Forty-two sites weighed by UNESCO for World Heritage List

The World Heritage Committee of UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday formally started the debates about the qualification of 42 sites to enter the World Heritage List, composed of natural and cultural sites.

World Heritage protection is a major challenge for UNESCO, so the session of the committee has a purpose to enhance communication among the state participants and to discuss ways to better protect world heritages, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said at the opening ceremony at the headquarters of the UN cultural branch.

The World Heritage is of great importance because it promote reconciliation, development and understanding, she stressed.

During the nine-day session of UNESCO's 35th World Heritage Committee till 29th, remarkable sites from six countries: Barbados, Jamaica, Micronesia, Palau, Congo, and the United Arab Emirates will be pondered for the first time.

There are 10 natural properties and 29 cultural sites to be considered, including the Wudalianchi National Park in northern China and the West Lake in southern China respectively for the two categories.

Besides, three properties are proposed for both natural and cultural criteria as "mixed natural and cultural" sites: Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park in Jamaica; Wadi Rum in Jordan), and Saloum Delta in Senegal.

The session will additionally examine the state of conservation of 169 properties including the 34 sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger because of serious threats to their outstanding universal value.

The World Heritage Committee, responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, comprises representatives of 21 countries, elected by the States Parties of the World Heritage Convention for four years. Each year, the Committee adds new sites to the List.

According to UNESCO data, the World Heritage List numbers 911 properties of "outstanding universal value," including 704 cultural, 180 natural and 27 mixed properties in 151 States Parties. The World Heritage Convention has been ratified by 187 States Parties to date.

Source: Xinhua