UNESCO Heritage Sites

Fierce fighting raged in Syria's commercial hub Aleppo on Saturday with rebels and Syrian troops locked in static battles amid reports that the city's historic market is on fire and that civilian deaths were mounting. The combat was focused on Salaheddin, a rebel stronghold on Aleppo's southwestern side and on the eastern area of Ghuta, where forces of President Bashar Assad were trying to evict rebels. One Syrian activist told the German news agency dpa that the latest toll included 20 civilians and six rebels. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said abandoned corpses had been found in Suleiman al-Habibi, one of Aleppo's main districts. World Heritage site Internet videos showed black clouds over the city skyline. Activists quoted by the news agency Reuters said between 700 and 1,000 stalls in Aleppo's Old City had been destroyed by fire, possibly started by heavy shelling. The Observatory said Assad's forces and rebels were blaming e

The wooden church of Urnes (the stavkirke) stands in the natural setting of Sogn og Fjordane. It was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and is an outstanding example of traditional Scandinavian wooden architecture. It brings together traces of Celtic art, Viking traditions and Romanesque spatial structures. The stave churches constitute one of the most elaborate types of wood construction which are typical of northern Europe from the Neolithic period to the Middle Ages. Continent: Europe Country: Norway Category: Cultural Criterion: (I) (II)(III) Date of Inscription: 1979

The Vega Archipelago reflects the way generations of fishermen/farmers have, over the past 1,500 years, maintained a sustainable living in an inhospitable seascape near the Arctic Circle, based on the now unique practice of eider-down harvesting, and it also celebrates the contribution made by women to the eider-down process. The site is the major part of the Vega archipelago, a seascape made up of more than 6,500 islands, islets and 'skerries', and surrounding shallow water. It is an exposed landscape of sea and land, with many low, almost treeless islands dotting the surface of the sea against a backdrop of dramatic coastal mountains. Over 50 islands are, or were, inhabited, many seasonally. Continent: Europe Country: Norway Category: Cultural Criterion: (V) Date of Inscription: 2004

Making its representation to get Goa region of Western Ghats included as world heritage site by UNESCO, the state forest department has said that its forests are the only home on earth for rare species of bat - The Giant Indian Mastiff. The forest department, in its draft letter prepared last week, to be submitted to UNESCO, has said rare 'Wroughton's free-tailed bat' (The Giant Indian Mastiff) has been recorded in this contiguous region, which is already declared protected. Western Ghats in Goa Additional principal chief conservator of forest Richard D'Souza, who drafted the letter, has said "till date, the range of this bat is not known and it is almost certain that it falls inside the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary". In July 2012, the Western Ghats along with 39 serial sites spread across the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala got inscribed as world heritage sites by UNESCO.

InterContinental Hotels and Resorts are partners with National Geographic, UNESCO to restore Ayutthaya. InterContinental Hotels and Resorts recently embarked on Responsible Business Week 2012 – a week-long programme of activities around the globe to help protect and preserve unique and cultural heritage sites. As part of this week, the InterContinental Bangkok, provided support to UNESCO's World Heritage and sustainable tourism initiative 'People Protecting Places', by helping with restoration work at the Historic City of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ayutthaya Historical Park The Ayutthaya historical park covers the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, Thailand. The city of Ayutthaya was founded by King Ramathibodi I in 1350 and was the capital of the country until its destruction by the Burmese army in 1767. In 1969 the Fine Arts Department began with renovations of the ruins, which became more serious after it was declared a historical park in 1976. Th

Authorities in Vietnam are attempting to clamp down on hawkers in Ha Long Bay, following a spate of incidents in which tourists have been scammed. The picturesque Unesco World Heritage Site, which is renowned for its 2,000 limestone outcrops, is home to an estimated 650 floating houses, the residents of which make a living by fishing in the bay and selling seafood, snacks and souvenirs to passing tour boats. However, reports have emerged of travellers being hassled and ripped off by the fisherman. Tourists are scammed by fisherman Earlier this year, a holidaymaker claimed he was forced to pay VND 11.5 million (£340) for a 6kg fish, with hawkers threatening to tie up the tour boat if he refused, while a captain was recently attacked by two vendors when he tried to prevent them from boarding his boat to sell to tourists. These, and other incidents, have prompted authorities to ban all tour boats from stopping at the floating houses and villages in the bay. A "tourism inspec

Leon Cathedral was built between 1747 and the early 19th century to the design of Guatemalan architects Diego José de Porres Esquivel, the monument expresses the transition from Baroque to Neoclassical architecture and its style can be considered to be eclectic. The Cathedral is characterized by the sobriety of its interior decoration and the abundance of natural light. The vault of the Sanctuary, however, presents rich ornamentation. The Cathedral houses important works of art including a wooden Flemish altarpiece, and paintings of the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross by Nicaraguan artist Antonio Sarria (late 19th and early 20th centuries). Continent: North America Country: Nicaragua Category: Cultural Criterion: (II)(IV) Date of Inscription: 2011

Members of an advisory body to UNESCO visited Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday to examine whether the ancient city should be added to the list of World Heritage cultural sites. During their on-site inspections, which will last through Thursday, the experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites are to visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Enkakuji Temple, the Great Buddha of Kamakura and other cultural assets to assess their value. Based on their findings, the World Heritage Committee will make a final decision on the listing next June. The government formally asked UNESCO in January to register Kamakura and Mount Fuji as World Heritage cultural sites. An on-site inspection of Mount Fuji was conducted this summer. Kamakura Kamakura is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about 50 kilometres south-south-west of Tokyo. Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will sign and submit documents of Cat Ba archipelago to UNESCO for recognition as a world natural heritage site. The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry in collaboration with the UNESCO National Commission of Vietnam to proceed with necessary formalities to submit the documents to the international body. Located in the south of Ha Long Bay, the archipelago has includes 367 islands of different sizes, of which Cat Ba is the largest. The park is home to more than 700 species of flora and fauna, including rare trees and endangered animals. Its forests remain largely untouched. Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has decided to rank Cat Ba archipelago in Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city as the national heritage status. This is a meaningful event for Hai Phong which has been preparing for 2013 National Tourism Year of the Red River Delta. Cat Ba Spanning Island Cat Ba is the largest of the 366 islands spanning 260k

Bryggen, the old wharf of Bergen, is a reminder of the town's importance as part of the Hanseatic League's trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century. Many fires, the last in 1955, have ravaged the characteristic wooden houses of Bryggen. Its rebuilding has traditionally followed old patterns and methods, thus leaving its main structure preserved, which is a relic of an ancient wooden urban structure once common in Northern Europe. Today, some 62 buildings remain of this former townscape. Continent: Europe Country: Norway Category: Cultural Criterion: (III) Date of Inscription: 1979

Roros is a characteristic example of this type of technological and industrial development, as well as being an outstanding survivor of a traditional kind of human settlement built by traditional methods of construction. Also, it has vulnerable under the impact of economic change since the cessation of copper mining after 333 years of continuous activity. Lastly, Roros embodies a strong degree of rarity because of its location. It was built as an industrial community in the mountains (650 m above sea level) at a very northern latitude subject to extremely long winters and low temperatures (-50 °C). Continent: Europe Country: Norway Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(IV) (V) Date of Inscription: 1980

Situated in south-western Norway, north-east of Bergen, Geirangerfjord and Naoyfjord, set 120 km from one another, are part of the west Norwegian fjord landscape, which stretches from Stavanger in the south to Andalsnes, 500 km to the north-east. The two fjords, among the world's longest and deepest, are considered as archetypical fjord landscapes and among the most scenically outstanding anywhere. Their exceptional natural beauty is derived from their narrow and steep-sided crystalline rock walls that rise up to 1,400 m from the Norwegian Sea and extend 500 m below sea level. The sheer walls of the fjords have numerous waterfalls while free-flowing rivers cross their deciduous and coniferous forests to glacial lakes, glaciers and rugged mountains. The landscape features a range of supporting natural phenomena, both terrestrial and marine, such as submarine moraines and marine mammals. Continent: Europe Country: Norway Category: Natural Criterion: (VII)(VIII) Date o

The New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consist of five island groups located in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean off the south-eastern coast of New Zealand. Along with the Macquarie Island World Heritage site in Australia, the five islands form the only subantarctic island group in the region. The islands lie between latitudes of 47º and 52º south and include the Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Islands. Total land area is 76,458 ha. The site includes a marine component extending 12 km from each island group. Continent: Oceania Country: New Zealand Category: Natural Criterion: (IX)(X) Date of Inscription: 1997

As the birthplace of the Lord Buddha - the apostle of peace and the light of Asia was born in 623 BC - the sacred area of Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world's great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centres from a very early period. Lumbini, in the South-Western Terai of Nepal, evokes a kind of holy sentiment to the millions of Buddhists all over the world, like Jerusalem to Christians and Mecca to Muslims. Continent: Asia Country: Nepal Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(VI) Date of Inscription: 1997

The part of 'W' National Park that lies in Niger is situated in a transition zone between savannah and forest lands and represents important ecosystem characteristics of the West African Woodlands/Savannah Biogeographical Province. The site reflects the interaction between natural resources and humans since Neolithic times and illustrates the evolution of biodiversity in this zone. The 'W' National Park, so named because of the local configuration of the Niger River (220,000 ha), is located in a transition zone between Sudan and Guinea savannahs and contiguous to 'W' National Parks in both Burkina Faso and Benin, and the Reserve de Faune de Tamou to the north. Shrub savannah is the most widespread vegetation type occurring on shallow infertile soils. Continent: Africa Country: India Category: Natural Criterion: (IX)(X) Date of Inscription: 1996

The cultural landscape of Sukur has survived unchanged for many centuries, and graphically illustrates a form of land use that marks a critical stage in human settlement and its relationship with its environment. Situated on a plateau in north-eastern Nigeria, near the frontier with Cameroon, it has been occupied for centuries, and its inhabitants have left abundant traces on the present-day landscape. Continent: Africa Country: Nigeria Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(V) (VI) Date of Inscription: 1999

The town of Osogbo is believed to have been founded around 400 years ago. It is part of the wider Yoruba community, divided into 16 kingdoms, which legend says were ruled by the children of Oduduwa, the mythic founder, whose abode at Ile-Ife, south-east of Osogbo, is still regarded as the spiritual home of the Yoruba people. The earliest settlement seems to have been in the Osogbo Grove and included palaces and a market. When the population expanded the community moved outside the Grove and created a new town, which reflected spatially the arrangements within the Grove. Continent: Africa Country: Nigeria Category: Cultural Criterion: (II)(III) (VI) Date of Inscription: 2005

The Rock Drawings of Alta constitute the most important piece of evidence in favour of the existence of human activity in the confines of the Great North during the prehistoric period. Studied from 1967, the petroglyphs of the Alta fjord in the province of Tromsø were immediately classed among the leading rock art sites in the world. Close to the Arctic Circle, they are a valuable illustration of human activity between 4200 and 500 BC in the Northern Hemisphere. The position of the paintings and engravings with respect to sea level at different postglacial periods constitutes a relative dating element, which is corroborated by objective iconography data. Continent: Europe Country: Norway Category: Cultural Criterion: (III) Date of Inscription: 1985

The Bali Cultural Heritage Management Board plans to issue a detailed master plan for the management of the island's newly declared world heritage sites to prevent any excessive exploitation in these important areas. I Wayan Alit Artha Wiguna, chairman of the board, stated that there would be three zones to be strictly protected under the new master plan. The first zone covered the most protected sites; the second zone comprised restricted areas, while the third zone comprised certain areas that could still be developed for various utilities. Construction Restricted Wiguna elaborated that the first zone covered the main temple and courtyard sites; lakes or water resources, and rice fields. "No one can build in the first zone. This is a zero-construction area. We are very cautious about news and information that some investors are already eying these areas to develop numerous tourist-related facilities making their backdrop the precious world heritage sites," Wigu

The 11th European Geopark Conference held in Arouca, Portugal, from September 19-21 has agreed to recognize the exotic island of Bali's volcanic area around Mt. Batur as a member of the Global Geopark Network. Batur Global Geopark, centered on the active Batur volcano, is located in northeast Bali, between two round calderas - large volcanic craters that formed about 22,000 years ago. "The area is rich in elements of macro- and micro-volcanic landforms produced by the volcano across several thousands of years." The Global Geoparks Network links "Batur Volcano stands out for its unique geology and grand scenery. From the cultural side, the Geopark showcases very specific local customs related to the Balinese Hindu religion," explained the conference paper. The Batur Global Geopark is one of only 4 new members accepted this year, the others being one each in China, Hungary, and Spain. The new sites bring the total number of Geoparks in the Network to 91,

UNITED Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) resident manager David Kaulule has called on government to be fully involved in the issues of conservation in Zambia. Dr Kaulule said government should ensure that heritage sites were properly conserved. He said this on Friday when he officiated at the Inter-continental Hotels responsible business week at Munda Wanga botanical gardens in Chilanga. The site should be well-preserved "Government should ensure that heritage sites in the country are properly conserved because they contribute to the cultural identity," he said. He said UNESCO was committed to conserve and protect heritage sites and his organisation was determined to help protect the natural and cultural heritage in Zambia. Dr Kaulule said UNESCO would ensure heritage sites were conserved as they contributed to the cultural identity of the country.

With fourteen tangible and intangible heritages already inscribed by the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) as World's Heritages, Indonesia is seeking more of such an endorsement on its heritages, aimed at gaining more foreign tourists coming in the country. "We are now gathering data about the authenticity of those heritages, will be submitted to UNESCO with great expectation to see more of our heritages endorsed as World's Heritage," Indonesian Education and Culture Deputy Minister, Windu Nuryanti, said on Monday. To Raise Tourism She said that her ministry has already submitted documents and other necessities on the country's tangible and intangible heritages to UNESCO regarding the aim. Among those heritages was the culture of Toraja in South Sulawesi province, Noken in Papua province, Tenun Sunda weaving technique from West Java and various sacred dances in several provinces, Nuryanti said on the sidelines of celebrating

As many as 39 sites in the Western Ghats are in the UNESCO list of natural world heritage sites. Ten sites out of these are in Karnataka, observes Kodira A Kushalappa. The Western Ghats has recently been included in the list of natural world heritage sites by UNESCO after six years of campaigning. It is not that the entire Western Ghats area has been included but only 39 sites in the region, of which ten sites are in Karnataka. The UN body has, since 1972, been involved in identifying, protecting and preserving both natural and cultural heritage sites of outstanding value to humanity. So far, it has listed 962 world heritage sites of which 745 are cultural, 188 natural and 29 mixed properties and are included in the World Heritage Convention. Western Ghats, Gujarat to Kanyakumari The six natural sites listed in the country are Kaziranga National Park (Assam), Keoladeo National Park (bird sanctuary) (Rajasthan), Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam), Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal

Irina Bokova, the head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom, on Monday denounced the killing of five journalists in Somalia in the past week, and urged authorities in the Horn of Africa nation to ensure that those responsible for crimes against media professionals are punished for their actions. "I am horrified by the sudden upsurge of violence targeting the media in Somalia," Bokova, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said in a news release issued Monday, adding that the killings were an outrage against the whole nation. "They are also an extreme violation of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press - both essential for the construction and functioning of healthy democracies, and especially important in a nation trying to rebuild after so many years of conflict," she noted. 13 Kills this year "I urge the Somali authorities to do everything in their p

Around 32,000 artefacts were looted from 12,000 archaeological sites in Iraq during the chaos that followed the US-led invasion in 2003, and 15,000 items were also looted from the Baghdad National Museum. Syria's extraordinary archaeological heritage has fallen prey to the fighting ravaging the country for more than 18 months, with destruction, theft and systematic looting on the rise. In a country where corruption and trafficking of archaeological artefacts and treasures was already a chronic problem, widespread clashes and a power vacuum in some areas have led to an explosion of looting and illicit excavations. "It is obvious that in such situations there is always an increase in looting, illegal excavations and smuggling," Veronique Dauge of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre told AFP by telephone. "Remember what happened in Iraq in 2003." Artefacts are being stolen day by day Around 32,000 artefacts were looted from 12,000 archaeological sites in Iraq

The cultural landscape of Bali consists of five rice terraces and their water temples that cover 19,500 ha. The temples are the focus of a cooperative water management system of canals and weirs, known as subak that dates back to the 9th century. Included in the landscape is the 18th-century Royal Water Temple of Pura Taman Ayun, the largest and most impressive architectural edifice of its type on the island. The subak reflects the philosophical concept of Tri Hita Karana, which brings together the realms of the spirit, the human world and nature. This philosophy was born of the cultural exchange between Bali and India over the past 2,000 years and has shaped the landscape of Bali. The subak system of democratic and egalitarian farming practices has enabled the Balinese to become the most prolific rice growers in the archipelago despite the challenge of supporting a dense population. Continent: Asia Country: Indonesia Category: Cultural Criterion: (II)(III) (V) (VI) Dat

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has officially nominated Irina Bokova for a second time as Director General of UNESCO. Plevneliev has made the announcement during his working trip to New York to participate in the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the BGNES news agency informs. Bulgarian Irina Bokova became Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, in September 2009. She said then that her nomination has been endorsed by 3 consecutive governments – of former Prime Ministers Simeon Saxe-Coburg, and Sergey Stanishev, and of current PM, Boyko Borisov. Ms. Irina Bokova Irina Georgieva Bokova (born 12 July 1952) is a Bulgarian politician and incumbent Director-General of UNESCO. She was member of the Bulgarian Parliament from the Bulgarian Socialist Party for two times, minister and deputy minister of foreign affairs in the socialist cabinet of Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, and was Ambassador of the Rep

Criminals on Sunday damaged a 15-foot-tall tower atop the Malyavanta Hill in Bellary district's Hampi under the belief that it had a treasure chest. The miscreants damaged the heritage structure by digging a five-foot diameter in the three-storey Gaali Gopura. Zonal police inspector Venkateshulu said four pillars of the gopura were found damaged. The miscreants had cut the branches of the eucalyptus trees close to the tower to climb the gopura. "We have recovered tools used by them to dig up the gopura,'' he said. Unfortunate incident Tourism minister Anand Singh, who visited the spot, said: "It's an unfortunate incident. I have asked police to step up the security at the Hampi sites and ensure such incidents are not repeated." The minister said he has directed the archaeological department officials, who earlier visited the site, to take measures to restore the damaged tower.

Indonesian government and people in Bali celebrated on Monday the inscription of Balinese traditional irrigation system, called Subak, as one of the world's heritage endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The UNESCO's endorsement, entitled "Bali Province's Cultural Landscape: Subak System as a Manifestation of Tri Hita Karana", took place in an assembly session of World Heritage Commission held on June 29 in St. Petersburg, Russia, Indonesia's Education and Culture Deputy Minister Windu Nuryanti told a ceremony celebrating the UNESCO endorsement here. The other UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in Indonesia "The Subak World Heritage is a cluster that covers five heritage sites consist of Ulun Batur lake monastery, Lake Batur, Pakerisan river area, Catur Arga Batukeru and Ayun Garden. In total it covers 20,974.70 hectares," Windu said. The celebration itself was filled with ceremonies to mar

On June 26 this year the Macau Gallery was set up in Malacca, Malaysia, drawing the two cities that share similar historical and cultural backgrounds closer together. Just as the Chief Minister of Malacca, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said at a welcome dinner for the Asia Entrepreneurship Forum (AEF) held in Macau recently, "Malacca and Macau share numerous historical and cultural heritages". Both coastal cities act as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, once ruled by the Portuguese. Like Macau, Malacca is famous for its tourism and heritage. The times interviewed Datuk Yusof Bin Jantan, Chief Executive Officer of the Malacca State Development Corporation. The politician was also the mayor of Malacca from 2008 to 2010, during which he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian city and Macau. Macau Heritage The Historic Centre of Macau is a collection of over twenty locations that witness the unique assimilation and co-existence of Chinese and Portuguese

Covering an area of over 1 million hectares, the Tasmanian Wilderness constitutes one of the last expanses of temperate rainforest in the world. It comprises a contiguous network of reserved lands that extends over much of south-western Tasmania including several coastal islands. In contrast to the mainland, the island of Tasmania is a rugged region with fold structures in the western half and fault structures in the east, both of which are represented in the property. The fold structure province in the south-west is an extremely rugged and densely vegetated region with north-south oriented mountain ranges and valley systems. Continent: Oceania Country: Australia Category: Mixed Heritage Site Criterion: (III)(IV) (VI) (VII) (VIII) (IX) (X) Date of Inscription: 1982

"The Big Tree Society" is a programme directed to schools for the purpose of enhancing awareness of the importance of environmental conservation, which will be launched for the first time in Kuwait at the beginning of the new school year in September 2012. The program implemented by Boubyan Bank in cooperation with UNESCO encourages students of all ages and all school years to positively impact their future and provides them with the opportunity to explore their personal capabilities through participation in a special competition aiming at enhancing environmental awareness and impact on the environment. The Big Tree Society As part of the preparations made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in cooperation with Boubyan Bank for the environmental program "The Big Tree Society", Mark Sutcliffe, Project Officer -Natural Science Section at UNESCO - Doha Office recently visited Kuwait and met with Waleed Al-Yaqout, GM

The United States and Mali have agreed to extend the protection of archaeological sites in the African country following the destruction of Sufi religious sites. The sites had sparked international fur or after ultra-conservative Islamists had destroyed the UNESCO World Heritage Sites earlier this summer in a move condemned across the world. "The Department of State is pleased to announce the extension of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Mali Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Archaeological Material from Mali from the Palaeolithic Era (Stone Age) to Approximately the Mid-Eighteenth Century, effective September 19, 2012 for a period of five years, demonstrating America's commitment to antiquities preservation," a statement from the US read. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Mali's sites is needed now more than ever "This extension, consisten

Though efforts have been made for the conservation of the rich heritage of Varanasi, the millennia-old living city still faces threat to its places of heritage importance. A total of 29 cultural and natural properties from India have been enlisted in the World Heritage List of UNESCO and 34 properties of the country are in its tentative list, but Varanasi is still struggling to find a place. However, the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath has been included in the tentative list. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Conservation of Varanasi's Heritage Though agencies like the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) and Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) express their commitment for the conservation of city's heritage, they are seemingly failing miserably to maintain its spirit. Today, one could see most of the ancient sites of heritage importance in a pathetic condition. "Basically it is the responsibility of the VNN to look after the issue and conserve the

A scientific data file on the Trang An Tourism Complex in the northern province of Ninh Binh has been submitted to UNESCO, for recognition as a world heritage site. Trang An Historical Site covers an area of around 10,000 hectares, including Hoa Lu Ancient Town, which was the country's capital more than ten centuries ago; and the Tam Coc-Bich Dong Tourist Site and Trang An Ecological Site. The region is scattered with karst topography such as Limestone Mountains, lakes, hundreds of valleys and caves. The site is home to diverse fauna and flora with 500 kinds of flora, 73 kinds of birds, 41 kinds of other animals. Scientists found traces of early people dating back 5,000-30,000 years. The scientific data file will be completed and sent to UNESCO before September 30. The final result will be announced in 2014. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Trang An Historical Site Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central

Mountain Wonder Machu Picchu bears, with Cuzco and the other archaeological sites of the valley of the Urubamba (Ollantautaybo, Runcuracay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupamarca, Huiñay Huayna, Intipucu, etc.) a unique testimony to the Inca civilization. Cuzco and the old villages still retain traces of land occupation from the Inca Empire to preserve, in a more global manner, an archaeological heritage which has become susceptible to the effects of urbanization. Furthermore, Macchu Picchu is an outstanding example of man's interaction with his natural environment. Continent: South America Country: Peru Category: Mixed Heritage Criterion: (I) (III) (VII) (IX) Date of Inscription: 1983

Last Monday, members of the militant Al-Qaeda faction Ansar Al-Din destroyed the tomb of a Muslim saint located in northern Mali, where rebel groups had seized control last March. The tomb of Cheikh Al-Kebir, revered by members of the Kunta tribe, was smashed with hammers and pickaxes, a witness told the Globe and Mail. Ansar Al-Din -- which means "Defenders of the Faith" in Arabic -- declared the mausoleum "haram," or forbidden, because they violate traditional Islam's ban on idolatry. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Destroying Shrines, Mausoleums and Holy Sites This is only the latest in a long list of shrines, mausoleums and holy sites destroyed by the extremist group since July. The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization had placed the Malian city of Timbuktu on a list of World Heritage sites in danger only a few days before the Islamists destroyed the shrine of Sidi Mahmoud, and then continued, throug

Uvs Nuur is the northernmost of the enclosed basins of Central Asia. It is enclosed on the north (Tuva) by the Tannu Ola Range and the Sangilen Mountains in the north-east. The main feeder to Uvs Nuur is the Tes-Khem River, which has its source in a fresh-water lake, Sangyn Dalai Nuur, in the alpine meadows and larch forests of the Sangilen uplands at the eastern extremity of the basin (in Mongolia). The Tes-Khem then flows 500 km westwards, through steppe and desert, into southern Tuva, and then back into Mongolia, before emptying into Uvs Nuur. For its last 100 km, the river meanders through an extensive wetland complex, a green swathe in an otherwise semi-desert landscape; its delta is some 40 km wide and is an important wildlife habitat. Continent: Asia Country: Russian Federation, Mongolia Category: Natural Criterion: (IX)(X) Date of Inscription: 2003

The Monastery of Santa Maria d'Alcobaca, north of Lisbon, was founded in the 12th century by King Alfonso I. Its size, the purity of its architectural style, the beauty of the materials and the care with which it was built make this a masterpiece of Cistercian Gothic art. By virtue of its magnificent dimensions, the clarity of the architectural style, the beauty of the material used and the care with which it was built, the Cistercian Monastery of Santa Maria d'Alcobaça is a masterpiece of Gothic Cistercian art. It bears witness to the spread of an aesthetic style that developed in Burgundy at the time of St Bernard and to the survival of the ascetic ideal which characterized the order's early establishments such as Fontenay. The tombs of Dom Pedro and Doña Inés de Castro are among the most beautiful of Gothic funerary sculptures. Continent: Europe Country: Portugal Category: Cultural Criterion: (I)(IV) Date of Inscription: 1989

The Slovak and Czech culture ministries signed a joint proposal to nominate two sites of Great Moravia - the Slavonic fortified settlement in Mikulcice (Czech Republic) and the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch in Kopsany (Trnava region of Slovakia) - for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The territory where the sites are located stretches over the borders of the Czech and Slovak Republics. The two are the most preserved immovable sites from the early Middle Ages in the Slavonic state known as Great Moravia (in existence at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries), whose founders were believed to be the ancestors of the Czechs and Slovaks. Its imperial city was Nitra. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Slavonic Fortified Settlement at Mikulcice The territory is stretching in present days over the borders of the Czech and Slovak Republics. Fortified settlement, it's under site and important part of pre-site is stretching along Morava riverbed

Hampi inhabitants still live in tents: A year after their lives changed forever, victims of forced eviction at Hampi, a Unesco World Heritage Site have continued to suffer great hardship as they struggle with homelessness and loss of property. Nearly 350 families largely from Hampi Bazaar Street opposite the majestic 15th-century Virupaksha are still living under tarps and tents. The affected residents initially squatted with neighbours and friends soon after state government promised them to provide a new site and give them compensation to build new homes. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Live in tents But after they realized that it was not coming, they decided to live in tents. " Those that are really affected are those who lost their homes and are completely displaced," said Govindaraju, a leader of displaced people who continues to hold demonstration in front of Hampi Development Authority (HAD) office to denounce the broken promises of K

While 29 heritage sites in India have already made it to the World Heritage List, J&K government has failed to propose even a single site to the Central Government, leave alone approaching the UNESCO. With the UNESCO's World Heritage Centre offering financial assistance worth thousands of dollars to states to help them protect cultural and natural heritage and bring places of outstanding universal value on the World Heritage Sites List, the Jammu and Kashmir Government is, ironically, still to learn about the basics of the multi-crore funding projects. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! $4 million annually to the Government of India According to official documents, copies of which are with Greater Kashmir, the World Heritage Fund provides about $4 million annually to the Government of India – a key party – as international assistance. "The World Heritage Center allocates funds according to the urgency of requests with priority to the most th

The Old Town of Lijiang, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site, has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity. Its architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements from several cultures that have come together over many centuries. Lijiang also possesses an ancient water-supply system of great complexity and ingenuity that still functions effectively today. Lijiang is an exceptional ancient town set in a dramatic landscape which represents the harmonious fusion of different cultural traditions to produce an urban landscape of outstanding quality. Continent: Asia Country: China Category: Cultural Criterion: (II)(IV) (V) Date of Inscription: 1997

The Stoclet House is an outstanding testimony to the creative genius of the Wiener Werkstätte. It was designed and built in Brussels from 1905 to 1911 by one of the founders of the movement, the Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann, of whose work it is the masterpiece. The Vienna Secession movement bears witness to a profound conceptual and stylistic renewal of Art Nouveau. Its creation the Stoclet House has been and remains one of the most consummate and emblematic realisations of this artistic movement, characterising the aesthetic research and renewal of architecture and decoration in the west at the start of the 20th century. The Stoclet House decoration was the work of a very large number of artists. Continent: Europe Country: Belgium Category: Cultural Criterion: (I)(II) Date of Inscription: 2009

Macquarie Island is an oceanic island in the Southern Ocean, lying 1,500 km south-east of Tasmania and approximately halfway between Australia and the Antarctic continent. The island is the exposed crest of the undersea Macquarie Ridge, raised to its present position where the Indo-Australian tectonic plate meets the Pacific plate. It is a site of major geo-conservation significance, being the only place where rocks from the Earth's mantle (6 km below the ocean floor) are being actively exposed above sea level. Continent: Oceania Country: Australia Category: Natural Criterion: (VII)(VIII) Date of Inscription: 1997

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts are partners with National Geographic and UNESCO for Responsible Business Week 2012. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts today embark on a week-long programme of activities around the world to help protect and preserve unique and cultural heritage sites as part of Responsible Business Week 2012. This marks the third year of InterContinental's Responsible Business Week in partnership with National Geographic. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Responsible Business Week 2012 The theme for Responsible Business Week 2012 is inspired by National Geographic's support of UNESCO's World Heritage and sustainable tourism initiative 'People Protecting Places'. During Responsible Business Week, InterContinental properties are being invited to emulate UNESCO's mission to protect and preserve unique natural and cultural heritage sites close to their hotels. 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the World Her

With Washington and Lee University exploring ways to reimagine international education, three members of the W&L faculty recently travelled to Greenland to investigate possible connections there for internships, student projects and spring term abroad courses. Chris Connors, the William E. Prichard III '80 Professor of Geology, joined Elizabeth Oliver, the Lewis Whitaker Adams Professor of Accounting, and Robert (Rob) Straughan, associate dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics and professor of business administration on the exploratory trip. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Their interest stemmed from conversations with Anne Mette Christiansen, who came to W&L for one semester from Denmark as the Robert A. Mosbacher Visiting Scholar in Business Administration in 2009. Since that time, she has worked in Greenland, building a strong network in both business and government. She provided Oliver, Straughan and Connors wit

Visitor figures released by the Croatian National Tourist Office (CNTO) reveal a significant increase in visitors to Croatia over the past 8 months. So far this year, 241.443 British visitors have arrived in Croatia, a boost of 23% compared to the same period last year. "It's fantastic to see more Brits than ever choosing Croatia as their summer holiday destination. This year we're on target to reach 300,000 UK visitors, which clearly shows that we can return to our record-breaking figure of 500,000 in 1990," says Meri Matesic, UK & Ireland Director of the CNTO. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Expecting 2013 Marks "I'm confident that the UK and Irish markets will continue to grow in 2013, especially with the introduction of more flights, new routes and holiday packages from providers like Jet2, giving UK traveller's greater flexibility and choice when booking a holiday to Croatia." This week also sees the launch

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has earmarked US$500,000 to boost efforts by South Sudan government to fight the high illiteracy rates in the country, Salah Khaled, its head of office said. South Sudan, the world's newest nation, suffered over two decades of a bloody civil war, which massively destroyed its existing infrastructures, including schools, tertiary and technical institutions. The country, according to its 2009 Household Survey report, has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world, with only 27 percent of those aged 15 and above are said to be literate. Also, the vast majority of South Sudanese, the National Bureau of Statistics figures show, are unable to read and write. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Literacy "Literacy should involve all stakeholders in the country, regardless of status in society," Mr. Khaled said at a conference, organized to mark literacy week in South

Preserve the Mana Pools; "HERE is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance." The above quotation, by Theodore Roosevelt, might be beginning to gain relevance in Zimbabwe. A conflict is currently brewing over what environmental conservationists perceive to be an ongoing system that fulfils economic needs at the expense of the environment and tourism. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Mana Pools conservation and biodiversity There is growing concerns that conservation and biodiversity areas that had for long been set aside for not only the financial benefit of the country's tourism industry, but especially for the posterity of present and future generations, may be facing serious dangers, which many fea