List of World Heritage in Danger

The Church of the Nativity, traditionally considered the birthplace of Jesus, is one of several sites to have been designated as World Heritage Sites and World Heritage in Danger in the same year.

The List of World Heritage in Danger is compiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through the World Heritage Committee according to Article 11.4 of the World Heritage Convention, which was established in 1972 to designate and manage World Heritage Sites. Entries in the list are threatened World Heritage Sites for the conservation of which major operations are required and for which "assistance has been requested". The list is intended to increase international awareness of the threats and to encourage counteractive measures. Threats to a site can be either proven imminent threats or potential dangers that could have adverse effects on a site.

In the case of natural sites, ascertained dangers include the serious decline in the population of an endangered or other valuable species or the deterioration of natural beauty or scientific value of a property caused by human activities such as logging, pollution, settlement, mining, agriculture and major public works. Ascertained dangers for cultural properties include serious deterioration of materials, structure, ornaments or architectural coherence and the loss of historical authenticity or cultural significance. Potential dangers for both cultural and natural sites include development projects, armed conflicts, insufficient management systems or changes in the legal protective status of the properties. In the case of cultural sites, gradual changes due to geology, climate or environment can also be potential dangers.

Before a property is inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, its condition is assessed and a potential programme for corrective measures is developed in cooperation with the State Party involved. The final decision about inscription is made by the committee. Financial support from the World Heritage Fund may be allocated by the committee for listed properties. The state of conservation is reviewed on a yearly basis, after which the committee may request additional measures, delete the property from the list if the threats have ceased or consider deletion from both the List of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List. Of the two Former UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Dresden Elbe Valley was delisted after placement on the List of World Heritage in Danger while the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary was directly delisted. As of 2012, there are 38 entries (17 natural, 21 cultural) on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Some sites have been designated as World Heritage Sites and World Heritage in Danger in the same year, such as the Church of the Nativity, traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Jesus. Many of the listed sites are located in the developing world with 17 in Africa (of which 5 are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), 9 in Asia, 8 in the Americas and 4 in Europe. The majority of the endangered natural sites (12) are located in Africa.

In some cases, danger listing has sparked conservation efforts and prompted the release of funds, resulting in a positive development for sites such as the Galápagos Islands and Yellowstone National Park, both of which have subsequently been removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger. Despite this, the list itself and UNESCO's implementation of it have been the focus of criticism. In particular, States Parties and other stakeholders of World Heritage Sites have questioned the authority of the Committee to declare a site in danger without their consent. Until 1992, when UNESCO set a precedent by placing several sites on the danger list against their wishes, States Parties would have submitted a programme of corrective measures before a site could be listed. Instead of being used as intended, the List of World Heritage in Danger is perceived by some states as a black list and according to Christina Cameron, Professor at the School of Architecture, Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, University of Montreal, has been used as political tool to get the attention of States Parties. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) notes that UNESCO has referenced the List of World Heritage in Danger (without actually listing the site) in a number of cases where the threat could be easily addressed by the State Party. The Union also argues that keeping a site listed as endangered over a long period is questionable and that other mechanisms for conservation should be sought in these cases.

Currently listed sites

Table legend

Name; as listed by the World Heritage Committee

Location; at city or provincial level and country name, with coordinates; column sorts by state

Criteria; the site was listed under

Area; in hectares and acres if provided by UNESCO

Year (WHS); the year the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List

Endangered; the year the site appeared on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Reason; threats to the site which prompted UNESCO to list it as in danger

  * Trans-border site

Name	Image	Location	Criteria	Area ha (acre)	Year (WHS)	Endangered	Reason	Refs
Abu Mena	150x150px	EgyAbusir, Egypt	Cultural: (iv)	182 (450)	1979	2001-	Cave-ins in the area caused by the clay at the surface, which becomes semi-liquid when met with "excess water"
Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves		Niger1Arlit Department, Niger	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	7,736,000 (19,120,000)	1991	1992-	Military conflict and civil disturbance in the region as well as a reduction of wildlife population and degradation of the vegetation cover
Ancient City of Aleppo	150x150px	Aleppo Governorate, Syria	Cultural: (iii)(iv)	350 (860)	1986	2013-	Syrian Civil War, currently held partly by rebels and the government. Incessant bombing runs by the government, and mortar and gunfire by rebels endangers foundations.
Ancient City of Bosra		Daraa Governorate, Syria	Cultural: (i)(iii)(vi)	—	1980	2013-	Syrian Civil War, held by the government.
Ancient City of Damascus		Damascus Governorate, Syria	Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)	86 (210)	1979	2013-	Syrian Civil War, rebel gunfire and mortar shelling, followed by aircraft bombings by the government endangers foundations.
Ancient Villages of Northern Syria	150x150px	Syria	Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v)	12,290 (30,400)	2011	2013-	Syrian Civil War, some held by rebels. Reports of looting and demolitions by Islamist groups.
Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)		IraqSalah ad Din, Iraq	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	70 (170)	2003	2003-	A planned reservoir that would have partially flooded the site was suspended in the wake of the Iraq War by the new administration; lack of adequate protection
Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery	150x150px	GeorImereti, Georgia	Cultural: (iv)	7.87 (19.4)	1994	2010-	Major reconstruction project that will lead to irreversible interventions and undermine the authenticity and integrity of the site
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System		BelBelize, Stann Creek and Toledo Belize	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	96,300 (238,000)	1996	2009-	Mangrove cutting and excessive development
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone		PerLa Libertad, Peru	Cultural: (i), (iii)	600 (1,500)	1986	1986-	Natural erosion
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem		Pal Bethlehem, Palestine	Cultural: (iv), (vi)	2.98 (7.4)	2012	2012-	Damage due to water leaks - however current restoration work is taking place to save the site.
Comoé National Park	150x150px	CotZanzan, Côte d'Ivoire	Natural: (ix), (x)	1,150,000 (2,800,000)	1983	2003-	Civil unrest, poaching and lack of effective management mechanisms
Coro and its Port		VenFalcón, Venezuela	Cultural: (iv), (v)	107 (260)	1993	2005-	Damage to a great number of structures due to heavy rain between November 2004 and February 2005 as well as the construction of a new monument, a beach walkway and an entrance gate to the city in the buffer zone which could have considerable impact on the value of the site
Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din		Homs and Latakia Governorates, Syria	Cultural: (ii)(iv)	9 (22)	2006	2013-	Syrian Civil War, once held by Al-Nusra Front and other Islamist groups, reclaimed by Syrian Arab Army and Hezbollah fighters. Reports of damages and looting caused by Islamist groups was released by the government.
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley		AfgBamyan, Afghanistan	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)	159 (390)	2003	2003-	Fragile conservation state due to abandonment, military action and dynamite explosions; causing dangers such as risk of collapse of Buddha niches, further deterioration of cave murals, looting and illicit excavations. Destruction during the rule of Taliban due to their teachings that the statues are abominations to Islam.
East Rennell		Solomon IslandRennell and Bellona Province, Solomon Islands	Natural: (ix)	37,000 (91,000)	1998	2013-	Damage to the site due to logging and its effect on the local ecoystem
Everglades National Park		United StatesFlorida, United States	Natural: (viii), (ix), (x)	592,920 (1,465,100)	1979	1993–2007, 2010-	Damage due to Hurricane Andrew and deterioration of water flow and quality due to agricultural and urban development (1993); continued degradation of the site resulting in a loss of marine habitat and decline in marine species (2010)
Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo		PanColón Province, Panama	Cultural: (i), (iv)	5000000000000000000♠—	1980	2012-	Environmental factors, lack of maintenance and urban development
Garamba National Park		DemOrientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo	Natural: (vii), (x)	500,000 (1,200,000)	1980	1984–1992, 1996-	Reduction of Northern White Rhinoceros population (1984); poaching of two white rhinos, killing of three rangers and no plan for corrective measures by the authorities (1996)
Hatra		IrqNineveh Governorate, Iraq	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)	324 (800)	1985	2015-	Damage inflicted to the property by armed groups
Historical Monuments of Mtskheta		GeorMtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	5000000000000000000♠—	1994	2009-	Concerns about the preservation of the site
Historic Town of Zabīd		YemAl Hudaydah, Yemen	Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)	5000000000000000000♠—	1993	2000-	Deteriorating state of historic buildings, inscribed on request of the State Party
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works		ChilTarapacá, Chile	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	5000000000000000000♠—	2005	2005-	Fragile nature of structures due to lack of maintenance for 40 years; also damage, vandalism and some dismantling; looting
Kahuzi-Biega National Park		DemSouth Kivu and Maniema, Democratic Republic of the Congo	Natural: (x)	600,000 (1,500,000)	1980	1997-	Deforestation, hunting as well as war and civil strife
Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City	150x150px	United KingdomLiverpool England, United Kingdom	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	136 (340)	2004	2012-	Due to the proposed redevelopment of historic docklands known as Liverpool Waters
Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park		CenBamingui-Bangoran, Central African Republic	Natural: (ix), (x)	1,740,000 (4,300,000)	1988	1997-	Illegal grazing and poaching, deteriorating security situation
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam		AfgGhōr, Afghanistan	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	70 (170)	2002	2002-	Lack of legal protection, lack of protection measure or management plan, poor condition of the site
Medieval Monuments in Kosovo		SerbiaKosovo, Serbia	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	2.88 (7.1)	2004	2006-	Lack of legal protection and management; political instability and security
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve	150x150px	CotLola Prefecture, Côte d'Ivoire* Guinea*	Natural: (ix), (x)	18,000 (44,000)	1981	1992-	Iron ore mining concession on part of the World Heritage Site and influx of large number of refugees on the Guinean part of the site
Niokolo-Koba National Park		SenTambacounda Region and Kédougou Region, Senegal	Natural: (x)	913,000 (2,260,000)	1981	2007-	Degradation of property, low mammal population, management problems and impact of a proposed dam on the Gambia River
Okapi Wildlife Reserve		Dem Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo	Natural: (x)	1,372,625 (3,391,830)	1996	1997-	Looting of park facilities and killing of elephants as a result of an armed conflict in the area
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls		JerJerusalem District (no nation named by UNESCO)	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (vi)	5000000000000000000♠—	1981	1982-	Uncontrolled urban development, general deterioration of the state of conservation due to tourism and lack of maintenance.
Old City of Sana'a		YemSana'a Governorate, Yemen	Cultural: (iv), (v), (vi)	5000000000000000000♠—	1986	2015-	Damage inflicted to the property due to armed conflict
Old Walled City of Shibam		YemHadhramaut Governorate, Yemen	Cultural: (iii), (iv), (v)	5000000000000000000♠—	1982	2015-	Potential threat from the armed conflict, compounding safeguarding and management problems already observed at the site
Rainforests of the Atsinanana		MadEastern Madagascar, Madagascar	Natural: (ix), (x)	479,660 (1,185,300)	2007	2010-	Illegal logging and hunting of endangered lemurs
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve		HonLa Mosquitia, Honduras	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	5000000000000000000♠—	1982	1996–2007, 2011-	Logging, fishing and land occupation; poaching and the reduced capacity of the state to manage the site; largely due to the deterioration of law and to the presence of drug traffickers
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara		TanKilwa District, Tanzania	Cultural: (iii)	5000000000000000000♠—	1981	2004-	Continuing deterioration of the site due to various agents such as erosion or plants
Salonga National Park		DemÉquateur and Bandundu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo	Natural: (vii), (ix)	3,600,000 (8,900,000)	1984	1999-	Breakdown of civil order
Samarra Archaeological City		IraqSalah ad Din, Iraq	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	15,058 (37,210)	2007	2007-	Security situation following the Iraq War and lack of state control for protection or management of the site
Simien National Park		EthAmhara Region, Ethiopia	Natural: (vii), (x)	22,000 (54,000)	1978	1996-	Deterioration of population of Walia ibex
Site of Palmyra		Homs Governorate, Syria	Cultural: (i)(ii)(iv)	0.36 (0.89)	1980	2013-	Syrian Civil War, captured by the notoriously iconoclastic Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS).
Timbuktu		MalTimbuktu, Timbuktu Region, Mali	Cultural: (ii), (iv), (v)	5000000000000000000♠—	1988	2012-	Threat of destruction by the Islamist groups like Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, Ansar Dine and Boko Haram. Some monuments are now pillaged and destroyed.
Tomb of Askia		MalGao, Gao Region, Mali	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	4.24 (10.5)	2004	2012-	Damaged by Islamist groups like Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb and Ansar Dine. Reported destroyed by Ansar Dine when they captured Timbuktu.
Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi		UgandaKampala District, Uganda	Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv), (vi)	27 (67)	2001	2010-	Destruction of the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main building of the site, by fire in March 2010
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra	150x150px	IndonesiaSumatra, Indonesia	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	2,595,124 (6,412,690)	2004	2011-	Poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and plans to build roads through the site
Virunga National Park		DemNorth Kivu and Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo	Natural: (vii), (viii), (x)	800,000 (2,000,000)	1979	1994-	Deforestation and poaching as a result of the influx of refugees due to the Rwandan Civil War
Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir		Pal Battir, Palestine	Cultural: (iv)(v)	349 (860)	2014	2014-	The Israeli West Bank barrier "may isolate farmers from fields they have cultivated for centuries".

Previously listed sites

There exist a number of sites that were previously listed as being in danger, but later removed from the list after improvements in management and conservation. The Everglades National Park was listed from 1993 to 2007 and again since 2010; the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve was listed from 1996 to 2007 and again since 2011. Both are therefore included in the list of currently listed sites (above).

•   Delisted as a World Heritage Site

Name	Image	Location	Criteria	Area ha (acre)	Year (WHS)	Endangered	Reason	Refs
Angkor		Siem Reap Province, Cambodia	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)	5000000000000000000♠ —	1992	1992–2004	Inscription initially limited to a three-year period (1993–1995) during which effective legal protection, boundary and buffer zones were to be established and international conservation efforts were to be monitored and coordinated; at the time of inscription, Cambodia was UN-controlled following the civil war in the 1980s.
Bahla Fort		Bahla, Oman	Cultural: (iv)	5000000000000000000♠ —	1987	1988–2004	Degradation of earth structures of the fort and of the oasis of Bahla
Bam and its Cultural Landscape		IranKerman, Iran	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)	5000000000000000000♠—	2004	2004–2013	Following the damage due to the 2003 Bam earthquake
Butrint		Sarandë District, Albania	Cultural: (iii)	3,980 (9,800)	1992	1997–2005	Damages due to management and conservation
Cologne Cathedral		North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv)	5000000000000000000♠ —	1996	2004–2006	High-rise building plan near the cathedral threatening to inflict damage to the integrity of the property; delisted after the building plan was halted and a buffer zone introduced
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary	150x150px	Biffeche, Senegal	Natural: (vii), (x)	16,000 (40,000)	1981	1984–1988, 2000–2006	Long term threat by construction plan for a down-stream dam (1984); delisted (1988) as water supply to the park was insured by the construction of a sluice and a management plan was being prepared; relisted (2000) due to environmental and economical threats posed by the introduced species Salvinia molesta and Pistia stratiotes as well as issues with water management in the park
Dresden Elbe Valley		Saxony, Germany	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)	1,930 (4,800)	2004	2006–2009	Construction plans for the Waldschlösschen Bridge in the core area of the cultural landscape; removed from the list of World Heritage Sites in 2009 after construction commenced at the end of 2007
Dubrovnik		Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia	Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv)	97 (240)	1979	1991–1998	Croatian War of Independence
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore	150x150px	PakPunjab, Pakistan	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii)	5000000000000000000♠—	1981	2000–2012	Destruction of historic water tanks in 1999 to widen a road and deteriorating perimeter walls of the Garden, listed on request of the Pakistan government
Galápagos Islands		Galápagos Province, Ecuador	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	14,066,514 (34,759,110)	1978	2007–2010	Various threats including insufficient prevention of possibilities for the introduction of alien species, insufficient resource allocation for conservation agencies and park management, presence of a large number of illegal immigrants, rapid uncontrolled growth of tourism, fishing over-capacity and sports fishing
Group of Monuments at Hampi		Bellary district, India	Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv)	5000000000000000000♠ —	1986	1999–2006	Partial construction of two cable-suspended bridges within the protected archaeological areas of Hampi threatening the integrity and authenticity of the site
Ichkeul National Park		Bizerta, Tunisia	Natural: (x)	12,600 (31,000)	1980	1996–2006	Construction of dams limiting the freshwater flow to the area and causing an increased salinity of the lake and the marshes as well as a decrease in the number of migrating bird populations
Iguaçu National Park		Paraná State, Brazil	Natural: (vii), (x)	170,086 (420,290)	1986	1999–2001	Illegally opened road ("Estrada do Colono", Portuguese for "Settler's Road") through the park, dams on the Iguazu River and helicopter flights.
Kathmandu Valley		Kathmandu Valley, Nepal	Cultural: (iii), (iv), (vi)	167 (410)	1979	2003–2007	Partial or substantial loss of the traditional elements of six out of seven monument zones and resulting general loss of authenticity and integrity of the whole property.
Los Katíos National Park	150x150px	Antioquia and Chocó, Colombia	Natural: (ix), (x)	72,000 (180,000)	1994	2009–2015	Deforestation, illegal fishing and hunting. Removed following significant improvements to Park management
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary		Assam, India	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	39,100 (97,000)	1985	1992–2011	Poaching, damage to the park's infrastructure and decrease in the population of some species particularly the Greater One Horned Rhino following an invasion by militants of the Bodo tribe in 1992
Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor		Bay of Kotor, Kotor and surrounding territory, Montenegro	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)	5000000000000000000♠ —	1979	1979–2003	Damage following the earthquake from April 15, 1979
Ngorongoro Conservation Area		Arusha Region, Tanzania	Natural: (iv), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	5000000000000000000♠ —	1978	1984–1989	Declining conservation status
Plitvice Lakes National Park		Lika-Senj County, Croatia	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix)	19,200 (47,000)	1979	1992–1997	Potential threat due to the Croatian War of Independence
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras		PhiIfugao, Philippines	Cultural: (iii), (iv), (v)	500,000 (1,200,000)	1995	2001–2012	Absence of systematic monitoring programme or a comprehensive management plan
Royal Palaces of Abomey		Zou Department, Benin	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	48 (120)	1985	1985–2007	General state of deterioration due to the elements and inappropriate restoration which are in conflict with the authenticity of the site
Rwenzori Mountains National Park		Bundibugyo, Kabarole and Kasese District, Uganda	Natural: (vii), (ix)	99,600 (246,000)	1994	1999–2004	Security situation and lack of monitoring of a major part of the park
Sangay National Park		Chimborazo, Morona-Santiago and Tungurahua Province, Ecuador	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	271,925 (671,940)	1983	1992–2005	Heavy poaching, illegal livestock grazing, encroachment and potential threat through a road construction project
Srebarna Nature Reserve		Srebarna, Silistra Province, Bulgaria	Natural: (x)	638 (1,580)	1983	1992–2003	Prevention of seasonal flooding and agricultural use causing a decline or disappearance of the water and passerine bird populations
Timbuktu		Circle and Region of Tombouctou, Mali	Cultural: (ii), (iv), (v)	5000000000000000000♠ —	1988	1990–2005	Threat of sand encroachment
Tipasa		Tipaza Province, Algeria	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	52 (130)	1982	2002–2006	Inadequat maintenance affecting the integrity of the site and its buffer zone
Wieliczka Salt Mine		Wieliczka, Wieliczka County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland	Cultural: (iv)	969 (2,390)	1978	1989–1998	Humidity problem
Yellowstone National Park		Wyoming and small areas of Montana and Idaho, United States	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	898,349 (2,219,870)	1978	1995–2003	Ascertained dangers to Yellowstone cutthroat trout as well as sewage leakage and waste contamination in parts of the park; potential threats to water quantity and quality, past and proposed mining activities, a proposed control programme to eradicate brucellosis in the bison herds

References

Notes

General

External links

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites, official site
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre – World Heritage in Danger List, official site
• UNESCO Heritage Centre – World Heritage List, official site