UNESCO WHC Adds 26 New Sites to World Heritage List at 47th Session in Paris, France.
International
At the 47th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee (WHC), held in Paris, France from July 6 to 16, 2025, a total of 26 new sites were inscribed into the World Heritage List. The session was chaired by Professor Nikolay Nenov of Bulgaria and brought together representatives from over 170 countries.
- The 2025 WHC session resulted in the addition of 26 new cultural and natural sites, comprising 21 cultural, 4 natural, and 1 mixed heritage site. These inclusions pushed the total number of inscribed sites globally to 1,248, including the extension of two previously listed sites. This expansion underscores UNESCO's commitment to preserving both tangible and intangible global heritage.
- India marked a significant achievement during the session, with the Maratha Military Landscapes being recognized as the 44th World Heritage Site from the country. These landscapes reflect the strategic architecture and historical valor of the Maratha empire across multiple forts and regions, showcasing India's rich military and cultural history.
Main Point :- (i) Africa saw a major milestone as four new sites were added to the list, raising the continent’s total to 112 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This included first-time entries from Guinea-Bissau (Omati Minho) and Sierra Leone (Gola-Tiwai), marking their official debut in the world heritage framework. These recognitions bring long-overdue attention to Africa’s environmental and cultural richness.
(ii) The committee also made a notable decision to delist three African sites due to severe threats and neglect. These included the Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar), Abu Mena (Egypt), and the Old Town of Ghadames (Libya), which were removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger, highlighting challenges in heritage preservation under conflict and environmental degradation.
(iii) A third of the newly added sites were prehistoric in nature, such as the Perucacu River Canyon in Brazil, the Megaliths of Carnac in France, and Petroglyphs on the Bangudae Stream in South Korea. These sites offer invaluable insights into early human civilization and are significant for both archaeological and cultural research.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
President : Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters : Paris, France
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