UNESCO Removes 3 African Sites from Danger List
UNESCO recently took three notable heritage sites off its World Heritage in Danger List. The sites were both in Madagascar as well as Egypt and Libya during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. In an important recognition of their strong efforts to protect and rehabilitate the sites, these nations have demonstrated that strong interventions can change the functionality of important World Heritage sites quickly.
Sites Removed From the Danger List
The three African sites that were removed from the danger list are,
1. Rainforests of Atsinanana in Madagascar
2. Abu Mena in Egypt
3. Old Town of Ghadames in Libya
UNESCO highlighted how these nations have worked hard to reduce several of the threats listed including damage from illegal activities, rising water levels, conflict, and climate change induced catastrophe. It is confirmed that these sites are more protected and no longer in immediate danger.
Why Were They in Danger?
The Rainforests of Atsinanana were inscribed as endangered in 2010 in response to threats including illegal logging, deforestation, and loss of iconic species, such as lemurs. The rainforests, which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, support an extraordinary diversity of unique flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world.
Abu Mena, a popular Christian pilgrimage site in Egypt, was placed on the world heritage in danger list in 2001 because the site was flooding from agriculture irrigation creating issues that are severely damaging – some sections of the site have already collapsed.
Old Town of Ghadames in Libya was put on the endangered list in 2016 because of risk of armed conflict, wildfires, and flooding resulting in severe damage to the site.
UNESCO’s Actions and Statements
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stated during the notification concerning the deletion of the sites from the danger list that this was a “great victory” for the world. Information further indicated that UNESCO is focusing on Africa by training experts and countries in the ongoing protection and preservation of the sites.
Since 2021, UNESCO has also removed three other African sites located in DR Congo, Uganda, and Senegal from the danger list. This clearly indicates that the program is succeeding.UNESCO recently took three notable heritage sites off its World Heritage in Danger List. The sites were both in Madagascar as well as Egypt and Libya during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. In an important recognition of their strong efforts to protect and rehabilitate the sites, these nations have demonstrated that strong interventions can change the functionality of important World Heritage sites quickly.
Sites Removed From the Danger List
The three African sites that were removed from the danger list are,
1. Rainforests of Atsinanana in Madagascar
2. Abu Mena in Egypt
3. Old Town of Ghadames in Libya
UNESCO highlighted how these nations have worked hard to reduce several of the threats listed including damage from illegal activities, rising water levels, conflict, and climate change induced catastrophe. It is confirmed that these sites are more protected and no longer in immediate danger.
Why Were They in Danger?
The Rainforests of Atsinanana were inscribed as endangered in 2010 in response to threats including illegal logging, deforestation, and loss of iconic species, such as lemurs. The rainforests, which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, support an extraordinary diversity of unique flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world.
Abu Mena, a popular Christian pilgrimage site in Egypt, was placed on the world heritage in danger list in 2001 because the site was flooding from agriculture irrigation creating issues that are severely damaging – some sections of the site have already collapsed.
Old Town of Ghadames in Libya was put on the endangered list in 2016 because of risk of armed conflict, wildfires, and flooding resulting in severe damage to the site.
UNESCO’s Actions and Statements
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stated during the notification concerning the deletion of the sites from the danger list that this was a “great victory” for the world. Information further indicated that UNESCO is focusing on Africa by training experts and countries in the ongoing protection and preservation of the sites.
Since 2021, UNESCO has also removed three other African sites located in DR Congo, Uganda, and Senegal from the danger list. This clearly indicates that the program is succeeding.