In June 2009 in Sevilla Spain, I witnessed several days of testimony amongst delegations of 100 nations regarding the all-time high UNESCO World Heritage Endangered List. These are irreplaceable places of outstanding cultural and natural value. This poses a key question for the travel industry, can we help “reverse the irreversible?”
There are now 33 Endangered Places – extraordinary sites of “Outstanding Universal Value” – authentic, unique and special world treasures that are in real final jeopardy.
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris and its network of global reach to 187 nations is working feverishly with Advisory Bodies of IUCN, ICOMOS and more, to bring attention, advocacy and resource to the rescue.
The travel industry or its misguided growth did not create the Endangered List, yet as the 21st century beacon of global economic prosperity, we are uniquely positioned to help.
The 33 properties in danger belong to 25 diverse nations and include, the City of Jerusalem, the Galapagos Islands, the Barrier Reef of Belize, Egypt’s Abu Mena, Dresden and the beautiful Elbe Valley, to name but a few. Even America has a potential Endangered Site – the Waterton-Glacier National Park, now under IUCN and UNESCO protective missions.
Let us commend and work with the governments, delegations, conservationists of the international community and the UN Framework for their implementation strategies. Nations such as Spain, Ecuador, Israel, Egypt, Peru, China, Australia, the USA, Canada and others have stepped up, despite budgetary and other challenges. They are reaching out to major players in the tourism industry, the largest in the world.
There is a global plan. It is audacious, innovative and progressive. I urge members of the travel industry to become informed, become involved and lend support.
I hope we can resist turning away and supporting business as usual – as tempting as it may be, for those who believe it is too costly, too disruptive or too unclear to make new choices. There really is no other choice. Future generations depend on our actions now.
