VI
EN
Recently, UNESCO made a controversial statement proposing the removal of the port city of Liverpool in the heart of Liverpool (England) from the World Heritage list, due to concerns that "excessive urban planning projects are affecting the integrity of this heritage site."
Upon hearing the news, Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram expressed his disappointment with UNESCO's decision. Sharing his thoughts on social media, the Liverpool Mayor said: "We are proud of our history, but heritage is an important part of our rebuilding process."
UNESCO had previously warned that Everton's planned new football stadium on the historic Bramley-Moore waterfront was unacceptable.
In 2004, UNESCO recognized the commercial port area in the heart of Liverpool as a World Heritage Site, as it "bears witness to the development of one of the world's largest commercial centers in the 18th and 19th centuries".
However, eight years later, this heritage site was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in Danger due to the city government's proposed Liverpool Waters construction project. UNESCO warned that construction projects in Liverpool could damage the historical heritage sites. This is one of two World Heritage Sites in Danger in Europe, along with medieval monuments in Kosovo.
Being included on the World Heritage list as being in danger was a warning from UNESCO, but the project has continued to this day.
Besides the historic port of Liverpool, the Selous Wildlife Sanctuary in Tanzania has also been recommended by UNESCO to be removed from the World Heritage list.
Selous Wildlife Sanctuary in Tanzania.
Continuing its controversial statement, UNESCO also proposed adding the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Venice (Italy), the "city of bridges," and Budapest (Hungary), the "heart of Europe," along with several other sites, to the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger due to the risk of disappearing.
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
On June 22, Australia announced that it would strongly oppose UNESCO's recommendation, citing climate change-induced erosion leading to irreversible consequences.
In Venice, the "city of bridges," the impact of excessive tourism is one of the criteria that led UNESCO to request that the city be included on the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger.
Venice - The City of Bridges.
In Budapest, "inappropriate" demolition and large-scale reconstruction, particularly of excessively tall buildings, have distorted two historical landmarks along the Danube River: the Buda Palace.
The city is known as the "Heart of Europe".
The Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, and the area surrounding Lake Ohrid between Albania and Macedonia, have also been proposed for inclusion on the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger. UNESCO has also made this recommendation regarding the volcanoes in the Kamchatka region of Russia.
The final decisions will be made by the World Heritage Committee at a meeting held in Fuzhou, China, from July 16-31.
