World Heritage—the good, the political, and the endangered
Since the World Heritage Convention was first adopted in 1972, more than 1,000 natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value...
China’s Terracotta Warriors—currently in Seattle, coming soon to Philadelphia
In 1974, one of the most exciting discoveries in the history of archaeology was made outside of Xi’an in the Shaanxi Province of China....
“Soon it will be an oyster without a pearl”—change comes to Edinburgh
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, began as a Mesolithic camp ca. 8,500 BC. A lot has changed since then. Bronze and Iron age people...
Eritrea’s first World Heritage Site, and other new listings in Africa
The annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee was held in Krakow, Poland. A number of new natural and cultural sites were added to...
Valongo Wharf in Rio de Janeiro—now a World Heritage Site
The World Heritage Committee recently concluded its annual meeting, which was held this year in Krakow, Poland. At the meeting, a number...
Great Barrier Reef—UNESCO study is not good news
The Great Barrier Reef off the eastern coast of Australia is the largest reef system in the world. In 1981, the reef was designated a...
World Heritage politics flare up—this time over Jerusalem
When the World Heritage Convention was first created in 1972, it was the first international effort to recognize and protect both natural...
Logging in the ancient Białowieża forest—despite World Heritage status
The World Heritage Committee annually compiles a list of World Heritage Sites in Danger from either human or natural action. But this...
Controlling tourism at Machu Picchu
As international tourism reaches new record numbers, the threat to the preservation and integrity of natural and cultural tourist sites...
UK’s World Heritage in Danger: Liverpool
Since the World Heritage Convention was first ratified in 1972, more than 1,000 sites representing outstanding sites of our global...