Why is natural world heritage important?
World Heritage sites enjoy the highest level of international recognition through the 1972 World Heritage Convention, as places so precious that their conservation transcends borders, cultures and generations. Our ability to ensure the highest quality of protection of natural World Heritage sites therefore constitutes a litmus test for the effectiveness of nature conservation as a whole.
Although there are relatively few natural World Heritage sites compared to other types of protected areas, they cover very large areas that represent the best of nature. The 257 sites currently inscribed on the World Heritage List for their natural values cover approximately 7.4% of the planet’s total protected land and seas.
Natural World Heritage sites include iconic places such as the Galapagos Islands, Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Yellowstone, Great Barrier Reef and Ha Long Bay. These are areas of stunning natural beauty, not only home to unique ecosystems and rare species, but also reflect a collective commitment to safeguarding the planet’s most precious places for future generations.
