Locations Might Be Faraway from the UNESCO World Heritage Checklist
Venice, Budapest … two European cities that are highly valued by tourists and rich in history and culture. But also two cities that seem to be more and more in danger due to demolition and mass tourism. Both could soon be added to UNESCO’s list of endangered world heritage.
In the city of the Doges, the impact of mass tourism is one of the reasons the organization has asked for them to be included on this list of endangered heritage. In Budapest, the Buda Castle District and the banks of the Danube are the most exposed, mainly because of “inappropriate” demolitions and large-scale reconstructions. Constructions under which those of tall buildings would denature the historical places.
These recommendations from the UNESCO advisory bodies will be published prior to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, which will take a decision on compliance from July 16 to 31 in Fuzhou, China.
The Great Barrier Reef the same fate threatens because of its degradation caused by climate change. Inclusion on the World Heritage List in Danger would have serious consequences, and not just for Australia’s tourism industry. The World Heritage Committee is “deeply concerned” in its report about the condition of the Great Barrier Reef. The long-term prospects for the reef ecosystem have gone “from bad to very bad”.
Scientists have been warning for years that the 2,300-kilometer-long reef formation off the coast of Australia is threatened with destruction by global warming and man-made influences. Several underwater heat waves in rapid succession have led to the death of large coral fields in recent years.
Australian Environment Minister Sussan Ley complained that the World Heritage Committee had “ignored the billions of dollars that Australia has already spent on protecting the world’s largest coral reef”. Reef tourism alone provides 60,000 jobs and is responsible for billions in foreign currency income.
Regarding the commercial port of Liverpool, the decision of UNESCO could be even stronger, as it is a matter of removing the site completely from the World Heritage List. According to UNESCO, the major development project for the Beatles’ city docks, known as “Liverpool Waters”, would have deeply negative effects, especially for historical buildings. Despite repeated warnings from UNESCO, the development of this project has not stopped.
Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram regretted UNESCO’s proposal. “It’s deeply disappointing. We pride ourselves on our history, but our legacy is an integral part of revitalizing the city“He said in a statement on social networks. “I ask (UNESCO) to accept our invitation to visit the city instead of making your decision at a table on the other side of the planet,” he added. Another website threatened with the same sanction is the Selous Nature Reserve in Tanzania, because of massive poaching.
