Climate change has emerged as the single largest threat to the world’s natural heritage, overtaking all other dangers, according to a new global assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 report reveals that 43 percent of all World Heritage sites are now affected by climate change, a sharp rise that places ecosystems and biodiversity under unprecedented stress.
Invasive alien species remain the second biggest threat, impacting 30 percent of sites worldwide, while wildlife and plant diseases are also increasing at an alarming rate.
IUCN director general Grethel Aguilar said that protecting World Heritage is crucial to safeguarding humanity’s shared identity and future.
“These are some of the world’s most outstanding sites, home to extraordinary biodiversity and geodiversity. They sustain communities, inspire generations and connect us to our shared history. We must come together with stronger action and greater investment to ensure these irreplaceable treasures endure—for nature, for people and for generations to come,” she said.
The report, which assesses conservation trends over the last decade, shows a worrying decline in the number of sites with a positive conservation outlook.
Only 57 percent of sites are now considered to be in good condition, down from 62 percent in 2020. Biodiversity-rich regions have been hit hardest, with many species facing new or worsening threats.
Kenya is among the countries with multiple Unesco World Heritage sites under observation, including Lamu Old Town, Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site, the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, Mount Kenya National Park, the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley and Lake Turkana National Parks.
The IUCN noted that changing temperatures and rainfall patterns have intensified the spread of invasive species and diseases that devastate wildlife and plants.
Examples include Ebola virus in primates at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, white-nose syndrome in bats in the United States, chytridiomycosis in amphibians in Australia, avian influenza in Argentina, and top-dying disease in mangroves in Bangladesh.
Unsustainable tourism has become the third most common threat, often worsening the effects of climate change and invasive species. The report highlights that only half of the sites assessed are adequately managed, while 15 percent face serious financial shortfalls that hinder conservation efforts.
Despite the bleak picture, the IUCN report also points to some success stories.
Thirteen sites have improved their conservation status since 2020, including four in West and Central Africa — Dja Faunal Reserve in Cameroon, Salonga and Garamba National Parks in the DRC, and Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal.
These improvements are largely credited to strong anti-poaching initiatives, better community involvement, and the recovery of wildlife populations.
The report calls for urgent global action to address the escalating climate crisis and safeguard World Heritage sites that represent not only ecological treasures but also the cultural and historical backbone of human civilization.