Preserving World Heritage
The UN Foundation's Sustainable Development program is helping develop models to facilitate the conservation and sustainable use of natural World Heritage sites by the private sector, individuals, governments, and local communities. Our impact has been felt at more than 50 World Heritage sites in 30 countries…and in the lives of the individuals and communities whose stories are found below.
STORIES OF IMPACT
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The Galapagos Islands - Biodiversity on the Brink
Area of Involvement: Sustainable Development
Many of us first read about the Galápagos Islands in a high school biology text book. Charles Darwin's famous theory of evolution was inspired by his visit to one of the largest, most complex, most diverse, and best preserved ocean archipelagos on earth. Because of its outstanding and universal value, the Galápagos Islands were fittingly designated as our planet's first World Heritage site in 1978.
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Giving park guards and gorillas a fighting chance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Area of Involvement: Sustainable Development
Virunga National Park is both the largest national park in Africa and the continent’s longest inscribed World Heritage site. However, years of armed conflict within the sites, rampant illegal poaching, and depletion of natural resources put all five World Heritage sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
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Rebuilding lives and livelihoods in Mexico
Area of Involvement: Sustainable Development
When a category 5 hurricane devastated the mostly Mayan community of Sian Ka'an, Mexico, we appealed to our supporters and partners. The response was overwhelming to help rebuild this World Heritage site.
