With a Focus on Africa, UNESCO Adds 26 Sites to World Heritage List – ARTnews.com

UNESCO World Heritage List Expansion: A Report on Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has advanced efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goal 11, Target 11.4 (“Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage”) by adding 26 new sites to its World Heritage List. This initiative underscores a global commitment to preserving locations of significant cultural and natural value for future generations.

New Designations and their Alignment with Global Goals

The recent inscriptions include a significant focus on the African continent and indigenous heritage, directly supporting multiple SDGs through the protection of vital ecosystems and cultural landscapes.

Newly Inscribed African Sites

Four new sites on the African continent have been recognized, increasing the total number of African cultural properties on the list to 112. These sites are critical for biodiversity, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.

• Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape, Cameroon: This collection of 16 archaeological sites protects invaluable cultural heritage, contributing to SDG 11.4.
• Bijagós Archipelago – Omatí Minhô, Guinea-Bissau: A series of coastal and marine ecosystems, its protection directly supports SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Malawi Southern Mountain Range: The reverence and stewardship of this area by the Yao, Mang’anja, and Lhomwe peoples highlight the intersection of cultural preservation (SDG 11.4) and sustainable land management (SDG 15).
• Gola-Tiwai Complex, Sierra Leone: Encompassing the Gola Rainforest National Park and Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary, this site is crucial for conserving biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems, aligning with SDG 15.

Indigenous Heritage and Global Partnerships (SDG 17)

The inscription of the Murujuga Aboriginal lands in Australia reinforces the protection of indigenous cultural heritage. Furthermore, UNESCO approved a transboundary expansion of a natural park from South Africa to Mozambique, creating a 1,545-square-mile protected area. This cross-border collaboration is a prime example of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in action.

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, stated, “Making Africa a priority is not a symbolic gesture. It’s a concrete, day-to-day and long-term commitment… I am proud to see this continent take its rightful place among the world’s heritage.”

UNESCO’s Mandate: Safeguarding Heritage for Peace and Sustainability

UNESCO’s core mission is to safeguard cultural properties, which aligns with several interconnected global goals.

1. Promoting Peace and Justice (SDG 16): By granting “provisional enhanced protection” to endangered sites, UNESCO provides immunity from military attack, directly contributing to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies.
2. Climate Action and Gender Equality (SDG 13 & SDG 5): UNESCO’s broader agenda includes promoting climate sustainability and gender equity, fundamental aspects of sustainable development that are integrated into its heritage protection work.
3. Fostering Global Cooperation (SDG 17): With 196 States Parties, the World Heritage Convention is one of the world’s most universally ratified treaties, demonstrating a powerful global partnership for sustainable development.

As Director-General Azoulay concluded, this recognition “comes with a great responsibility: that of keeping alive, protecting and promoting this exceptional heritage,” a responsibility that is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article’s core focus is on the designation of new World Heritage sites, which directly relates to the protection of cultural and natural heritage as a component of sustainable communities.
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article mentions the addition of “Guinea-Bissau’s Bijagós Archipelago – Omatí Minhô, a continuous series of coastal and marine ecosystems” to the World Heritage List, connecting to the conservation of marine areas.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The designation of sites like the “Gola-Tiwai Complex of Sierra Leone, which includes the Gola Rainforest National Park and the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary,” the “mountain range of southern Malawi,” and a “transboundary natural park” highlights efforts to protect terrestrial ecosystems, forests, and biodiversity.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article states that UNESCO recognition aims to safeguard sites “against war” and can grant “provisional enhanced protection,” which provides “the highest level of immunity from attack and use for military purposes.” This connects to promoting peace and protecting cultural property during conflict.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The entire process described involves a global partnership through the UN (UNESCO) and its “196 States Parties.” The article also mentions the creation of a “transboundary natural park” between South Africa and Mozambique, a clear example of international cooperation.
6. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article indirectly addresses this goal by mentioning that UNESCO’s work on “gender equity” was a cited reason for the US withdrawal, highlighting it as a core part of the organization’s mission.
7. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Similar to SDG 5, the article notes that “climate sustainability” is one of UNESCO’s causes, linking the organization’s work to the broader goal of climate action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
   • This is the most prominent target. The entire article is about this effort, detailing UNESCO’s addition of “26 sites to its World Heritage List” and its commitment to recognizing the continent of Africa for its “historical, cultural and natural importance.”
2. Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas…
   • The designation of “Guinea-Bissau’s Bijagós Archipelago – Omatí Minhô, a continuous series of coastal and marine ecosystems” as a protected World Heritage site is a direct action contributing to this target of conserving marine areas.
3. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands…
   • This target is addressed through the protection of the “Gola Rainforest National Park,” the “Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary,” and the “mountain range of southern Malawi.”
4. Target 15.4: By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity…
   • The inclusion of the “mountain range of southern Malawi that is tended and revered by the Yao, Mang’anja, and Lhomwe peoples” directly supports this target.
5. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity at all levels… to prevent violence…
   • UNESCO’s framework, which grants “provisional enhanced protection” to safeguard heritage from war and military use, acts as a form of international cooperation to strengthen protection mechanisms and prevent violence against cultural sites.
6. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development…
   • The article highlights the World Heritage Convention as “one of the most universally ratified in the world” with “196 States Parties,” exemplifying a global partnership. The expansion of a site from South Africa to Mozambique to create a “transboundary natural park” is a concrete example of this partnership in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 11.4:
   • The article provides quantitative indicators of progress through the number of designated sites. Specific data points include: “26 sites” newly added to the World Heritage List, “four new sites located on the African continent,” a total of “112 cultural properties” now in Africa, and “19 new sites inscribed” since the current general director took office.
2. For Targets 14.5 and 15.1:
   • A key indicator is the extent of the protected area. The article specifies the size of the new “transboundary natural park” as “roughly 1545 square miles,” which is a direct metric for the area brought under conservation.
3. For Target 17.16:
   • Progress in global partnerships is measured by the number of participating countries. The article states there are “196 States Parties” to the convention. It also provides a forward-looking indicator: “seven other African countries are expected to present their first nomination by 2027,” signaling an expansion of the partnership. The creation of one “transboundary natural park” is an indicator of bilateral cooperation.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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