UNESCO HERITAGE DANGER LIST (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 - Art & Heritage)

Context: The Italian city of Venice should be added to a list of world heritage sites in danger, experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have stated in a new report.

Key Points

• Kyiv and Lviv in Ukraine are also on the recommendation for sites to be put on the danger list this year.
• The UNESCO World Heritage property comprises the city of Venice and its lagoon situated in the Veneto region of northeast Italy.
• In February 2023, the city was in the grips of a drought such that Italian lakes and rivers had dried up. In November 2019, historical treasures and buildings were endangered due to flooding.

UNESCO heritage danger list

• The list highlights a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites which are threatened due to factors like armed conflict and war, earthquakes and other natural disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanisation and unchecked tourist development.
• UNESCO also sets certain guidelines and criteria under the 1972 World Heritage Convention, which decide, whether or not, a property is faced with specific and proven imminent danger or threat.