The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is gearing up for a crucial vote next week, with its 196 member states set to decide on new additions to the World Heritage and World Heritage in Danger lists. This decision carries significant weight, as it can mean the difference between preservation and destruction for some of the world's most precious cultural and natural sites. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre's director, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, emphasizes the importance of sending a strong message to the world, stating, 'We may not have the means to deploy peacekeepers... but we can send a message to the entire world.'
The process of adding sites to the 'in danger' list is not a reprimand but a strategic move to help states secure funding, partners, and attention for better preservation. Three sites are expected to be fast-tracked and voted onto the endangered list, including the archaeological site of Sebastia in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank. This site, identified as Biblical Samaria, is in an area under Israeli control, but its adjacent village, under dual Israeli-Palestinian control, relies on tourist visits for income and fears potential access cuts.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict adds a layer of complexity to UNESCO's efforts. Israel's withdrawal from UNESCO in 2017, while it remains a member of the World Heritage Committee, highlights the challenges in reaching a consensus. The five castles in south Lebanon, an area under Israeli fire, are also on the priority list, with one of them, the Crusader fortress of Qalaat al-Chakif or Beaufort Castle, recently captured by Israeli troops. The Boma-Badingilo grassland and woodland savannahs in South Sudan are another priority case, facing threats from both war and climate change.
Beyond these priority cases, the UNESCO committee will consider sites already listed as heritage spots that may now be labeled as endangered. The remains of Roman baths and a second-century triumphal arch in Tyre, Lebanon, are under heavy Israeli bombardment, while the ancient Greek settlement of Tauric Chersonese in Crimea, annexed by Russia from Ukraine, faces threats from unauthorized excavations and large-scale construction projects. Lake Baikal in Russia, the world's deepest lake, is also at risk due to pollution, mass tourism, and logging.
The UNESCO vote is a critical step in safeguarding these sites, but it also highlights the ongoing challenges posed by conflict and climate change. The organisation's efforts to protect cultural and natural heritage are a testament to the importance of international cooperation and the need to address these threats before it's too late.
