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website, 14 Jul 05 Eight New World Heritage Sites Designated Full report (PDF) Extracts Fossils of whales with legs, the world’s biggest meteorite impact site, the deepest fjords, vast tropical forests, and outstanding marine sites have obtained World Heritage status today Durban, South Africa: Based on the technical evaluation reports of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), eight new natural World Heritage sites were designated today, 14 July 2005, by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, meeting in Durban, South Africa. These include Wadi Al-Hitan / Whale Valley (Egypt), the Valley of Flowers National Park (India), Shiretoko (Japan), the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Mexico), West Norwegian Fjords (Norway), Coiba National Park (Panama), Vredefort Dome (South Africa) and Dong Phayayen – Khao Yai Forest Complex (Thailand). The international committee of 21 countries unanimously approved IUCN’s recommendations for inscribing these sites on the prestigious World Heritage List. Four of the new sites contain outstanding coastal and marine areas: Shiretoko peninsula of Japan, the Norwegian Fjords, the Gulf of California and Coiba National Park of the Pacific. “These new World Heritage sites illustrate the global importance of preserving marine biodiversity for our future well-being, especially commercial fish stocks and endangered species,” said David Sheppard, Head of the IUCN Programme on Protected Areas and the IUCN delegation in Durban. The inscription of these eight sites is recognition of their outstanding universal value for humankind, and the need to preserve them for future generations. Of great pride to the nations whose territory they lie within, these designated World Heritage sites highlight their importance to all the peoples of the world. Their protection is the duty of the respective countries but also the international community as a whole. links Related articles on Global: general environmental issues |
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