Climate change is threatening to destroy many of the world's most cherished iconic sites, including the Stonehenge in England and the Statue of Liberty in New York, a new report revealed.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), along with the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), investigated 31 cultural and natural World Heritage Sites in 29 countries.
The report has found that developing nations such as Uganda, where tourists go to see mountain gorillas, and Nepal, home to Mount Everest, may be hit the hardest as they depend on income from tourism compared to developing countries.
Adam Markham, UCS deputy director and lead author of the report, says for developing countries, having a World Heritage site is an economic driver. If the areas that attract tourists are damaged by climate change, it would be a big blow to tourism economies.
"For them it's a very important revenue and income," says Markham.
Some of the sites at risk of destruction beyond repair include the following:
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2. Venice, Italy
The beautiful city of Venice is known for its Gothic, Byzantine and Renaissance buildings built amid a network of canals and bridges. Researchers say the city is one of the most endangered sites threatened to be damaged by sea level rise.
3. Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Located in the Lesser Sunda Islands, the Komodo National Park is the only place in the world where the Komodo dragon lives. The report says climate change is causing increased rainfall in Indonesia, threatening to flood areas where the lizard breeds. The impact of climate change is also altering vegetation, making areas less hospitable to the animals.
4. Statue of Liberty, United States
This famous statue has stood in New York Harbor since 1876, but researchers say it is vulnerable to extreme weather and sea level rise.
5. Stonehenge, England
The Stonehenge is considered as one of the most architecturally sophisticated stone circles on Earth. Increased rainfall, heavier rains and extreme flooding can damage the iconic site by creating gullies or large ditches.
6. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are home to hundreds of rare species, such as marine iguanas and giant tortoises. Ocean acidification, warming temperatures and rising sea levels threaten to destroy the islands' fragile ecosystem.
7. Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines
Built 2,000 years ago by indigenous Ifugao people in the country, the beautiful Banaue Rice Terraces are at risk of being destroyed as temperatures continue to rise and extreme rainfall becomes frequent. These often lead to erosion and landslides, the UNESCO report said.
Saving World Heritage Sites
Unfortunately, despite the negative impact of climate change, UNESCO's fund to assist climate mitigation efforts is only about $4 million, a small amount for 1,000 World Heritage sites. To put that in perspective, Venice has allocated more than $6 billion to stem the flooding that might overtake the city.
Meanwhile, authors of the report urge governments and world leaders to take action and address the adverse effects and impacts of climate change.
The full details of the report are available in the UCS website.
Photo: Jöshua Barnett | Flickr
