Destinations shortlisted for UNESCO World Heritage 2019

This week, the Committee responsible for the nomination list will begin 11 days of discussions in Baku, Azerbaijan, to decide which destinations will be added to the current World Heritage list of 1,092 sites in 167 countries.

wonderful sights

Established in 1978, the UNESCO heritage list includes famous sites such as Yellowstone National Park in the US, the Taj Mahal in India, Jordan's Petra and Ecuador's Galapagos Islands.

This year, the nominations are divided into different categories, from natural sites like Iceland's Vatnajökull National Park to cultural sites like Babylon in Iraq, and sites that combine both natural and cultural elements, such as Paraty in Brazil.

A long process

Destinations nominated for the 2019 list undergo a lengthy evaluation process, during which experts are sent to the field to survey and assess conservation activities. Sites that are not selected can still be nominated in subsequent years.

Once a final decision is made, UNESCO will announce the new World Heritage Sites via its Twitter account. This process will end by July 10.

Those taking part in the Azerbaijan talks will also consider the state of conservation of sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Last year, the Committee voted to remove the world's second-largest coral reef, the Belize Barrier Reef Protected Area system, from the List of World Heritage in Danger after the Belize government partnered with non-governmental groups to protect it.

This year, sites such as the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal and the ancient city of Nessebar in Bulgaria are among the new proposals to be added to the list of World Heritage in Danger.

Meanwhile, the Birthplace of Jesus, the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrim's Way, Bethlehem in Palestine and the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter in Chile are likely to be removed from the "endangered" list.

List of destinations nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Sites 2019

Natural heritage:

• Migratory Bird Sanctuary along the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf Coast, China (Phase 1)
• Hyrcanian Mixed Forest Ecosystem (Iran)
• Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (Thailand)
• Land and sea areas of the Austral Islands (France)
• Alpine - Mediterranean region (France / Italy / Monaco)
• Vatnajökull National Park (Iceland)

Combined heritage (natural and cultural):

• Extended Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Ohrid Region, North Macedonia (Albania)
• Paraty - Culture and Biodiversity (Brazil)

Cultural heritage:

• Ancient metallurgical site (Burkina Faso)
• Dilmun Burial Mounds (Bahrain)
• Babylon (Iraq)
• Budj Bim (Australia)
• Liangzhu City Archaeological Site (China)
• Jaipur City, Rajasthan (India)
• Sawahlunto's Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage (Indonesia)
• Mozu-Furuichi Ancient Tomb (Japan)
• Megalithic sites in Xiengkhuang (Lao People's Democratic Republic)
• Bagan (Myanmar)
• Seowon, Confucian Academy of Korea (South Korea)
• Grossglockner Road (Austria)
• Borderlands of the Roman Empire - Danube Limes (Austria / Germany / Hungary / Slovakia)
• Writing-on-Stone Park / Áísínai'pi (Canada)
• Erzoltirge / Krušnohoří mining region (Czech Republic / Germany)
• Ceremonial horse breeding and training area in Kladruby nad Labem (Czech Republic)
• Augsburg water management system (Germany)
• Krzemionki prehistoric striped flint mining area (Poland)
• Royal Buildings of Mafra - Palace, Basilica, Monastery, Cerco Gardens and Hunting Park, Tapada (Portugal)
• Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary in Braga (Portugal)
• Monuments of ancient Pskov (Russia)
• Risco Caido and the sacred mountains of Gran Canaria (Spain)
• Jodrell Bank Observatory (UK)
• Sheki Historic Center with Khan Palace (Azerbaijan)
• Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano a Valdobbiadene (Italy)
• 20th century architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright (USA)
• The "sinking" city of Port Royal (Jamaica)
• Trans-isthmian route of colonial Panama (Panama)

Hai Anh