List of World Heritage in Danger

The World Heritage Convention laid down by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1972 provides the basis for the designation and management of World Heritage Sites. According to article 11.4 of the convention, UNESCO, through the World Heritage Committee, may place threatened World Heritage Sites whose conservation require major operations and for which "assistance has been requested" on a List of World Heritage in Danger. This action is intended to increase the international awareness to the threat and to encourage counteractive measures. Threats to a site can be either ascertained dangers which are proven imminent threats or potential dangers that could have adverse effects on the characteristics of a site.

In the case of natural sites, ascertained dangers include the serious decline in the population of an endangered or other valuable species or the deterioration of natural beauty or scientific value of a property by man-made activities such as logging, pollution, human settlement, mining, agriculture and major public works. Ascertained dangers for cultural properties include serious deterioration of materials, structure, ornaments or architectural coherence and the loss of historical authenticity or cultural significance. Potential dangers for both cultural and natural sites include development projects, armed conflicts, insufficient management systems or changes in the legal protective status of the property. In the case of cultural sites gradual changes due to geology, climate or environment can also be potential dangers.

Before a property is inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, its condition is assessed and a potential programme for corrective measures is developed in cooperation with the state party involved. The final decision about inscription lies in the hand of the committee. Financial support from the World Heritage Fund may be allocated by the committee for listed properties. The state of conservation is reviewed on a yearly basis. Depending on the outcome of the review, the committee may request additional measures or delete the property from the list if the threats ceased to exist or may consider deletion from both the List of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List. Of the two former sites, the Dresden Elbe Valley has been delisted after placement on the List of World Heritage in Danger while the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary has been directly delisted. As of 2012, there are 38 entries (17 natural, 21 cultural) on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Many of the listed sites are located in the developing world with 15 in Africa (of which five are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), 10 in Asia, 7 in the Americas and 3 in Europe. The majority of endangered natural sites (12) is located in Africa.

While danger listing has sparked conservation efforts and released funding, resulting in a positive development of some sites such as Galápagos or Yellowstone, the list itself and UNESCO's implementation of it have been the focus of criticism. In particular state parties and other stakeholders of World Heritage Sites have questioned the authority of the Committee to declare a site in danger without their consent. Until UNESCO set a precedent in 1992 placing several sites on the danger list against their view, state parties would have first submitted a program of corrective measures before a site could be listed. Instead of being used as intended, the List of World Heritage in Danger is perceived by some states as a black list and according to Christina Cameron, Professor at the School of Architecture, Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, University of Montreal, has been used as political tool to get the attention of state parties. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) notes that UNESCO has referenced the List of World Heritage in Danger (without actually listing the site) in a number of cases where the threat could be easily addressed by the state party. The Union also argues that listing a site as endangered over a long period of time is questionable and that other mechanisms for conservation should be sought in these cases.

Currently listed sites

Table legend

Name; as listed by the World Heritage Committee

Location; at city or provincial level and country name, with coordinates; column sorts by state

Criteria; the site was listed under

Area; in hectares and acres if provided by UNESCO

Year (WHS); the year the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List

Endangered; the year the site appeared on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Reason; threats to the site which prompted UNESCO to list it as in danger

  * Trans-border site

Name	Image	Location	Criteria	Area ha (acre)	Year (WHS)	Endangered	Reason	Refs
Abu Mena	Foundations of ruined buildings in a desert location.	EgyAbusir, Egypt 30°50′30″N 29°39′50″E	Cultural: (iv)	182 (450)	1979	2001	Cave-ins in the area caused by the clay at the surface, which becomes semi-liquid when met with "excess water"
Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves		Niger1Arlit Department, Niger 18°17′N 8°0′E	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	7,736,000 (19,120,000)	1991	1992	Military conflict and civil disturbance in the region as well as a reduction of wildlife population and degradation of the vegetation cover
Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)		IraqSalah ad Din, Iraq 35°27′24″N 43°15′45″E	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	70 (170)	2003	2003	A planned reservoir that would have partially flooded the site was suspended in the wake of the Iraq War by the new administration; lack of adequate protection
Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery		GeorImereti, Georgia 42°15′44″N 42°42′59″E	Cultural: (iv)	7.87 (19.4)	1994	2010	Major reconstruction project that will lead to irreversible interventions and undermine the authenticity and integrity of the site
Bam and its Cultural Landscape		IranKerman, Iran 29°07′00.68″N 58°22′06.51″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)	—	2004	2004	Following the damage due to the 2003 Bam earthquake
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System		BelBelize, Stann Creek and Toledo Belize 17°19′N 87°32′W	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	96,300 (238,000)	1996	2009	Mangrove cutting and excessive development
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone		PerLa Libertad, Peru 8°6′40″S 79°04′30″W	Cultural: (i), (iii)	600 (1,500)	1986	1986	Natural erosion
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem		Per Israel 31°42′16″N 35°12′27″E	Cultural: (iv), (vi)	2.98 (7.4)	2012	2012	Water damage
Comoé National Park		CotZanzan, Côte d'Ivoire 9°10′N 3°40′W	Natural: (ix), (x)	1,150,000 (2,800,000)	1983	2003	Civil unrest, poaching and lack of effective management mechanisms
Coro and its Port		VenFalcón, Venezuela 11°25′N 69°40′W	Cultural: (iv), (v)	107 (260)	1993	2005	Damage to a great number of structures due to heavy rain between November 2004 and February 2005 as well as the construction of a new monument, a beach walkway and an entrance gate to the city in the buffer zone which could have considerable impact on the value of the site
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley		AfgBamyan, Afghanistan 34°49′55″N 67°49′36″E	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)	159 (390)	2003	2003	Fragile conservation state due to abandonment, military action and dynamite explosions; causing dangers such as risk of collapse of Buddha niches, further deterioration of cave murals, looting and illicit excavations
Everglades National Park		UniFlorida, United States 25°19′N 80°56′W	Natural: (viii), (ix), (x)	592,920 (1,465,100)	1979	1993–2007, 2010	Damage due to Hurricane Andrew and deterioration of water flow and quality due to agricultural and urban development (1993); continued degradation of the site resulting in a loss of marine habitat and decline in marine species (2010)
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works		ChilTarapacá, Chile 20°12′30″S 69°47′40″W	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	—	2005	2005	Fragile nature of structures due to lack of maintenance for 40 years; also damage, vandalism and some dismantling; looting
Garamba National Park		DemOrientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4°0′N 29°15′E	Natural: (vii), (x)	500,000 (1,200,000)	1980	1984–1992, 1996	Reduction of Northern White Rhinoceros population (1984); poaching of two white rhinos, killing of three rangers and no plan for corrective measures by the authorities (1996)
Historical Monuments of Mtskheta		GeorMtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia 41°51′N 44°43′E	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	—	1994	2009	Concerns about the preservation of the site
Historic Town of Zabīd		YemAl Hudaydah, Yemen 14°12′N 43°19′E	Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)	—	1993	2000	Deteriorating state of historic buildings, inscribed on request of the state party
Kahuzi-Biega National Park		DemSouth Kivu and Maniema, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2°30′S 28°45′E	Natural: (x)	600,000 (1,500,000)	1980	1997	Deforestation, hunting as well as war and civil strife
Los Katíos National Park	—	ColAntioquia and Chocó, Colombia 7°40′N 77°0′W	Natural: (ix), (x)	72,000 (180,000)	1994	2009	Deforestation, illegal fishing and hunting
Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park		CenBamingui-Bangoran, Central African Republic 9°0′N 21°30′E	Natural: (ix), (x)	1,740,000 (4,300,000)	1988	1997	Illegal grazing and poaching, deteriorating security situation
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam		AfgGhōr, Afghanistan 34°23′48″N 64°30′58″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	70 (170)	2002	2002	Lack of legal protection, lack of protection measure or management plan, poor condition of the site
Medieval Monuments in Kosovo		SerbKosovo, Serbia 42°39′40″N 20°15′56″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	2.88 (7.1)	2004	2006	Lack of legal protection and management; political instability and security
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve		CotLola Prefecture, Côte d'Ivoire* Guinea* 7°36′N 8°23′W	Natural: (ix), (x)	18,000 (44,000)	1981	1992	Iron ore mining concession on part of the World Heritage Site and influx of large number of refugees on the Guinean part of the site
Niokolo-Koba National Park		SenTambacounda Region and Kédougou Region, Senegal 13°0′N 12°40′W	Natural: (x)	913,000 (2,260,000)	1981	2007	Degradation of property, low mammal population, management problems and impact of a proposed dam on the Gambia River
Okapi Wildlife Reserve		Dem Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2°0′N 28°30′E	Natural: (x)	1,372,625 (3,391,830)	1996	1997	Looting of park facilities and killing of elephants as a result of an armed conflict in the area
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls		JerJerusalem District | Per Israel 31°46′36″N 35°14′03″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (vi)	—	1981	1982	Uncontrolled urban development, general deterioration of the state of conservation due to tourism and lack of maintenance
Rainforests of the Atsinanana		MadEastern Madagascar, Madagascar 14°28′S 49°42′E	Natural: (ix), (x)	479,660 (1,185,300)	2007	2010	Illegal logging and hunting of endangered lemurs
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve		HonLa Mosquitia, Honduras 15°44′40″N 84°40′30″W	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	—	1982	1996–2007, 2011	Logging, fishing and land occupation; poaching and the reduced capacity of the state to manage the site; largely due to the deterioration of law and to the presence of drug traffickers
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara		TanKilwa District, Tanzania 8°57′28″S 39°31′22″E	Cultural: (iii)	—	1981	2004	Continuing deterioration of the site due to various agents such as erosion or plants
Salonga National Park		DemSouth Kivu and Maniema, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2°0′S 21°0′E	Natural: (vii), (ix)	3,600,000 (8,900,000)	1984	1999	Breakdown of civil order
Samarra Archaeological City	Spiral-shaped tower.	IraqSalah ad Din, Iraq 34°12′N 43°52′E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	15,058 (37,210)	2007	2007	Security situation following the Iraq War and lack of state control for protection or management of the site
Simien National Park		EthAmhara Region, Ethiopia 23°11′N 38°4′E	Natural: (vii), (x)	22,000 (54,000)	1978	1996	Deterioration of population of Walia ibex
Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi		UgandaKampala District, Uganda 0°19′45″N 32°33′12″E	Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv), (vi)	27 (67)	2001	2010	Destruction of the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main building of the site, by fire in March 2010
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra		IndonesiaSumatra, Indonesia 02°30′S 101°30′E	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	2,595,124 (6,412,690)	2004	2011	Poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and plans to build roads through the site
Virunga National Park		DemNorth Kivu and Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo 0°55′N 29°10′E	Natural: (vii), (viii), (x)	800,000 (2,000,000)	1979	1994	Deforestation and poaching as a result of the influx of refugees due to the Rwandan Civil War

Previously listed sites

There exist a number of sites that were previously listed as being in danger, but later removed from the list after improvements in management and conservation. The Everglades National Park was listed from 1993 to 2007 and again since 2010; the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve was listed from 1996 to 2007 and again since 2011. Both are therefore included in the list of currently listed sites (above).

  # Delisted as a World Heritage Site

Name	Image	Location	Criteria	Area ha (acre)	Year (WHS)	Endangered	Reason	Refs
Angkor		Siem Reap Province, Cambodia 13°26′N 103°50′E	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)	—	1992	1992–2004	Inscription initially limited to a three year period (1993–1995) during which effective legal protection, boundary and buffer zones were to be established and international conservation efforts were to be monitored and coordinated; At the time of inscription, Cambodia was UN-controlled following the civil war in the 1980s.
Bahla Fort	Walls of a stone fort and a tower.	Bahla, Oman 22°58′N 57°18′E	Cultural: (iv)	—	1987	1988–2004	Degradation of earth structures of the fort and of the oasis of Bahla
Butrint		Sarandë District, Albania 39°45′N 20°01′E	Cultural: (iii)	3,980 (9,800)	1992	1997–2005	Damages due to management and conservation
Cologne Cathedral		North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany 50°56′29″N 6°57′29″E	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv)	—	1996	2004–2006	High-rise building plan near the cathedral threatening to inflict damage to the integrity of the property; delisted after the building plan was halted and a buffer zone introduced
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary		Biffeche, Senegal 16°30′N 16°10′W	Natural: (vii), (x)	16,000 (40,000)	1981	1984–1988, 2000–2006	Long term threat by construction plan for a down-stream dam (1984); delisted (1988) as water supply to the park was insured by the construction of a sluice and a management plan was being prepared; relisted (2000) due to environmental and economical threats posed by the introduced species Salvinia molesta and Pistia stratiotes as well as issues with water management in the park
Dresden Elbe Valley#		Saxony, Germany 51°03′N 13°49′E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)	1,930 (4,800)	2004	2006–2009	Construction plans for the Waldschlösschen Bridge in the core area of the cultural landscape; removed from the list of World Heritage Sites in 2009 after construction commenced at the end of 2007
Dubrovnik		Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia 42°38′25″N 18°06′30″E	Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv)	97 (240)	1979	1991–1998	Croatian War of Independence
Galápagos Islands		Galápagos Province, Ecuador 0°40′S 90°30′W	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	14,066,514 (34,759,110)	1978	2007–2010	Various threats including insufficient prevention of possibilities for the introduction of alien species, insufficient resource allocation for conservation agencies and park management, presence of a large number of illegal immigrants, rapid uncontrolled growth of tourism, fishing over-capacity and sports fishing
Group of Monuments at Hampi		Bellary district, India 15°20′6″N 76°27′43″E	Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv)	—	1986	1999–2006	Partial construction of two cable-suspended bridges within the protected archaeological areas of Hampi threatening the integrity and authenticity of the site
Ichkeul National Park		Bizerta, Tunisia 37°10′N 9°40′E	Natural: (x)	12,600 (31,000)	1980	1996–2006	Construction of dams limiting the freshwater flow to the area and causing an increased salinity of the lake and the marshes as well as a decrease in the number of migrating bird populations
Iguaçu National Park		Paraná State, Brazil 25°41′S 54°26′E	Natural: (vii), (x)	170,086 (420,290)	1986	1999–2001	Illegally opened road ("Estrada do Colono", Portuguese for "Settler's Road") through the park, dams on the Iguazu River and helicopter flights.
Kathmandu Valley		Kathmandu Valley, Nepal 27°42′14″N 85°18′31″E	Cultural: (iii), (iv), (vi)	167 (410)	1979	2003–2007	Partial or substantial loss of the traditional elements of six out of seven monument zones and resulting general loss of authenticity and integrity of the whole property.
Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor		Bay of Kotor, Kotor and surrounding territory, Montenegro 42°29′N 18°42′E	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)	—	1979	1979–2003	Damage following the earthquake from April 15, 1979
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary		Assam, India 26°30′N 91°51′E	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	39,100 (97,000)	1985	1992–2011	Poaching, damage to the park's infrastructure and decrease in the population of some species particularly the Greater One Horned Rhino following an invasion by militants of the Bodo tribe in 1992
Ngorongoro Conservation Area		Arusha Region, Tanzania 3°11′S 35°32′E	Natural: (iv), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	—	1978	1984–1989	Declining conservation status
Plitvice Lakes National Park		Lika-Senj County, Croatia 44°53′N 15°37′E	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix)	19,200 (47,000)	1979	1992–1997	Potential threat due to the Croatian War of Independence
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras		PhiIfugao, Philippines 16°55′N 121°3′E	Cultural: (iii), (iv), (v)	500,000 (1,200,000)	1995	2001–2012	Absence of systematic monitoring programme or a comprehensive management plan
Royal Palaces of Abomey		Zou Department, Benin 7°11′26″N 1°59′36″E	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	48 (120)	1985	1985–2007	General state of deterioration due to the elements and inappropriate restoration which are in conflict with the authenticity of the site
Rwenzori Mountains National Park		Bundibugyo, Kabarole and Kasese District, Uganda 0°13′N 29°55′E	Natural: (vii), (ix)	99,600 (246,000)	1994	1999–2004	Security situation and lack of monitoring of a major part of the park
Sangay National Park		Chimborazo, Morona-Santiago and Tungurahua Province, Ecuador 1°50′S 78°20′W	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	271,925 (671,940)	1983	1992–2005	Heavy poaching, illegal livestock grazing, encroachment and potential threat through a road construction project
Srebarna Nature Reserve		Srebarna, Silistra Province, Bulgaria 44°06′50″N 27°04′40″E	Natural: (x)	638 (1,580)	1983	1992–2003	Prevention of seasonal flooding and agricultural use causing a decline or disappearance of the water and passerine bird populations
Timbuktu		Circle and Region of Tombouctou, Mali 16°46′24″N 2°59′58″W	Cultural: (ii), (iv), (v)	—	1988	1990–2005	Threat of sand encroachment
Tipasa		Tipaza Province, Algeria 36°33′24″N 2°23′00″E	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	52 (130)	1982	2002–2006	Inadequat maintenance affecting the integrity of the site and its buffer zone
Wieliczka Salt Mine		Wieliczka, Wieliczka County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland 49°58′45″N 20°03′50″E	Cultural: (iv)	969 (2,390)	1978	1989–1998	Humidity problem
Yellowstone National Park		Wyoming and small areas of Montana and Idaho, United States 44°30′N 110°50′W	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	898,349 (2,219,870)	1978	1995–2003	Ascertained dangers to Yellowstone cutthroat trout as well as sewage leakage and waste contamination in parts of the park; potential threats to water quantity and quality, past and proposed mining activities, a proposed control program to eradicate brucellosis in the bison herds

References

General

• "World Heritage in Danger: A compendium of key decisions on the conservation of natural World Heritage properties via the List of World Heritage in Danger" (PDF). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
• Chape, Stuart; Spalding, Mark; Jenkins, Martin (2008). The world's protected areas: status, values and prospects in the 21st century (illustrated ed.). University of Castile-La Mancha. ISBN 978-0-520-24660-7. Retrieved 3 September 2011. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Timothy, Dallen J.; Nyaupane, Gyan P. (2009). Cultural heritage and tourism in the developing world: a regional perspective. Contemporary geographies of leisure, tourism and mobility. Vol. 10 (illustrated ed.). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-415-77622-6. Retrieved 3 September 2011. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• "World Heritage Committee: Eighth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Sixteenth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twentieth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-first session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-third session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-fourth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-fifth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-seventh session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-eighth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-ninth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Thirtieth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Thirty-first session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Thirty-third session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Thirty-fourth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.

Notes

External links

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Official site
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre – World Heritage in Danger List: Official site
• UNESCO Heritage Centre – World Heritage List: Official site
• Worldheritage-Forum: Weblog and Information on World Heritage Issues