UNESCO to Consider 30 Nominations for the World Heritage List

The UNESCO Specialized Committee will meet in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, from June 24 to July 4 to consider 30 nominations for inscription on the World Heritage List, the international organization announced today.

This year's proposals include five natural sites, 22 cultural as well as three mixed ones which combine cultural and natural values.

In agreement with UNESCO, the Committee will also examine the state of conservation of 157 sites already inscribed on the list, 54 of which are also on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Among the new nominations for natural sites are: the Fanjingshan Mountains (China); the Bikin River Valley (Russian Federation); the Puys Volcanic Chain Tectonic Site and the Limagne Fault (France); the Arasbaran Protected Area (Iran) and the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (South Africa).

The cultural sites section stands out as the most successful, with 22 entries from almost every continent.

As for the mixed sites, the aspirants are the Pimachiowin Aki reserve (Canada); the Chiribiquete National Park (Colombia); and the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Valley - a primeval habitat of Mesoamerica (Mexico).

On the eve of the Committee's meeting, June 17-26, the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum will also be held in Manama on the theme of 'Protecting World Heritage in a Changing World'.