United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Releases People and Nature Report

Key facts

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the People and Nature Report, the first assessment covering World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Global Geoparks.
• The report assesses a network of more than 2,260 sites spanning over 13 million square kilometres.
• Nearly 90% of UNESCO-designated sites are currently experiencing high levels of environmental stress.
• Climate change has impacted 98% of sites since 2000, with extreme heat identified as the most widespread hazard.
• Wildfires have emerged as the primary driver of forest change in World Heritage sites, contributing to the loss of over 300,000 sq km of tree cover since 2000.
• Invasive species have been recorded in more than 80% of UNESCO-designated sites.
• More than a quarter of these sites could reach critical, potentially irreversible tipping points by 2050.
• Glacier loss in UNESCO sites has exceeded 2,500 gigatonnes of ice since 2000, with mountain glaciers losing around 9% of their volume.
• More than 300 World Heritage sites are facing chronic water stress.
• These sites are home to more than 60% of globally mapped species, with approximately 40% being endemic to these areas.
• UNESCO sites support nearly one-third of the remaining populations of elephants, tigers, and pandas, as well as critically endangered species including the vaquita, Javan rhino, and pink iguana.
• The sites absorb nearly 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and store an estimated 240 gigatonnes of carbon in soils and sediments.
• UNESCO-designated sites support the livelihoods of nearly 900 million people and contribute close to 10% of global GDP.
• The UNESCO initiative Women for Bees supports sustainable beekeeping in India's Western Ghats.