The Latest Breaking News from World Heritage

Evidence acidic pollution is damaging ancient rock art

Industrial emissions are likely to have degraded the world's largest and most diverse collection of Aboriginal rock art engravings, researchers warn.

AAP · Jul 10, 2025

What Australia must do to overturn objections for WA rock art to attain UN heritage status

Environment minister will lobby committee to place Murujuga on world heritage list despite concerns about ‘degrading acidic emissions’ from industrial sites

The Guardian - AU · Jul 9, 2025

New bid for ancient rock art's World Heritage listing

Australia is making another push for ancient rock art sites to be placed on the World Heritage list after its application was sent back over pollution concerns.

AAP · Jul 9, 2025

Plastic Odyssey and Unesco sign deal to restore marine World Heritage sites

At the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, Unesco and the Plastic Odyssey expedition have announced a partnership aimed at restoring the world’s most endangered marine World Heritage sites, increasingly under threat from plastic pollution.

Radio France Internationale · Jun 11, 2025

'Lifeline' for coral at risk of rising sea temperatures

Australian researchers have discovered coral bred from reefs in warmer oceans are more able to survive in extreme heat stress.

AAP · Jun 8, 2025

‘It was our hope spot’: scientists heartbroken as pristine coral gardens hit by Western Australia’s worst bleaching event

Usually alive with colour and fish, Ningaloo reef and the Rowley Showls now look as though they are ‘painted white’ as temperatures rise

The Guardian - AU · Jun 6, 2025

Peru reduces Nazca Lines park by 42%, raising concerns over environmental and heritage risks

Peru’s decision to reduce the boundaries of the Nazca Archaeological Park by 1,000 hectares has sparked concern among conservationists and archaeologists

The Independent UK · Jun 2, 2025

UNESCO expresses ‘utmost concern’ at the state of the Great Barrier Reef

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has again raised grave fears for the future of the Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the problems of water pollution, climate change and unsustainable fishing.

The Conversation · May 29, 2025

A former Trump official backs World Heritage status for the vast Okefenokee Swamp

President Donald Trump's former agriculture secretary wants the administration to support adding the Okefenokee Swamp's vast wildlife refuge to a United Nations list of World Heritage site

The Independent UK · Apr 30, 2025

An English rugby team’s stadium plan sparks concern for beavers, bats and UNESCO designation

The city of Bath in southwest England loves its rugby

The Independent UK · Apr 26, 2025