Discover the work of managing world heritage sites by our report on the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, which concluded in Paris, France, with the inscription of 26 new cultural and natural properties on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has 194 Member States and plays a crucial role in promoting peace and security through multilateral cooperation in education, culture, science, information and communication. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2,300 individuals.
UNESCO is responsible for managing more than 2,000 World Heritage sites, Global Geoparks and Biosphere Reserves. It also oversees networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive, and Sustainable Cities, as well as more than 13,000 affiliated schools, university chairs, plus training and research institutions. Additionally, UNESCO maintains a global network of 200 National Commissions. The current Director-General is Audrey Azoulay. (1)
UNESCO highlights that culture is essential for community identity and cohesion. In our interconnected world, it serves as a powerful tool for societal transformation and innovation. UNESCO provides the tools needed to maximise this renewable resource.
Historical landmarks, natural sites and living heritage enrich our lives, whether experienced directly or through connected devices. Creators and artists help us rethink our perspectives, making culture crucial for addressing global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
Over the past 75 years, the concept of culture has undergone significant evolution. UNESCO’s efforts illustrate humanity’s growing understanding of culture’s role in enhancing our identity, from protecting heritage after World War II to safeguarding World Heritage sites and promoting the creative economy. Reflecting on our cultural past can better prepare us for future changes. (2)
New cultural and natural properties on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
On 17th July 2025, we learned that the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee concluded in Paris, France, with 26 new cultural and natural properties being inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. In 2025, there was a strong emphasis on African heritage, highlighted by the inclusion of four new sites from the continent and the removal of three others from the List of World Heritage in Danger. With these new inscriptions, the total number of sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List has reached 1,248 across 170 countries.
“With 196 States Parties, the World Heritage Convention is one of the most universally ratified in the world – proof of its influence and popularity in every corner of the globe. For the new sites inscribed in 2025, this notoriety comes with a great responsibility: that of keeping alive, protecting and promoting this exceptional heritage,” said Audrey Azoulay. UNESCO Director-General.
The 2025 session was notable for the inscription of sites that received direct support from local communities, in cooperation with national authorities. This was evident in the case of the four new African sites added in 2025, as well as the Murujuga Aboriginal lands in Australia. In addition to acquiring international recognition, these inscriptions acknowledge the vital role local communities play in promoting and safeguarding these sites, while preserving the spiritual and living heritage that is intrinsically connected to them.
The African continent in the spotlight
Under the leadership of its Director-General, UNESCO has made significant and targeted efforts to support its African Member States. Since 2020, more than $34 million has been mobilised by UNESCO to benefit African heritage through training of local experts, funding for safeguarding projects and support for candidacy preparations.
“Making Africa a priority is not a symbolic gesture. It’s a concrete, day-to-day and long-term commitment, driven by the idea that the continent must be recognized for its historical, cultural and natural importance. With 19 new sites inscribed and six jewels saved from danger since my arrival at UNESCO, I am proud to see this continent take its rightful place among the world’s heritage,” added Audrey Azoulay.
The Committee’s session began with the removal of three African sites – Madagascar, Libya, and Egypt – from the List of World Heritage in Danger. Since 2021, sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Uganda have also been removed from this List.
In 2025, four new African sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, increasing the total to 112. Additionally, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau presented their first nominations, highlighting the inclusivity of the List. By 2027, seven other African countries that are not yet on the List are expected to submit their initial nominations.
Furthermore, the Committee approved the extension of a site from South Africa to Mozambique, creating a transboundary natural park that spans nearly 4,000 km².
Remembrance sites increasingly recognised
After the inscription of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1979, UNESCO’s World Heritage List has been expanded with new sites of memory linked to recent atrocities. In 2025, the World Heritage Committee honoured the memory of the millions of victims of the Khmer Rouge regime by inscribing the Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of reflection and peace. Today, these sites are places for learning, transmission, and commemoration. Their inscription highlights the vital role of heritage in remembrance and the importance of UNESCO in peace-building.
Safeguarding ‘shared prehistory’
Almost a third of the sites inscribed in 2025 are linked to prehistory, including the Megaliths of Carnac, the Peruaçu River Canyon (Brazil), and the shores of the Morbihan (France), as well as the Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream (Republic of Korea). Frequently fragile, this heritage plays a fundamental role in understanding the history of humanity and modern societies. “These inscriptions safeguard the ancestral knowledge that has shaped our relationship with nature and the world, sometimes still practised by local and indigenous communities, as in the Murujuga Cultural Landscape (Australia) or on the Huichol Route (Mexico),” UNESCO adds.
Heritage and culture: Closing remarks
We look forward to the Committee’s upcoming session in Busan, Republic of Korea, scheduled for summer 2026. We wish UNESCO success in managing over 2,000 World Heritage sites and other initiatives. Culture is vital for global community identity and cohesion, and reflecting on our cultural past helps us prepare for
future changes. (1,2)
