Russia and UNESCO cultural heritage. Russia and unesco cultural heritage 26 unesco heritage
35th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee- was held in Paris (France) from 19 to 29 June 2011 under the chairmanship of Mai Bint Muhammad Al Khalifa from Bahrain. 42 objects in 40 countries of the world were submitted for consideration. In addition, the committee was ... ... Wikipedia
34th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee- was held in the city of Brasilia (Brazil) from July 25 to August 3, 2010 under the chairmanship of J. L. da Silva Ferreira (port.) Russian, Minister of Culture of Brazil. 39 objects in 33 countries of the world were submitted for consideration, including 9 ... ... Wikipedia
36th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee- was held in St. Petersburg (Russia) from June 22 to July 6, 2012 under the chairmanship of Eleonora Mitrofanova. 36 nominations in 33 countries of the world were submitted for consideration. In addition, the committee was invited to consider the status of 140 ... ... Wikipedia
2nd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee- was held in Washington (USA) from September 5 to 8, 1978 under the chairmanship of Firouz Bagherzadeh, head of the Iranian Center for Archaeological Research. The session was attended by representatives of 13 countries participating in the committee ... Wikipedia
14th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee- was held from 7 to 15 December 1990, in Banff, Canada. 17 sites were submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List. 11 cultural heritage sites, 1 mixed site and 5 natural heritage sites. Thus, the total number of registrations reached 338 ... Wikipedia
3rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee- was held from 22 to 26 October 1979, in Cairo and Luxor, Egypt. 45 items were submitted. This brings the total to 57 (42 cultural heritage sites, 13 natural heritage sites and 2 mixed sites). Contents ... Wikipedia
18th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee- Halong Bay ... Wikipedia
World heritage sites included in the special list of UNESCO are of great interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural objects make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and the possibilities of the human mind.
As of July 1, 2009, there are 890 objects in the World Heritage List (including 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed) in 148 countries: individual architectural structures and ensembles - the Acropolis, the cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, the historical center of Warsaw (Poland) and St. Petersburg (Russia), the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (Russia), etc.; cities - Brasilia, Venice along with the lagoon, etc.; archaeological reserves - Delphi, etc.; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. The states on whose territory the World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.
1) Tourists inspect the Buddhist sculptures of the Longmen Grottoes ("Dragon Gate") near the city of Luoyang in the Chinese province of Henan. There are more than 2,300 caves in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of the Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on the rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. For the first time Buddhism in China was introduced in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty. (China Photos/Getty Images)
2) Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are over 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, ranging from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. More than a million tourists visit them every year. (Voishmel/AFP - Getty Images)
3) One of the parts of the archaeological site of Al-Hijr - also known as Madain Salih. This complex, located in the northern regions of Saudi Arabia, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2008. The complex includes 111 rock burials (I century BC - I century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures dated to the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, which was the center of caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the Donabatean period. (Hassan Ammar/AFP - Getty Images)
4) The waterfalls "Garganta del Diablo" ("Devil's Throat") are located on the territory of the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level in the Iguazu River, the park has from 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as over 2000 varieties of plants and 400 Iguazu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Christian Rizzi/AFP - Getty Images) #
5) The mysterious Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure, consisting of 150 huge stones, and located on the Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. This ancient monument is believed to have been built in 3000 BC. Stonehenge was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
6) Tourists stroll by the Bafang Pavilion in the Summer Palace, Beijing's famous classical imperial garden. The Summer Palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and rebuilt in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. (China Photos/Getty Images)
7) The Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York. "Lady Liberty", which was presented to the United States by France, stands at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Seth Wenig/AP)
8) "Solitario George" (Lonely George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, born on Pinta Island, lives in the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now approximately 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, but in 2007 they were marked as endangered. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP - Getty Images)
9) People skate on the ice of the canals in the Kinderdijk Mills area, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest collection of historic windmills in the Netherlands and is one of the top attractions in South Holland. Decoration with balloons of the holidays passing here gives a certain flavor to this place. (Peter Dejong/AP)
10) View of the Perito Moreno Glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentinean province of Santa Cruz. This place was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentinean part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. (Daniel Garcia/AFP - Getty Images)
11) Terraced gardens in the northern Israeli city of Haifa surround the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, the founder of the Baha'i faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i religion, the number of professing which in the world is less than six million. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008. (David Silverman/Getty Images)
12) Aerial photography of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage website, this small state contains a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Giulio Napolitano/AFP - Getty Images)
13) Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem hosts the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 coral species and 1,500 fish species. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images)
14) Camels rest in ancient city Petra in front of Jordan's main monument, Al-Khazneh or the Treasury, believed to be the sandstone tomb of a Nabataean king. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phoenicia. Petra was added to the World Heritage List in 1985. (Thomas Coex/AFP - Getty Images)
15) Sydney Opera House - one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, which is a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Sydney Opera House was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP - Getty Images)
16) Rock paintings made by the San people in the Dragon Mountains, located in the east of South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg area for thousands of years until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible rock paintings in the Dragon Mountains, which were inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2000. (Alexander Joe/AFP - Getty Images)
17) General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east of Yemen in the province of Hadhramaut. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All houses here are built of clay bricks, about 500 houses can be considered multi-storey, as they have 5-11 floors. Shibam is often called "the oldest city of skyscrapers in the world" or "Desert Manhattan", it is also oldest example urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa/AFP - Getty Images)
18) Gondolas near the Grand Canal in Venice. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice is a seaside resort, a center of international tourism of world importance, a venue for international film festivals, art and architectural exhibitions. Venice was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987. (AP)
19) Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues of compressed volcanic ash (moai in the Rapa Nui language) at the foot of the Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island, 3700 km from the coast of Chile. Rapa Nui National Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program since 1995. (Martin Bernetti/AFP - Getty Images)
20) Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds in order to defend against the invading tribes from the north. The 8,851.8 km long Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP - Getty Images)
21) Temple at Hampi, near the South Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the middle of the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi and its monuments were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP - Getty Images)
22) A Tibetan pilgrim rotates prayer mills on the grounds of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet's capital. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex, which was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP - Getty Images)
23) The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists per day; In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800. (Eitan Abramovich/AFP - Getty Images)
24) Buddhist pagoda Kompon-daito on Mount Koya, in the province of Wakayama, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819, the Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, an offshoot of Japanese Buddhism, was the first to settle here. (Everett Kennedy Brown/EPA)
25) Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu - one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the sides of the tower crowning it, "Buddha's eyes" inlaid with ivory are depicted. Kathmandu valley with a height of about 1300 m is a mountain valley and a historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Boudhanath stupa to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. Locals say that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
26) A bird flies over the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum-mosque located in the Indian city of Agra. It was built by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP - Getty Images)
27) Located in northeast Wales, the 18km Pontcysillte Aqueduct is an Industrial Revolution civil engineering feat completed in the early years of the 19th century. More than 200 years after its opening, it is still in use and is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkysilte aqueduct was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "a milestone in the history of civil engineering during the Industrial Revolution." This aqueduct is one of the unusual monuments to plumbers and plumbing. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
28) A herd of moose grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes, on the left, and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In the Yellowstone National Park, which occupies almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage program in 1978. (Kevork Djansezian/AP)
29) Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon in Havana. UNESCO inscribed Old Havana and its fortifications on the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded and has a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and patios. (Javier Galeano/AP)
In any trip, you always want to see the main thing and not miss anything important. But what is the main thing? What can be neglected, and what is a must-see? The abundance of recommendations can make your head spin. And then comes the UNESCO World Heritage List, the most authoritative list of the world's best attractions.
1. Moscow Kremlin. The largest fortress in Europe, not only preserved as a historical site, but also the office of the president and the venue for solemn ceremonies.
2. The historical center of St. Petersburg. In 1736, Palace Square was called the Admiralty Meadow. This space served as a construction site while the Winter Palace was being erected, after which the square got its current name. 
3. Golden mountains of Altai. The reason for the surprisingly turquoise color of the water in Kucherlinskoye Lake in Altai is lime deposits. 
4. Ferapontov Monastery known primarily for the frescoes in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, which were created in 1502 by the famous representative of the Moscow school of icon painting Dionysius with his two sons. They worked on them for 34 days. 
5. Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Sergiev Posad. The largest Orthodox monastery in Russia. In 1380, Dmitry Donskoy received a blessing here, going to the Battle of Kulikovo. He also returned here after the victory - to commemorate the dead soldiers. 
6. Volcanoes of Kamchatka. The UNESCO list includes about 30 active and about 300 extinct volcanoes. The area around them gives an idea of the main landscapes of the area where geysers, mud pots and fumaroles meet. 
7. Natural Biosphere Reserve "Ubsunur Hollow", Republic of Tyva. Located next to the lake Ubsu-Nur. Over 350 species of birds and 80 species of mammals live here, including irbis (snow leopards) and argali (argali). 
8. Derbent, Dagestan. The southernmost and oldest city in Russia. Its unique double defensive wall, the 8th century Naryn-Kala fortress, the Juma mosque and the Armenian temple were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003. 
9. Virgin forests of the Komi Republic became in 1995 the first Russian natural site included in the World Heritage List. These are the largest untouched forests in Europe. Periodically on the territory of the reserve, contrary to the law, gold mines are being developed. 
10. Complex of buildings and structures of the Kazan Kremlin is a combination of Russian and Tatar architectural styles. Kazan is the northernmost island of Muslim civilization and at the same time the southernmost point where temples built in the tradition of Pskov-Novgorod architects are located. 
11. Western Caucasus. Forests and groves of the Caucasian Nature Reserve are the "lungs" of Sochi and resorts Krasnodar Territory. And the tops of the mountains here are crowned by about 60 glaciers. 
12. The oldest of the Russian Kremlins is the Novgorod Detinets- first mentioned in the annals of the XI century. An unusual architectural detail of the citadel is the gate churches. 
13. Earth ramparts and defensive ditches around the Suzdal Kremlin have been preserved since the 11th century! 
14. Intercession on the Nerl, Vladimir region. More than two hundred years ago, one of the most beautiful temples of Rus' was almost taken apart for Construction Materials for the bell tower of a neighboring monastery. 
15. Novodevichy Convent, Moscow. Founded by Grand Duke Vasily III, it was a privileged institution. Princess Xenia Borisovna Godunova, the first wife of Peter I Evdokia Lopukhina and his sister Ekaterina lived here. 
16. Kizhi, Karelia. The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost includes two unique wooden churches and a bell tower. 
17. Age of Lake Baikal- about 25 million years. The pond is surrounded by centenarians: cedar grows on the shore, which continues to bear fruit at the age of 550 years, and sturgeon in the waters of Lake Baikal live for more than 60 years. 
18. Solovetsky Monastery, Arkhangelsk region. Monastery appeared on the Solovetsky Islands in the 1430s. With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, it was liquidated, and in 1923 the first special purpose camp in the country was created on its territory, through which hundreds of thousands of political prisoners passed. 
19. Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory. Translated from the Evenki Putorana means "lakes with steep banks". Thus, the Putorana Plateau owes its name to numerous lakes and waterfalls. 
20. Lena Pillars, Yakutia. Their height reaches one hundred meters, they stretch along the right bank of the Lena River, and the approximate age of the unique stones is 400 thousand years! The Lena Pillars Natural Park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2012. 
21. Yaroslavl. In the center of the city, a radial layout has been preserved, to which Catherine II aspired, who carried out urban planning reform in Russia in 1763. This is clearly seen from the height of the belfry of the Transfiguration Cathedral. 
22. Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad region. The elongated peninsula resembles a desert with sand dunes and dunes. And unevenly growing due to strong winds pines and firs evoke enchanted forests from fairy tales. 
23. Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Kolomenskoye, Moscow. The first stone hipped temple in Russia, erected in early XVI century. According to legend, it was built in honor of the birth of Ivan IV, the future tyrant king Ivan the Terrible. 
24. Sikhote-Alin Reserve, Far East. This is the habitat of sable, American mink, Amur tigers and dozens of other animals, birds and insects, not to mention thousands of different plant species. 
25. Wrangel Island, Arctic Ocean. Here is the largest number of polar bear dens in the world, the most numerous bird colonies and walrus rookeries in the entire Arctic, and the largest (among the Arctic islands) number of rare plants. 
26. Struve geodesic arc, “Point Z”, o. Gogland, Leningrad region. 34 stone cubes laid in the ground to determine the parameters of the Earth are called the Struve Geodesic Arc in memory of its creator, the astronomer Friedrich Struve. Cuba is located in 10 countries. 
The Nedrema Forest Meadow in Pärnu County is one of the largest such natural formations in Europe. The forest meadow, due to its uniqueness, is one of the likely candidates from Estonia for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
Often, UNESCO sites become a target for rebels. At the end of July, the ancient sacred Muslim buildings in the Malian city of Timbuktu were attacked by Islamists.
26 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites - is it a lot or a little?
Monitoring the World Heritage List is becoming more and more difficult. At the same time, it is difficult to argue that the objects added to the list are really unique in the global context or are the best among their kind.
Using the concepts adopted by UNESCO, it is possible to prove the worldwide value of an object according to ten criteria. The integrity and originality of the object, its exemplary maintenance and protection are also important.
When a state submits an application - by the way, applications are quite voluminous - it is first of all evaluated by expert organizations: cultural heritage objects are evaluated by ICOMOS, natural objects - by IUCN. Based on the preliminary analysis of the experts, the final decision is made by the World Heritage Committee.
Diplomatic relations play more of a role there, despite the fact that this does not always correspond with the idea of the World Heritage Convention and its provisions.
What objects of Estonia can be added to the UNESCO list?
To date, there are two World Heritage sites in Estonia - the Old Town with its well-preserved public, sacred and residential buildings and partly preserved city wall and city skyline, as well as part of the Struve Arc, a network of 265 triangulation points in 10 countries with a length of more than 2820 kilometers, created to determine the shape and size of the Earth.
The arc is named after the famous astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, who worked at the University of Tartu and supervised the measurement of the meridian arc in 1816-1855. Places in Estonia include the observatory in Tartu, pillars in Võivere and Simuna. Both objects are undoubtedly interesting and valuable.
If we talk about plans, then one of the most serious candidates for adding to the list is our forest meadows, there is nothing like it in the world. In neighboring countries there are one or two similar natural phenomena, but so rich different types there are no woodland plants anywhere else.
Their value lies in the fact that they appeared as a result of human activities that used the land and thus contributed to the emergence of unique plant combinations. And the forest meadows are quite well studied and protected.
What is the role of Estonia in the work of UNESCO? What is the membership fee? Who are our experts in this organization?
Estonia is one of 195 UNESCO member countries. Every two years the main conference of the organization takes place, and each country has the opportunity to participate in the formulation of the program and the development of plans. More opportunities for the executive council, which includes 58 countries and which Estonia will become a member next year.
UNESCO is mainly engaged in advising, in some areas the participation of Estonia is in great demand, and our cooperation is going very well. Partly because we believe important work in intergovernmental expert committees, to which, in a highly competitive environment, States can apply.
In 2006-2010, Estonia was a member of the Spiritual Cultural Heritage Committee, in which Estonia was represented by Professor Kristin Kuutma of the University of Tartu. Now Estonia is a member of the World Heritage Committee, the expert group from our country included Professor of the Art Academy Mart Kalm and a representative of the Ministry of environment Urve Sinijarv.
Estonia is a member of the coordinating council of the UNESCO program "Man and the Biosphere". Tomas Kokovkin, Candidate of Sciences in Geography and member of the Board of the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO, represents Estonia on the 34-member UNESCO Council.
For better cooperation with the main office of UNESCO in Paris, Estonia has a permanent representation there, in Tallinn there is a representation of the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO, whose activities are mainly aimed at internal Estonian affairs.
The Estonian membership fee in 2012 was 56,158 US dollars and 64,690 euros.
What does it mean to be under the protection of UNESCO? For example, how does UNESCO protect one of its sites - the Old Town of Tallinn? Are there any tools to punish non-compliance with the terms of the convention?
First of all, the state and its citizens should be responsible for their cultural heritage. The fact that an object is on the World Heritage List means international recognition and voluntary commitments by the state to maintain and preserve it for future generations. All states make reports on their most significant development projects, the daily organization of monument protection, the impact of tourism, etc.
Sometimes reports can be created under the influence of the interests of local authorities, so most of the information in UNESCO comes from various civil and specialized associations. The task of the committee is to analyze the information received and make decisions on the need to protect a particular object.
If the state is not able to protect it on its own, the object is transferred to the list of endangered objects, and international assistance can be attracted to protect it. Assistance is usually limited to expert help, but sometimes financial support is also involved.
UNESCO is not a punitive body and cannot prescribe to states. However, UNESCO can remove sites from the World Heritage List.
And Tallinn regularly reports on what is happening with us. The last time UNESCO's attention was directed to Tallinn was in connection with the project of an extension to the Viru Hotel, which was canceled at the request of the committee, because of its height and architectural solution destroy the appearance of the Old City.
Tallinn to last years submitted to UNESCO both the skyscraper plan and the new town hall project, and draws up a plan for the protection of the Old City in accordance with the requirements of UNESCO, the purpose of this plan is to combine in one document all activities, from keeping the streets clean to tourist infrastructure, for coordinated protection .
What else is UNESCO doing in Estonia?
We proceed from the four major areas of UNESCO's activities: education, culture, science and communication. Estonia's priority is, in particular, the preservation of the spiritual and cultural heritage, the skills, customs and knowledge that are passed down from generation to generation, which are still significant today.
For this, a list of Estonian spiritual and cultural heritage and several educational programs have been compiled. We work a lot with children and young people, especially through the schools that are part of the Estonian UNESCO network, these schools in their work proceed from the principles of UNESCO, aiming to educate young people who are responsible, inquisitive, empathetic. For them, we organize many traditional events, such as simulation of the work of the UN, youth scientific conferences, etc.
From lakes in the desert to peasant huts 19th century
In July, at the regular session of UNESCO, which was held in Russia for the first time in history, 26 new sites were added to the World Heritage List. Almost all countries of the world have joined the UNESCO Convention. Its implementation is monitored by a committee composed of representatives of 21 countries. Estonia has been a member of the committee for three years now.
Among the most exciting new developments this year are the pearling sites in Bahrain, the traditional rice farming system in Bali, the reefs of the Pacific archipelago of Palau, the architectural heritage of the Moroccan capital Rabat, which combines modernism and colonialism, rural houses XIX century in the Swedish province of Helsingland.
Of the natural objects, the list includes lakes in the Sahara Desert in Chad, archaeological excavations in China, where traces of life were found 530 million years ago, and Lena Pillars - a geological formation and a natural park of the same name in Russia, on the banks of the Lena River.
According to Marten Kokk, Extraordinary Ambassador of Estonia to UNESCO, world heritage in military conflicts is often unprotected. Such objects, due to their cultural and national identity and significance, often become the target of aggressors.
Just two days after the UNESCO committee, at the request of the government of Mali, added sacral buildings, cultural monuments and mausoleums in Timbuktu to the list, radical Islamists there destroyed them. According to Kokk, it is necessary to develop better possibilities for quick and practical assistance in such cases.
Four percent of the sites on the World Heritage List are in danger of destruction. The cause may be natural events such as floods and storms, but increasingly the danger comes from human activities.
The virgin forests of the Komi are in danger due to the growing appetites of business, gold and coal miners, the Selous hunting reserve in Tanzania is under threat because they want to mine uranium there. The list of cultural sites in danger of destruction is one of the most difficult issues that cause controversy and controversy.
According to the convention, this list is not a pillory, it is only a list of objects that require the attention of the international community and assistance for their conservation. However, different states interpret this differently, trying to put pressure on the members of the committee, the press service of UNESCO reports.
As one of the Estonian delegates at the last UNESCO session, professor of the Academy of Arts Mart Kalm, said, the assessment of objects is becoming more and more politicized, diplomats are increasingly taking part in country delegations, thanks to which decisions become more and more compromise.
The Committee was pleased to remove from the list of endangered sites the rice terraces in the Philippines and the Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens in Pakistan, as these countries, using expert assistance and funding, have achieved better security.
However, as experts note, it is often difficult to find solutions to protect heritage. For example, in Panama City, a new road needs to be built to link the districts, jeopardizing the preservation of the Pacific bay from which ships departed for Europe.
Seville is also on the agenda, where local authorities have been unable to influence developers for years, requiring them to comply with the UNESCO convention: there, a 600-meter skyscraper-new building threatens the appearance of the city, in which the Seville Cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987, Seville Alcazar and Archive of the Indies. RM
