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United Nations World Educational, Scientific and Heritage Cultural Organization Convention

2018 ANNUAL REPORT © Erick Higuera MARINE WORLD HERITAGE: SPEARHEADING A GLOBAL CONSERVATION MOVEMENT

On the heels of one of the hottest years carbon emissions sharply to give these on record, the protection of our World rainforests of the a fighting chance for Heritage marine sites is more urgent than survival. Local management is clearly no What’s Inside ever. Fortunately, we are seeing a rising longer enough. tide of activism to meet the challenge. 2 A year of conservation Climate change is also opening the Over the past year, governments, results: Success stories from to new fishing, shipping and mining. UNESCO World Heritage non-profit leaders, and experts are Last April, together with our partners, a marine sites increasingly working together to new report was launched that explored safeguard the crown jewels of our . 4 Marine World Heritage World Heritage potential in the Arctic. manager’s network: Over the past year, the World Heritage It highlighted seven ocean gems that Accelerating change in ocean conservation Centre and partners have secured new could warrant World Heritage protection, protections for the Philippines’ Tubbataha and stressed the urgency to accelerate 6 Marine World Heritage in Reefs National Park, decreasing the risk Arctic conservation to keep pace with the face of Climate Change development pressure. of ship strikes and pollution. We are now 8 Youth from around the working to obtain similar protections Nothing less than collective action will world unite to lead for Mauritania’s Banc d’Arguin National #MyOceanPledge save the global ocean icons, and we are Park. We celebrated the creation of seeing commitment and cooperation 10 World Heritage Committee a 150,000 square kilometer marine from every corner of the globe. The World reviews conservation status reserve around Mexico’s Archipiélago de Heritage Marine Programme signed new of marine World Heritage sites Revillagigedo, along with a ban on new partnerships with the French Agency for mining and construction. We ended the , the Principality of Monaco 12 Our partners year on a high note when the Government and the Annenberg Foundation last year 13 Our team of Belize signed a moratorium on all and received an unprecedented amount offshore oil drilling in their waters. of support from anonymous partners. 14 The 49 marine sites The progress we made this past year inscribed on the UNESCO While strong local stewardship is World Heritage List would not have been possible without this essential, we have also seen severe coral growing global community of support.

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H O E M R bleaching as global temperatures rise. I E Marine TA IN G O World Heritage sites are selected through a E • PATRIM Our Challenge rigorous, multi-year nomination, evaluation and inscription process. Outstanding Universal Value is United Nations World We look forward to working thewith central premise upon which World Heritageyou is in Educational, Scientific and Heritage Despite their iconic World Heritage status, Cultural Organization Convention World Heritage built. Natural Sites must respond to at least one of none of these sites are immune to the effects the following criteria: Download Our legacy from the past • What we live with today • What we pass on to future generations of accelerating ocean industrialization, 1. Superlative natural phenomena or areas of To understand the vulnerability of these increasing pressure for coastal development exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; or the serious impacts from climate change. 2. Outstanding examples of major stages in 2018 andNearly a third of allfurther marine sites on the step up protectionthe ’s history, including the record of of our our brochure life, significant on-going processes in the UNESCO World Heritage List are threatened development of or significant by unsustainable or illegal fisheries. Pollution geomorphic or physiographic features; from plastic and maritime transport are 3. Outstanding examples of significant, ongoing unique places, we joined forces with ecological and biological processes in the UNESCO Marine World increasing and become evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh rapidly more common. Most sites struggle to water, coastal and marine ecosystems and common marine World Heritage.plant and animal communities, and comprehend the increasingly dangerous mix 4. The most important and significant natural of cumulative and combined effects. habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including threatened species that Heritage: Our legacy are considered of Outstanding Universal Value from the point of view of science or NOAA Coral Watch to study impacts conservation. A site must also meet requirements for integrity from the past, what we and have adequate management in place to ensure conservation of the site’s outstanding features. of climate change on World Heritage- Fanny DouvereOur Mission live with today, what

Launched in 2005, the mission of the World Heritage Contact Marine Programme is to establish effective conservation Fanny Douvere • Coordinator • World Heritage Marine Programme • UNESCO we pass on to future of existing and potential marine areas of Outstanding 7, place de Fontenoy • 75352 Paris 07 SP • France Universal Value to make sure they will be maintained and Phone : +33145681562 • mail : f.douvere@.org • Skype : fdouvere Bobkova/Shutterstock.com Tatiana © - Cover: © BMJ/Shutterstock.com listed reefs. The results were sobering: Coordinator, Marine Programme,Website : http://whc.unesco.org/en/marine-programme/ thrive for generations to come. The programme has four Follow us on generations focus areas to fulfil its mission. Images from Shutterstock.com do not fall under the CC-BY-SA licence and may not be used or our research indicated that we must curb World Heritage Freund/iLCP Jürgen © Centre reproduced without the prior permission of the copyright holders.

1 BELIZE BARRIER REEF RESERVE SYSTEM A YEAR OF CONSERVATION RESULTS: The reef is the foundation of our economy and The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve culture. The strides we have made, including the System was inscribed on the World Heritage List in Danger in 2009. Since offshore oil moratorium, will also protect our way SUCCESS STORIES FROM UNESCO 2015, the Government and NGOs of life, and that is what World Heritage is all about: have been working together to secure conserving the sites that shape and sustain our its removal from the Danger List. In WORLD HERITAGE MARINE SITES communities. 2016, the Government approved a visionary coastal zone management Beverly Wade, plan. Last year, a historic offshore oil World Heritage Focal Point, Belize moratorium was passed.

KOMODO NATIONAL PARK Effective marine protected areas are more than just lines on a map. That is why Sharing knowledge and ideas with colleagues While best known for its iconic all 49 World Heritage marine sites undergo routine monitoring and evaluation confronting similar challenges is one of the most dragon, Komodo National Park is also home to spectacular marine wildlife. to ensure their exceptional values will be maintained. This increasingly stronger valuable aspects of the World Heritage marine In December 2017 we organized an system of accountability along with the joint leadership across governments, Non- managers network. Our site will be stronger for exchange with experts from Glacier the insights we have received from Glacier Bay to help Komodo finalize its Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and scientists to secure protection brought and other sites. marine management plan. The site is seeing increased cruise ship traffic, Mr Sudiyono, Director, Komodo National Park some key successes in 2017. Below, we highlight a few of the year’s milestones. and can learn from Glacier Bay’s sustainable tourism model. TUBBATAHA Sitting at the junction of two international The of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park WRANGEL shipping routes, Tubbataha is particularly seeds fisheries throughout the system. With support from the World Heritage World Heritage oversight and support Natural System of Wrangel vulnerable to ship groundings. Recognition Centre, Tubbataha was recently designated a helps ensure that globally-significant sites Island Reserve in the Russian Federation boasts the world’s as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area, the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area off limits for like Wrangel Island are managed to the first in Southeast , will help us conserve vessels over 150 gross tonnes. highest density of ancestral highest standard. Thanks to the managers polar bear dens and is a our precious reefs, and the fish, birds, network, we completed the first ever major feeding ground for grey whales and turtles they support. management plan to preserve the sites’ whales. Earlier last year, the Angelique Songco, Superintendent, Tubbataha special World Heritage values. World Heritage Centre and Reefs Natural Park, aka “Mama Ranger” IUCN completed a Reactive Alexander Gruzdev, Director, Natural Monitoring Mission to assess System of Wrangel Island Reserve its conservation.

GULF OF CALIFORNIA Mexico is working at its best to save the vaquita. More than a third of the world’s But the trade route for totoaba extends through the species are found at the and Protected Areas United States to China, trilateral cooperation will of the of California, including be required to halt this illegal trafficking. With the the critically endangered vaquita. help of the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, we are The World Heritage Centre has been strengthening collaboration to bring the vaquita back working with the governments of from the brink. Mexico, USA and China to halt the illegal totoaba trade that threatens David Gutierrez, Special Projects General Director, the vaquita as bycatch. CONANP

ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE REVILLAGIGEDO World Heritage designation for Archipiélago de Inscribed in 2016, Archipiélago de Revillagigedo opened the door for expanded Revillagigedo supports multitudes of sharks, rays, whales, turtles and protection. The new marine reserve closed for manta rays. In 2017, following a commercial fishing will have ripple effects throughout request from the World Heritage the Pacific, since Revillagigedo is a stopover for so Committee for increased protection, many migratory fish, whales, and sharks. the Government of Mexico collaborated with NGOs to create an Maria Jossue Navarro Sanchez, Deputy-Director of the ocean reserve that extends twelve Office for the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo Biosphere miles from . Reserve SANGANEB We were proud, last summer, to have Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab youth from Dungonab Bay join young people Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park, EAST RENNELL was inscribed on the World Heritage List in from World Heritage marine sites around 2016. In June 2017, two young people from the Effective management of East Rennell requires the East Rennell was Danger Listed in 2013 because of logging, invasive the world at the United Nations in urging local communities travelled to New York to ask cooperation of customary owners, community and rats and over-exploitation of marine resources. With support from stronger global action to conserve our world leaders at the United Nations General the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, the country developed the government leaders. The round table we facilitated first comprehensive roadmap to address these concerns. In August, shared ocean heritage. It was a life-changing Assembly to protect our ocean for future last summer and the adoption of a roadmap were generations. Solomon Islands organized the first ever round table with customary experience for the entire community. important first steps incharting a more sustainable owners, local communities and ministries to discuss conservation Salwa Abdelhameed, Sudanese National future for our World Heritage site. plans and the development of livelihoods. Commission for UNESCO George Tauika, Chairperson of the Lake Tegano World Heritage site association

2 3 Guanacaste: Working across borders MARINE WORLD HERITAGE MANAGER’S to protect our Eastern Tropical Gems NETWORK: ACCELERATING CHANGE Managers from eight Eastern Tropical Pacific sites met in Guanacaste, Costa Rica to share scientific data to underpin IN OCEAN CONSERVATION the management of their sites. During a 3-day meeting, they discussed their common management challenges and identified fundraising opportunities to support regional conservation projects. The meeting was organized by the funding platform PACIFICO and resulted in a regional ministerial agreement to develop a Regional Marine Control and Surveillance Strategy. © UNESCO / Andreas Krueger The World Heritage Marine Managers network covers 49 unique ocean places across 37 countries. While these treasured global icons are not immune to the challenges the ocean faces they Komodo: Replicating Glacier Bay successes at Komodo National Park nevertheless host a wealth of conservation solutions. While perhaps best known for the Komodo Dragon, Indonesia’s Komodo National Park is also home to a stunning array of Bringing those best practices and corals, fish, , turtles and marine mammals.From 1 to 8 success stories together accelerates December, experts from glacier Bay National Park in the United change and avoids the same mistakes States, and elsewhere travelled to Komodo National are replicated. It saves time, money Park to assist with the future development of a management and resources. With the facing plan for its ocean areas. The three-day exchange focused on existential threats, our managers’ increasing climate resilience and fisheries health, mitigating network has become an indispensable impacts from cruise ship tourism and other marine activities. © UNESCO / Kartika D. Suardana part of our daily work.

Through UNESCO’s robust monitoring, we have begun to tap the vast expertise—hundreds of thousands of hours of on-the-ground experience innovating to tackle problems like >> CEO of iSimangaliso World Heritage site overfishing and development pressure— wins prestigious KfW prize contained within our global collection of Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the iSimangaliso Park World Heritage marine site managers. Authority until end 2017, was awarded the prestigious © UNESCO / Andreas Kruger Local guardians have confronted 2017 KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek-Preis for visionary Managers sharing best practices during the Third World Heritage Marine Managers Conference every imaginable problem facing our (27-31 August 2016, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador) management of South ’s only marine UNESCO temperate and tropical oceans, and World Heritage site. The site was selected as a prime many have created leading-edge example of successful balancing economic development >> Demonstrating success and conservation of its special World Heritage values. The solutions. Setting up international with ship protection in exchanges of best practices is a Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, 50,000 Euros prize was offered during a special award hallmark of the World Heritage Marine Philippines ceremony at the KfW headquarters in Frankfurt, . Programme. Below are some of the In 2013, the grounding of a US Navy results from the past year. vessel in the Philippines’ Tubbataha © KfW Reefs Natural Park prompted the World Heritage quest for solutions to safeguard the © US Pacific Fleet sites are all site from future shipping accidents. ship pollution and accidents. Under different, but Tubbataha is located in the Sulu Sea -- the auspices of UNESCO, experts from they all share the one of Asia’s busiest maritime routes. the Wadden Sea shared their expertise responsibility to Fortunately, Tubbataha was able to with Tubbataha. Last year the IMO protect humanity’s secure advice from colleagues at The adopted special protection measures Outstanding Wadden Sea. Due to its close proximity in the Philippines, similar to those Our 2017 activities to strengthen the World Heritage marine site Universal Value. That makes us so to , Bremen and Rotterdam the Wadden Sea has had in place for manager’s network and accelerate change were supported by unique and that’s why it is so important port, Wadden Sea has enjoyed special many years. By emulating the strategy the Annenberg Foundation, the Government of Flanders, and to exchange experiences and help protection from the International in the , the Philippines the French Agency for Biodiversity. We also thank the generous each other. Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a authorities were able to rapidly protect support of our anonymous partners to this work. Dr. Harald Marencic, particularly sensitive sea area to their unique reef and create a lasting Deputy Executive Secretary safeguard its precious tidal flats from conservation success. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat

4 5 MARINE WORLD HERITAGE IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage Coral Reefs

Last July, we released the First Global Scientific Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on World Heritage Coral Reefs, and the results were sobering. The past three years have seen the worst documented coral bleaching, with more than 70% of reefs exposed to severe heat stress. The assessment predicts that all World Heritage reefs might cease to host functioning systems by the end of the century unless we drastically © Michael Alesi curb CO2 emissions. Lisa Speer (Director, International Oceans, NRDC) and Carl Gustaf Lundin (Director of IUCN’s Global Marine and Polar Programme) The study relied on satellite data from the United States National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch and Download the Assessment received support from the French Agency for Marine World Heritage in the Arctic Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage Coral Reefs Biodiversity.

The Arctic is warming twice At the end of 2017, Canada announced the addition of eight new as fast as the rest of the planet. sites on Canada’s Tentative List, including “Sirmilik National We know the frequency and intensity of coral bleaching events will © Bartlomieh Banaszak, Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa Rapidly melting sea ice is opening Park and the proposed Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Dr. Charlie Veron continue to increase as temperatures rise. Our goal was to document up previously inaccessible areas Conservation Area, Nunavut”, an area that was identified climate impacts on World Heritage-listed coral reefs to date, and to shipping, drilling and industrial in the report as of possible OUV, and the first step toward a >> Coral Reefs at the World examine what the future may hold. The fate of these treasures Natural Marine World fishing. We are in a race against time possible World Heritage listing. The Tentative List is a country’s Heritage Committee Heritage in the Report of an expert workshop and review process to improve our understanding and inventory of what it considers its important natural and cultural matters to all humankind, and nations around the world are bound by April, 2017 the 1972 World Heritage Convention to support their survival.” During the World Heritage conservation of the Arctic’s globally heritage sites. Committee’s 41st session in Krakow unique marine ecosystems. While the Dr. Scott , NOAA Coral Reef Watch and lead author of the assessment last summer, the Committee Arctic itself is uniquely important and expressed the utmost concern is host to many globally exceptional about and future climate Download the Report features, the area is also intrinsically Natural Marine World >> Exhibit at the Aquarium impacts on World Heritage sites, linked to the preservation of of Paris Heritage in the Arctic Ocean including coral bleaching. We biodiversity in other marine protected From October to December 2017, brought international experts Dr. areas already inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Every the Aquarium of Paris hosted a Mark Eakin of NOAA Coral Reef year, millions of birds migrate from the Arctic to the Wadden Sea special exhibition, “Coral Reefs on Watch, Dr. Charlie Veron, and Mr. and further south to Banc d’Arguin National Park, and scientific UNESCO’s World Heritage List.” Christophe Lefebvre of the French evidence suggests that grey whales born in Mexico’s El Vizcaino Thousands of visitors were taken on Agency for Biodiversity to Krakow World Heritage area migrate all the way to Wrangel Island in the a journey to discover the exceptional for a side event on coral reefs. Arctic. Protecting the Arctic and its wildlife is thus essential to diversity of these reefs, and learn ensure other World Heritage sites maintain their integrity. about the threat of climate change Watch this video and UNESCO’s work to address To shine a light on this challenge and opportunity, the International Heritage and ecological challenges in the Arctic it. The exhibit was made possible The AFB is France’s central operator Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in partnership with the by the Aquarium of Paris and its for terrestrial, aquatic and marine Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the World Heritage partners, as well as the French biodiversity. Ocean protection is one Marine Programme, launched a report last April that identified The Arctic report was made Agency for Biodiversity. Photos were of its priorities. possible by support from the provided by The Ocean Agency and seven globally significant marine sites in the Arctic Ocean that Prince Albert II of Monaco World Heritage marine sites, and could potentially qualify for World Heritage status. The report was Foundation. The foundation is Virtual Reality films were provided launched during the Monaco Blue Initiative at the Monaco Yacht dedicated to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development on a global scale. by Seaview 360. Club in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of © Aquarium de Paris / David Fernandes Monaco.

6 7 YOUTH FROM AROUND THE WORLD UNITE TO LEAD #MYOCEANPLEDGE

Young people will inherit the consequences of our actions, so it felt fitting to launch the# MyOceanPledge campaign with children from World Heritage marine sites who called upon world leaders to protect our ocean for future generations.

On 8th June, World Oceans Day, leaders to sign their commitment. They children from 12 UNESCO marine World travelled from some of the most remote Heritage sites travelled to New York corners of the world to highlight the >>Join the to urge leaders at the United Nations global nature of the threats our ocean movement to General Assembly to accelerate ocean faces, and the need for collective action. protect our conservation action for the benefit of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco was ocean for future the first to sign the pledge, followed by current and future generations. generations! representatives from the Government These youth presented the pledge on of Flanders, Australia, and United stage at the United Nations General Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Assembly, and called upon world Environment Adrian Grenier. Make your pledge online #MyOceanPledge

Martin Visbeck explains climate Watch the film change to children living in World #MyOceanPledge Heritage marine sites.

© UNESCO

Watch this video

The United Nations General Assembly event was made possible biological sciences. The event received additional support from Stefan by The Explorers Club, which promotes scientific exploration by & Irina Hearst, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation and supporting research and education in the physical, natural and the Government of Flanders.

8 9 © UNESCO / Joel Sheakoski WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE REVIEWS CONSERVATION STATUS OF MARINE WORLD HERITAGE SITES

World Heritage Listing is only the first step. Once a place is © UNESCO / Eric Esquivel designated and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Impression from the 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Doha, Qatar. it becomes subject to continuous monitoring and evaluation Safeguarding sites on UNESCO’s List ///// Save the date to ensure its special values are maintained. Last year, we of World Heritage in Danger The World Heritage Committee will convene for its 42nd session contributed to the scientific assessments of 11 marine sites. in Manama, Bahrain, from 24 June All World Heritage properties are Islands in 2015, and coordinated the to 4 July 2018. During the 42nd monitored regularly to help ensure development of road maps to remove session, the Committee will their exceptional characteristics will The World Heritage Committee oversees all sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, reviews state each site from the Danger List. Both discuss the state of conservation of conservation reports, and requests governments to take action to address specific conservation be preserved. When a site is not well road maps have been adopted by the of at least 11 World Heritage challenges. At its 41st annual session held in Krakow, Poland, last July, the Committee adopted protected, it can be inscribed on the World Heritage Committee, and are marine sites, including Banc List of World Heritage in Danger. If the decisions for 11 World Heritage marine sites. currently being implemented. d’Arguin National Park, Sanganeb values are irrevocably lost, a site can be Marine National Park and removed from the World Heritage List In 2017, the Committee issued Danger Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island all together. List warnings for three additional Marine National Park, Galápagos Islands, Gough and Inaccessible marine sites: Coiba National Park and Three World Heritage marine sites Islands, Socotra , List of decisions for its Special Zone of Marine Protection, are currently inscribed on the List of Puerto-Princesa Subterranean 11 World Heritage World Heritage in Danger: Everglades Islands and Protected Areas of the River National Park, Belize Barrier marine sites National Park, Belize Barrier Reef and Natural System Reef Reserve System, Coiba National Park and its Special Zone Reserve System and East Rennell. of Wrangel Island Reserve. The Click on each image to © James Forte National Geographic Stock © Wikimedia Commons © Bobby Haas National Geographic Stock of Marine Protection, East Rennell, With the support of the Government Committee will determine whether to Read the Decision Area de Conservación Guanacaste Belize Barrier Reef Reserve Coiba National Park and its Special Natural System of Wrangel Island (Costa Rica) System (Belize) Zone of Marine Protection (Panama) of Flanders, we undertook technical inscribe these sites on the Danger List Reserve, and The Sundarbans. Read the Decision Read the Decision Read the Decision advisory missions to Belize and Solomon at its 42nd session in Bahrain.

World Heritage in the High : An Idea Whose Time Has Come

In 2016, UNESCO and IUCN launched a report that explores ways in which the 1972 World Heritage Convention could help conserve wonders of the open © Greg Tai’eha © Medford Taylor National Geographic Stock © Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority © Brian J Skerry, National Geographic Stock ocean beyond national boundaries. In 2017 we partnered with the French East Rennell (Solomon Islands) Everglades National Park (USA) Great Barrier Reef (Australia) Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Mexico) Agency for Biodiversity, a long-time partner formerly known as the French Read the Decision Read the Decision Read the Decision Agency for Marine Protected Areas, to advance our work on the High Seas. In Read the Decision © NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research 2018, we envision a technical working meeting that will look at legal options We invite you to visit our webpage for the possible nomination, protection and evaluation of ocean places of for more information potential Outstanding Universal Value in the High Seas.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides technical advice to help the World Heritage Committee make informed decisions on natural World Heritage. IUCN also helped us assess World Heritage potential in © Alexander Gruzdev © Feathercollector – Fotolia.com © Mario Caruso © Nicky de Battista the High Seas and the Arctic region. Natural System of Wrangel Island Shiretoko (Japan) Socotra Archipelago (Yemen) The Sundarbans (Bangladesh) Reserve (Russian Federation) Read the Decision Read the Decision Read the Decision Read the Decision

10 11 OUR PARTNERS OUR TEAM

None of the successes we achieved in 2017 would have been possible without the support of our key partners. Experts from all over the world have helped make our work possible throughout 2017. Cooperation across government, non-profit, and corporate sectors is essential to preserve our ocean legacy for We are grateful for their support and look forward to working together in 2018. generations to come. We invite you to join our growing global alliance.

World Heritage Marine Programme Staff | Headquarters, Paris CORE 2017 PARTNERS

Swiss watch manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre Mr Stefan and Ms Irina Hearst

Government of Flanders, Belgium Government of the Netherlands

French Agency for Biodiversity Resource Media

Mr Adrian and Ms Jacqui Beecroft Helmsley Trust Fanny Douvere, Robbert Casier, Vanessa Lucot, Nolwazi Mjwara, / Charities Aid Foundation Programme Associate Project Programme Assistant Communications Coordinator Officer Consultant Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Annenberg Foundation XL Catlin Seaview Survey / The Ocean Agency Principality of Monaco / Monaco Explorations World Heritage Marine Core Consulting Team Aquarium of Paris Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation National Geographic Voices The Explorers Club Polynesian Voyaging Society

IN COOPERATION WITH

Scott Heron, Mark Eakin, David Johnson, Paul Marshall, Lisa Speer, Director, Imam Syuhada, NOAA Coral Reef Coordinator, NOAA Director, Seascape Reef Ecologic, International Oceans, Project Coordinator, Watch Coral Reef Watch Consultants Ltd. University of Natural Resources SeaNet Indonesia The International Union for Conservation The World Heritage marine site Queensland Defense Council of Nature (IUCN), official advisory body managers and their teams that work for under the tirelessly on the ground to implement 1972 World Heritage Convention. the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

We also wish to thank the anonymous donors whose generous support enables the World Heritage Marine Programme fulfill to its mandate. Nicole Lampe, Aurelia Mazoyer, Alison Barrat, Director Liz Rauer, Taylor Butz, Carlos Chacon, Resource Media Designer, UNESCO of Communications, Communications Photographer / Coordinator, Khaled bin Sultan Living Consultant Filmproducer Fundación PACIFICO Oceans Foundation

12 13 THE 49 MARINE SITES INSCRIBED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST (AS OF 01/01/2018)

World Heritage site in Danger natural World Heritage site mixed cultural and natural World Heritage site

© UNESCO

Argentina Cocos Island National Park, 1997 Mauritania Seychelles Península Valdés, 1999 /Germany/Netherlands Banc d’Arguin National Park, 1989 Aldabra Atoll, 1982 Australia The Wadden Sea, 2009 Mexico Solomon Islands Great Barrier Reef, 1981 Ecuador Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf East Rennell, 1998 Heard and McDonald Islands, 1997 of California, 2005 Galápagos Islands, 1978 South Africa Lord Howe Island Group, 1982 Sian Ka’an, 1987 iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 1999 Macquarie Island, 1997 / Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino, 1993 Ningaloo , 2011 High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago, Archipiélago de Revillagigedo, 2016 Spain 2000 Shark Bay, Western Australia, 1991 New Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture, 1999 Bangladesh France New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands, Sudan The Sundarbans, 1997 Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf 1998 Sanganeb Marine National Park and of Girolata, Scandola Reserve, 1983 Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Belize of New Caledonia: Reef Marine National Park, 2016 Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Diversity and Associated Ecosystems, West Norwegian – 1996 2008 Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, 2005 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Brazil Iceland Palau Gough and Inaccessible Islands, 1995 Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Surtsey, 2008 Rock Islands Southern , 2012 St Kilda, 1986 Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves, India Panama 2001 United States of America Sundarbans National Park, 1987 Coiba National Park and its Special Canada/USA Zone of Marine Protection, 2005 Everglades National Park, 1979 Indonesia Papahānaumokuākea, 2010 Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Philippines Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek, 1979 Komodo National Park, 1991 Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River Viet Nam Ujung Kulon National Park, 1991 Columbia National Park, 1999 Ha Long Bay, 1994 Japan Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, 1993 Malpelo Fauna and Sanctuary, Yemen 2006 Ogasawara Islands, 2011 Russian Federation Socotra Archipelago, 2008 Shiretoko, 2005 Costa Rica Natural System of Wrangel Island Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Kiribati Reserve, 2004 1999 Phoenix Islands Protected Area, 2010

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