32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee
During the 32nd Annual World Heritage Committee meeting which met from July 2-10, 2008, participants discussed the protection and conservation of over 850 World Heritage sites. These sites, located in more than 140 different countries and selected for their outstanding universal value to humankind, have been chosen by the World Heritage Committee following careful guidelines.
To learn more about the 2008 World Heritage Committee meeting held in Quebec City, listen to an audio podcast from the UN Foundation’s Executive Director of Sustainable Development, Erika Harms.
Both manmade and natural, World Heritage sites have withstood the test of time for hundreds or even thousands of years. Yet some sites face imminent threats from external factors such as armed conflicts, climate change, and uncontrolled tourism. During the World Heritage Committee meeting, hundreds of delegates from around the world discussed the health of 60 potentially endangered sites, including the Galápagos Islands, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, and Virunga National Park.
You can learn more by listening to Erika’s message about World Heritage sites in danger and to her advice for travelers on preserving and protecting the world’s most cherished destinations through responsible travel.
RESOURCES
- About site nominations
- UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in danger
- Friends of World Heritage interactive map of World Heritage in Danger
