Marine World Heritage: a Rare Glimmer of Hope Amidst Widespread Climate Uncertainty

Home , Belize Barrier Reef

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United Nations World Educational, Scientiﬁc and Heritage Cultural Organization Convention

2019 ANNUAL REPORT

The highlight of 2018 was undoubtedly and South Africa, the marine site in Sudan the removal of the Belize Barrier Reef is surrounded by small villages where Reserve System from the UNESCO List of poverty reduction is a central concern. In What’s Inside World Heritage in Danger. Lauded in the a first two-day exchange, managers from New York Times as “A Victory for Coral”, the three countries discussed how World 2 Key conservation results in the success followed an intensive period Heritage status leverages jobs and income 2018 from across the World Heritage Marine Network of landmark conservation action led by while sustaining the ocean. the Government of Belize. Other nations 4 World Heritage marine expanded ocean protections surrounding Marine litter, plastics and waste were high managers: a flagship their marine World Heritage sites, made on our agenda last year. Places such as network empowered to substantial new financial investments or Henderson Island are among the most transform how we protect moved to adopt zero carbon emissions affected on our planet but the solution 6 Marine World Heritage in policies. requires both local and global action. a changing climate Last November we supported an initiative Despite this positive outcome, the 8 World Heritage Committee: from the Wadden Sea World Heritage conservation status of marine long-term impact of climate change on site, bringing together managers and World Heritage sites World Heritage marine sites remains of international litter experts. We ended the paramount importance. Last September, 10 World Heritage in marine areas year looking ahead when legal experts we released an update to our 2017 beyond national jurisdiction gathered in Monaco to explore how the scientific assessment, which confirmed 11 Principality of Monaco 1972 World Heritage Convention could that limiting global temperatures to 1.5°C becomes strategic partner of potentially protect unique ocean places in above pre-industrial times is critical for Marine World Heritage the High Seas. the survival of World Heritage-listed coral 12 Our partners reefs. None of this success would be possible 13 Our team At the level of individual sites, our focus without our partners. We signed several 14 The 49 marine sites is on building resilience. In partnership major new partnerships and received increasing financial support from inscribed on the UNESCO with an international private-public World Heritage List consortium, we embarked on a new anonymous partners. We are grateful for

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H O E M R I E Marine TA IN G O World Heritage sites are selected through a E • PATRIM the helpOur ofChallenge everyone – smallrigorous, and multi-year nomination, evaluation large and – inscription process. Outstanding Universal Value is United Nations World four-year global initiative to build climate the central premise upon which World Heritage is 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 increasing pressure for coastal development exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; or the serious impacts from climate change. and look forward to working2. Outstandingtogether examples of major stages in in adaptation strategies in an initial five Nearly a third of all marine sites on the the earth’s history, including the record of our brochure life, significant on-going processes in the UNESCO World Heritage List are threatened development of landforms or significant by unsustainable or illegal fisheries. Pollution geomorphic or physiographic features; from plastic and maritime transport are 3. Outstanding examples of significant, ongoing ecological and biological processes in the UNESCO Marine World increasing and invasive species become evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh rapidly more common. Most sites struggle to water, coastal and marine ecosystems and marine World Heritage sites. the New Year! 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 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. Our first south-south cooperation kicked 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 : [email protected] • Skype : fdouvere Bobkova/Shutterstock.com Tatiana © - Cover: © BMJ/Shutterstock.com off in Sudan last October. Similar to 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 marine World Heritage sites in Mauritania World Heritage Freund/iLCP Jürgen © Centre reproduced without the prior permission of the copyright holders.

1 KEY CONSERVATION RESULTS IN 2018 FROM ACROSS THE WORLD HERITAGE MARINE NETWORK

Belize Barrier Reef West Norwegian Fjords Aldabra Atoll, Great Barrier Reef, Reserve System, Geirangerfjord and Seychelles Australia Belize Nærøyfjord, Norway “The government of “Last April, the government “In 2018, the Belize Seychelles created new of Australia approved a new Barrier Reef was “In May 2018, marine protected areas AUS$ 500 million investment removed from the the Norwegian around Aldabra Atoll which to improve protection of UNESCO List of World Parliament adopted makes it the largest national the world’s largest coral Heritage in Danger. a resolution to halt marine park similar in size reef system. From this, This tremendous emissions from to Cambodia and therefore the Marine Park Authority achievement cruise ships and is expected to considerably received an additional $42.7 shows the power ferries in the West enhance Aldabra’s World million for its joint field of collective action Norwegian Fjords – Heritage values. The management program — among government, Geirangerfjord and designation comes after there will be more people civil society and Nærøyfjord World a complete update of the on the ground to ensure the international Heritage site. It’s site's management plan, compliance, restoration community.” a brave resolution and recognizes Aldabra as a activities and respond Beverly Wade, World Heritage which will make the conservation success story.” to incidents, which will Focal Point, Belize fjords the world’s Dr Frauke Fleischer-Dogley, CEO, support the ability of reefs first zero emission Seychelles Island Foundation and islands to recover after zone at sea.” disturbance.” Katrin Blomvik, Director, Geirangerfjord World Heritage Bruce Elliot, Acting Chief Executive Foundation Officer, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa Lagoons of New Caledonia: “Last November, Reef Diversity and South Africa’s Associated Ecosystems, France iSimangaliso announced the “The government expansion of its of New Caledonia marine protected decided to substantially area featuring the strengthen protection world’s oldest living in the Coral Sea. fish, the coelacanth. The northern World The expansion is Heritage area is now expected to provide surrounded by a a crucial buffer to vast, newly protected the protection of the area with which its site's Outstanding ecosystem is intimately Universal Value.” connected.” Sibusiso Bukhosini, CEO, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Nathalie Baillon, Director of Authority Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels

2 3 Building a World Heritage vision embracing WORLD HERITAGE MARINE MANAGERS: conservation and poverty reduction in Sudan A FLAGSHIP NETWORK EMPOWERED TO From 9 to 12 October we held our years, and after 18 years of World first training in Port Sudan, Africa Heritage designation, the Park TRANSFORM HOW WE PROTECT at the Sanganeb Marine National provides12,000 jobs. Park and Dungonab Bay—Mukkawar More info: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1887/ Island Marine National Park World It was a unique experience to Heritage site. World Heritage managers discover the many from Banc d’Arguin National Park similarities between Sudan, (Mauritania) and iSimangaliso Wetland Mauritania and South Africa’s Park (South Africa) shared their marine World Heritage sites. This experiences about how to use World exchange was an excellent starting point Heritage status to leverage jobs, income for Sudan moving forward in the future.” © UNESCO / Daniel Correia and a sustainable environment. Naserdeen Mohamed Al Amin, In iSimangaliso, tourism businesses manager of Sanganeb Marine National Park in and around the Park have grown and Dungonab Bay Mukkawar Island Marine by more than 80% in the last 10 National Park

Ocean litter at marine World Heritage sites: from local clean ups to global strategic action

Marine litter, including plastics, is Sea World Heritage site hosted the first a growing concern for the health of expert meeting to discuss solutions to the oceans. Studies estimate that reduce plastic and marine litter across several World Heritage sites such as marine World Heritage sites. During Henderson Island (United Kingdom of the 3-day workshop experts and World Great Britain and Northern Ireland) or Heritage marine managers exchanged

© UNESCO / Daniel Correia ; UNESCO / Andreas B. Krueger; UNESCO / Kartika D. Suardana; CWWS/Joachim Trettin; KfW; Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Papahānaumokuākea (USA) are located ideas and best practices on marine litter at the edge of major ocean gyres which monitoring, clean-up campaigns and transport plastics and marine litter to awareness-raising. The meeting report World Heritage managers have unparalleled expertise in their beaches and ocean environment. is expected to be public in Spring 2019. From 14 to 16 November, the Wadden More info: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1904/ managing marine protected areas. On a daily basis, we connect © UNESCO / Robbert Casier 49 sites across 37 nations to share solutions and improve conservation outcomes. Innovative science and sustainable marine tourism during high-level Belize visit to Australia As local guardians of the world’s our global collection of World Heritage the recent zero emissions target for West From 26 to 30 November 2018, a high-level delegation from Belize most iconic marine protected areas, marine site managers. Norwegian Fjords (Norway). visited Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to exchange best practices marine World Heritage managers have on leveraging their reef’s iconic World Heritage status, to protect confronted every imaginable problem Since its inception in 2010, the network Setting up international exchanges of their fragile ecosystems from climate impacts and secure facing our oceans and many have created has produced several tangible results, best practices has become a hallmark of sustainable livelihoods, jobs and income for local communities. leading-edge solutions. including special maritime pollution the World Heritage Marine Programme. protection status for Tubbataha Reefs The network is maintained through The visit follows a series of landmark conservation actions that Through UNESCO’s robust monitoring, Natural Park in the Philippines, and a peer-to-peer exchanges between sites led to the removal of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System from supported by IUCN as the Convention’s twinning agreement to improve protection with similar challenges, thematic expert the List of World Heritage in Danger earlier this year. Advisory Body on natural heritage, we of millions of birds shared between Banc meetings and regular e-newsletters. More info: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1909/ © Government of Australia have begun to tap the vast expertise— d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania) and Every three years, all 49 managers come hundreds of thousands of hours of the Wadden Sea (Netherlands, Denmark, together to share their key successes and on-the-ground experience and innovation Germany). Site-to-site exchanges over the to forge a path forward together. On the to tackle problems like overfishing and past two years with Glacier Bay National next page are some of the results from Our 2018 activities to strengthen the World Heritage marine site manager’s network and accelerate change were supported by the Annenberg Foundation, the Government of Flanders, the French Agency for Biodiversity, and anonymous partners. development pressure— contained within Park (USA) were also central in achieving the past year.

4 5 MARINE WORLD HERITAGE Reef Resilience: Pioneering leadership in climate adaptation IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

Climate change affects marine World Heritage sites at an unprecedented speed. In addition to assessing conservation trends, our climate work focuses on assessing the impacts through scientific reports and building resilience at the Marine Managers during the 2018 inception workshop. © Great Barrier Reef Foundation / Gary Cranitch The UNESCO World Heritage List based management. Starting with five local level of individual sites. includes 29 coral reefs that are of World Heritage-listed coral reefs, it outstanding value to humanity. But will finance a Chief Resilience Officer soaring ocean temperatures over the (CRO) at each site who will be tasked past three years has caused some of to coordinate the development of a the worst bleaching ever observed. The Resilience Strategy in close cooperation third global marine World Heritage with local government, communities managers conference (2016, Galápagos and civil society. A strategy does not build the resilience Islands), revealed how ill-equipped and of World Heritage reefs – actions do. overwhelmed World Heritage managers A team of top-notch experts in climate That’s why we are excited about the are to understand and adapt to the resilience and coral reefs will support resources and support that Resilient threats of climate change. At the time, World Heritage reef managers with this Reefs brings to the site-level.” only Australia’s Great Barrier Reef had effort. This initiative will also fund the Jennifer Olegeriil, a comprehensive strategic plan in place immediate implementation of priority actions as defined in the Resilience Director, Department of Conservation to boost reef resilience in the face of and Law Enforcement, Koror State © 2018 Our Ocean Conference Strategy. Results, outcomes and lessons climate change. Government, Palau At the October 2018 Our Ocean Conference Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System More information: http://whc.unesco.org/en/ learned will be shared with the broader news/1894/ in Bali, Indonesia, we launched a new (Belize), Ningaloo Coast and the Great The Reef Resilience initiative represents World Heritage marine manager a coordinated plan of action to develop community and replicated where four-year initiative that will build climate Barrier Reef (Australia). a new methodology for resilience- feasible. resilience leadership in an initial five The Resilient Reefs initiative is led World Heritage marine sites. The initiative While delivering on the Paris Climate by an international consortium of builds on the capacity of managers to work Agreement is essential, global efforts partners, including UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the Rockefeller locally and enables a global network to must be reinforced by strategic local Foundation and its pioneering 100 UNESCO update confirms remaining within 1.5°C climate target create innovative approaches that can fast action to build the resilience of coral Resilient Cities, BHP Foundation, track resilience of coral reefs in hot spots reefs, buying time for reefs while global the Nature Conservancy’s Reef is critical for survival of World Heritage-listed coral reefs Resilience Network, the Great around the globe. Sites involved include carbon emissions are brought under Barrier Reef Foundation and the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (Palau), control. For World Heritage coral reefs and global consultancy in environmental

NIO M O UN IM D R T IA Last September, UNESCO’s 29 reef-containing UNESCO World Heritage properties under

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United Nations World Educational, Scientiﬁc and Heritage World Heritage Centre a Representative Concentration Pathway RCP2.6 scenario, and Associated Ecosystems (France), resilience is key to survival. Cultural Organization Convention released an update to its in which global temperature increase would be limited to 2017 first global scientific 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Under such a scenario, assessment of the impacts of which reflects the long-term target under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris >> Artwork to celebrate World Oceans Day climate change on UNESCO World Heritage coral reefs. Agreement, exposure to annual severe bleaching would likely On World Oceans Day, 8 June, we highlighted the power of Impacts of Climate The latest update concludes be prevented this century. Furthermore, nearly all of the 29 art to inspire people around the world to step up efforts to Change on World Heritage Coral Reefs: that limiting global analyzed World Heritage-listed coral reefs (86%) would escape protect our Marine World Heritage for future generations. Update to the First Global Scientific Assessment twice-per-decade severe bleaching this century and thus The colourful diversity of UNESCO World Heritage-listed temperatures to 1.5°C above secure a sustainable future for the planet's most iconic reef coral reefs inspired the 19-yr old Belgian artist VEXX to pre-industrial levels would systems. create artwork to celebrate the 2018 World Oceans Day. His mean World Heritage-listed drawings raised attention for the challenges World Heritage coral reefs are expected This report benefited from in-kind support from the United listed coral reefs face. to avoid severe annual Download the UNESCO report States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration bleaching this century. More information: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1828/ In ENGLISH and FRENCH (NOAA), the University of Miami, and the University of Colorado Led by NOAA’s Coral Reef for which the World Heritage Centre is grateful. Watch, the update forecasts the effects of heat stress on the More information: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1878/

6 7 WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE Landmark Conservation CONSERVATION STATUS OF MARINE Action leads to Belize Barrier Reef removal WORLD HERITAGE SITES from List of World Heritage in Danger

Undoubtedly, the highlight of 2018 World Heritage Listing is only the first step. Once a place is was the removal of the Belize Barrier Reef from the List of World Heritage inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it becomes in Danger. At its 42nd Session, the World Heritage Committee decided subject to continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure its to remove the site from the UNESCO © UNESCO / Anna Nickolya special values are maintained. Last year, we contributed to the List of World Heritage in Danger permit regulations to prevent following an intensive period of unsustainable development and scientific assessments of 11 marine sites. landmark conservation action led by the measures toward safeguarding all Government of Belize over the past year. remaining nationally held lands throughout the property. The World Heritage Committee oversees all sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, reviews state The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was inscribed on the UNESCO List of conservation reports, and requests governments to take action to address specific conservation In 2016, the government of Belize of World Heritage in Danger in 2009 challenges. At its 42nd annual session held in Manama, Bahrain, last July, the Committee adopted adopted a visionary management plan following concerns about sales of lands for the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve Watch the World Heritage decisions for 11 World Heritage marine sites. Committee decide for private development within the System, developed during a multiyear property, mangrove destruction and engagement process with local offshore oil extraction. About 200,000 communities and stakeholders. The Belizeans are dependent on the reef for plan provides alternative scenarios their livelihood. List of decisions for based on different socio-economic and environmental objectives and is Since 2015, the government of Belize 11 World Heritage one of the most innovative marine has stepped up leadership to address management plans worldwide. marine sites threats to the Outstanding Universal More information: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1839/ Click on each image to © Odile Van Asperen © Shutterstock.com/Wata51 © Kevan Mantell Value of the site and implement Watch the official address of the Honourable Read the Decision Banc d’Arguin National Park Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System Coiba National Park and its Special necessary legislative measures to Deputy Prime Minister of Belize Zone of Marine Protection Read the Decision Read the Decision safeguard the property’s health in a Read the Decision changing climate. Measures include a permanent oil moratorium across The World Heritage Marine Programme activities to support the removal of the Belize the entire Belize offshore waters, Barrier Reef Reserve System from the List of World Heritage in Danger were supported by the government of Flanders and Mr Adrian and Ms Jacqui Beecroft/Charities Aid the adoption of new regulations for Foundation. mangrove protection, strengthened

© UNESCO / Robbert Casier © Everglades National Park © UNESCO/Daniel Correia © World Heritage Collection ///// Save the date East Rennell Everglades National Park Galápagos Islands Gough and Inaccessible Islands The World Heritage Committee will convene for its 43rd session in Baku, Read the Decision Read the Decision Read the Decision Read the Decision Azerbaijan, from 30 June to 10 July 2019. During the 43rd session, the Committee is scheduled to discuss the state of conservation of at least 10 World Heritage marine sites, including East Rennell, Everglades National Park, Socotra Archipelago, The Sundarbans, Shiretoko, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection. The full list of sites for review will be available in spring 2019.

© NOAA/Paula Olson © Alexander Gruzdev © PERGSA © Mario Caruso Sanganeb Marine National Park and Islands and Protected Areas of the Natural System of Wrangel Island Socotra Archipelago The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides technical advice to help the World Heritage Committee Gulf of California Reserve Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park Read the Decision make informed decisions on natural World Heritage. For more information: https://www.iucn.org/theme/world-heritage Read the Decision Read the Decision Read the Decision

8 9 WORLD HERITAGE IN MARINE AREAS PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO BECOMES BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION STRATEGIC PARTNER OF MARINE WORLD HERITAGE The 1972 World Heritage Convention does not currently protect places in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. Yet, ocean areas of potential universal value might exist in these waters. Following the UNESCO 2011 Audit Recommendation, we are exploring what it would take to extend protection to these areas in the future. A new report is expected in Spring 2019.

Under the direction of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Monaco Explorations was in Malpelo from 14 to 29 March 2018. Principality has renewed its tradition of ocean explorations During the scientific expedition, environmental DNA samples that step up scientific understanding, learning and raise were taken to identify ocean species through their genetic code. public awareness for the challenges the ocean face. Launched A camera rig was placed at depths of 10 to 20 meters for 36 in 2017, the Monaco Explorations are a travelling research consecutive hours, capturing footage of both daytime and night- platform from which top researchers will navigate the world’s time species. The data were subsequently cross referenced with oceans and seas for the next three years. The World Heritage results of the filtered DNA samples in an effort to better understand © Kevin Raskoff / Hidden Ocean 2005 Expedition: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration. © UNESCO / mouv-up.com marine programme partnered with Monaco in support of the their life cycles and habits. As part of the expedition, a series of Advancing the possibility of World Heritage sites in UNESCO World Heritage-listed marine sites that will be visited sharks were tagged with acoustic transmitters to better understand >> Live Broadcast White as part of this campaign between now and 2020. the migratory patterns of these iconic species. the High Seas Shark Café Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary was inscribed on the UNESCO On 15 May 2018, as part of the On 11-12 December 2018, we brought together World Heritage List in 2006 in recognition of its globally outstanding Aspen Institute’s High Seas top legal experts in Monaco to discuss possible ecosystems and biodiversity. The vast marine park provides a 44 World Heritagereports Initiative, we had the honour of 44 practical ways on how globally unique marine critical habitat for internationally threatened marine species. The participating in a Panel Discussion areas beyond national jurisdiction could potentially site is a reservoir for sharks, giant grouper and billfish and is one and Live Broadcast on White be protected through the 1972 World Heritage of the few places in the world where sightings of the short-nosed Shark Café, a patch of ocean Convention. During the meeting, legal options for ragged toothed shark have been confirmed. Several species between California and Hawaii. the possible nomination, protection and evaluation that are central to the Outstanding Universal Value of Malpelo The site was featured in the of ocean places of potential Outstanding Universal migrate large distances to other World Heritage sites in the region, 2016 UNESCO-IUCN report as a World Heritage in the High Seas: Value in the High Seas were discussed. The results including Galápagos Islands and Cocos Island National Park. An Idea Whose Time Has Come of the meeting will be presented at the forthcoming potential area that could possibly © Monaco Explorations 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee be of Outstanding Universal

in 2019. Value to humanity. Along with reports

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H O Sylvia Earle, Barbara Block E M Read more: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1912/ R I E TA IN G O E • PATRIM World Heritage World United Nations World Educational, Scientiﬁc and Heritage Cultural Organization Convention >> Monaco Blue Initiative and others, we discussed how Download the Report In 2016, UNESCO and IUCN launched a report the UNESCO World Heritage The Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI) brings together government, civil society, World heritage in the high seas: that, for the first time, explored ways in which an idea whose time has come Convention could potentially help science and private sector leaders to discuss ocean management. The the 1972 World Heritage Convention could help protect this precious place. World Heritage Marine Programme attended the 2018 edition in Edinburgh conserve wonders of the open ocean beyond https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/white- to provide an update on how the world’s flagship marine protected areas shark-cafe-panel-discussion-live-broadcast/ national boundaries. The report followed the 2011 recommendation from the secure effective protection amidst a rapidly changing climate. Independent Audit of the UNESCO World Heritage Global Strategy and PACT initiative More information: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1813/ to “reflect upon appropriate means to preserve sites that correspond to conditions of The High Seas activities of the World © Monaco Blue Initiative Outstanding Universal Value, which are not dependent on the sovereignty of States Heritage Marine Programme were Parties.” The 2016 report concluded that the Convention could potentially protect supported by the government of exceptional places in these areas and that not doing so might be a mere historic France and the Prince Albert II of These activities to strengthen the protection of marine sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List were supported by the Principality of Monaco. Monaco Foundation. oversight.

10 11 OUR PARTNERS OUR TEAM

None of the successes we achieved in 2018 would have been possible without the support of our key partners. Experts from all over the world have helped make our work possible throughout 2018. Cooperation across government, non-profit, corporate sector and private individuals is essential to preserve our ocean We are grateful for their support and look forward to working together in 2019. World Heritage legacy for generations to come. Join our growing global alliance today at [email protected]

World Heritage Marine Programme Staff | Headquarters, Paris KEY 2018 PARTNERS

Government of Flanders, Principality of Monaco / Prince Albert II of Monaco French Agency for Biodiversity, Belgium Monaco Explorations Foundation Government of France Fanny Douvere, Robbert Casier, Vanessa Lucot, Nolwazi Mjwara, Yiyi Liang, Programme Associate Project Programme Assistant Communications Intern Coordinator Officer Consultant

World Heritage Marine Core Consulting Team

Adrian and Jacqui Beecroft Annenberg Foundation The Ocean Agency / The Great Barrier Reef / Charities Aid Foundation Underwater Earth Foundation

We wish to thank the anonymous donors whose generous support enables Scott Heron, Mark Eakin, David Johnson, Lisa Speer, Director, Daniel Pauly, Mike Mannaart, the World Heritage Marine Programme to fulfil its mandate. NOAA Coral Reef Coordinator, NOAA Director, Seascape International Oceans, Principal Investigator, Senior Advisor, KIMO Watch Coral Reef Watch Consultants Ltd. Natural Resources Sea Around Us International Defense Council

IN COOPERATION WITH

The International Union for Conservation The World Heritage marine site of Nature (IUCN), official advisory body for managers and their teams that work David Balton, Adham Mutasim Glaudy Perdanahardja, Professor David Glen Wright, Murtda Albasheer, natural heritage under the tirelessly on the ground to implement Senior Fellow, Woodrow Al Bushra, The Nature Freestone, Executive Research Fellow, Interpreter 1972 World Heritage Convention. the 1972 World Heritage Convention. Wilson International Interpreter Conservancy Indonesia Secretary, Sargasso IDDRI Center for Scholars Sea Commission

Nicole Lampe, Michel Miri, Sunshine Urbaniak, Daniel Correia, Aurelia Mazoyer, Vice President, Consultant marketing SunDesign Studios Photographer Designer Resource Media and communication

12 13 THE 49 MARINE SITES INSCRIBED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST (AS OF 01/01/2019)

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

Argentina Cocos Island National Park, 1997 Mauritania Seychelles Península Valdés, 1999 Denmark/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 Finland/Sweden Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino, 1993 Ningaloo Coast, 2011 High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago, Archipiélago de Revillagigedo, 2016 Spain 2000 Shark Bay, Western Australia, 1991 New Zealand 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 Norway Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Belize Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Marine National Park, 2016 Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Diversity and Associated Ecosystems, West Norwegian Fjords – 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 Lagoon, 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 Flora 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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