World Heritage Committee Inscribes 26 New Properties; Nauru Joins as 196th State Party

The session also saw the ratification of the World Heritage Convention by Nauru, which became the 196th State Party to the Convention.

The 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in New Delhi, India, concluded on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone for global heritage preservation. The Committee inscribed 26 new cultural and natural properties onto UNESCO's World Heritage List, including two major extensions, bringing the total number of properties on the List to 1,223 across 168 countries.

Among the new inscriptions are 20 cultural properties, 5 natural properties, and 1 mixed site. These additions provide the highest level of protection for these heritage sites, and their managers will now have access to enhanced technical and financial assistance from UNESCO.

The session also saw the ratification of the World Heritage Convention by Nauru, which became the 196th State Party to the Convention. This ratification underscores the global commitment to protecting humanity's cultural and natural heritage for future generations.

In addition to new inscriptions, the Committee reviewed the state of conservation for 123 existing World Heritage sites. Several States Parties, including Colombia, Mauritius, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the United Republic of Tanzania, received additional funds totaling $235,520 to support new conservation efforts. This contributes to a total of $695,201 allocated this year for conservation work across various regions.

The Committee highlighted the urgent need to strengthen protection for sites under threat. Notably, the Monastery of Saint Hilarion/Tell Umm Amer in Palestine was inscribed on both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee also reiterated calls for the protection of sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger, particularly in Ukraine.

The session emphasized the importance of involving local communities in heritage protection. Sites such as Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands in France, the Via Appia. Regina Viarum in Italy, and the Royal Court of Tiébélé in Burkina Faso were recognized for their community involvement in heritage management.

In a move to bolster African heritage, five new sites on the continent were inscribed: the Nelson Mandela memorial sites and Pleistocene occupation sites in South Africa, the Royal Court of Tiébélé in Burkina Faso, the archaeological and palaeontological sites of Ethiopia’s High Plateaux, and the historic town and archaeological site of Gedi in Kenya. Additionally, Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger due to successful conservation efforts.

Kenya announced plans to host an international conference in Nairobi in May 2025, focusing on the concept of authenticity in African heritage and increasing African representation on the World Heritage List. India, which hosted the session, pledged $1 million to UNESCO's World Heritage Centre to support heritage safeguarding in Africa and Small Island Developing States in Asia.

The World Heritage Convention's increasing universality was highlighted by Nauru's ratification, emphasizing the global commitment to preserving heritage despite the challenges posed by climate change, particularly for small island developing states.