe prospects.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) must be implemented, thus IUCN joins UNESCO in urging nations to include UNESCO World Heritage sites in their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Countries can use this report as an extra tool as they try to accomplish these goals.