UNESCO Adds 24 New World Heritage Sites

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee held its 46th session in New Delhi, marking India's first hosting. During the meeting UNESCO listed 24 new World Heritage Sites.

UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session in New Delhi

46th Session held from July 21-31, 2024
First time India hosted the UNESCO World Heritage Committee
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the session
Modi announced $1 million aid for conservation projects in developing countries
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressed the closing ceremony

New Additions and Updates to the World Heritage List

24 new sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
Breakdown: 19 cultural, 4 natural, and 1 mixed site
Total UNESCO Heritage Sites now 1,223 (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed)
Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, removed from the Danger List
Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer, Palestine, added to the Danger List
Italy leads with 60 sites, followed by China with 59
India now has 43 sites, with the latest addition being the Moidams of Assam

List of 24 New UNESCO Heritage Sites:

S. no	Heritage Site	Country
1	Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty	India
2	Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno	Bosnia and Herzegovina
3	Lencois Maranhenses National Park	Brazil
4	Royal Court of Tiebele	Burkina Faso
5	Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and Lakes	China
6	Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf	China
7	Beijing Central Axis	China
8	Melka Kunture and Balchit Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites	Ethiopia
9	Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands	France
10	Schwerin Residence Ensemble	Germany
11	Moravian Church Settlements	Germany, USA, UK
12	Sado Island Gold Mines	Japan
13	Umm Al-Jimāl Rural Settlement	Jordan
14	The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi	Kenya
15	The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park's Caves Complex	Malaysia
16	Via Appia- Regina Viarum	Roman Road (Italy)
17	Monumental Ensemble of Targu Jiu	Romania
18	Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia	Romania
19	Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake	Russia
20	The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area	Saudi Arabia
21	The Flow Country	Scotland, UK
22	The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: Pleistocene Occupation Sites	South Africa
23	Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites	South Africa
24	Phu Phrabat: Sīma Stone Tradition of the Dvaravati Period	Thailand

Significance and Impact

Showcases global cultural and natural diversity
Promotes conservation efforts and international cooperation
Highlights the importance of preserving heritage for future generations
Boosts tourism and cultural exchange among nations
Reinforces UNESCO's role in promoting peace through cultural understanding

About UNESCO

UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation)
On November 16, 1945, UNESCO was established in London.
Headquarter: Paris, France
UNESCO is an official United Nations agency.
Its goals include bringing cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures to the forefront of education and establishing global peace.
Currently, there are 43 UNECO World Heritage Sites in India.
As of July 2024, there are 1,123 World Heritage Sites located across 168 countries. These sites include 952 cultural, 231 natural, and 40 mixed properties

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