Where UNESCO World Heritage Is In Danger

A look at the current list of cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites in danger shows that most are located in war zones and unstable states, like Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Venezuela, Libya, Mali, Ukraine and Palestine. The latter in 2024 saw one site added - the Saint Hilarion Monastery or Tell Umm Amer. One of the earliest monastic sites in the Middle East which dates back to the 4th century is located in a coastal region in the Gaza strip and is therefore currently located in an active conflict zone.

In 2023, the historic city centers of Ukrainian cities Lviv, Kiev and Odessa were added to the list due to the ongoing war there. Other World Heritage monuments are threatened by construction projects, like historic sites in Egypt and Uzbekistan as well as the Vienna historic center, where UNESCO is taking issue with the construction of a large new hotel. Increased development in the city was also the reason why Liverpool in the UK lost its World Heritage status in 2021.

Venice and its lagoon was not added to the World Heritage in danger list after having been nominated last year. It would have been the only cultural heritage entry where climate change was having a significant impact. Nepalese pilgrimage site Lumbibi, known as the birthplace of the Buddha, was recommended for inclusion due to disrepair, but was also ultimately not included. The same is true for UK site Stonehenge, which is in the eyes of the UNESCO threatened by the construction of a new motorway tunnel. After having received a warning in 2023, the site was recommended for in-danger status this year but the decision was postponed until 2026. Among the sites receiving grave warnings in 2024 was the historic city of Budapest, Hungary, three natural sites in Russia including Lake Baikal, one Europe's last primeval forests, Bialowieza of Eastern Poland and Belarus as well as another UK property, Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire in Central England - due to construction planned within the 18th-century cotton spinning site.