Brussels, 06/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - At least 12 UNESCO world heritage sites in the EU, which are, in addition, protected by the European habitats and birds directives, are under threat, according to a new report published by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) on Wednesday 6 April.
The threat comes from: oil and gas concessions; mines; unsustainable water use; and transport infrastructures or deforestation which are putting at risk not only biodiversity and the many services provided by ecosystems but also, as a consequence, peoples' wellbeing and the health of the economy.
The report, “Protecting People through Nature: Natural World Heritage Sites as Drivers of Sustainable Development”, paints a depressing picture of the little importance given to precious natural sites, covering 0.5% of the surface of the planet. Across the globe, nearly half of world heritage sites are threatened and multiple harmful industrial activities present the top threat to 20% of the natural sites listed by UNESCO.
“World Heritage sites should receive the highest levels of protection, yet we are often unable to safeguard even this important fraction of the Earth's surface. We all agree that these are some of the most valuable and unique places on the planet, now we need to work together to let these sites provide for the well-being of people and nature”, said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International, quoted in a press release.
Among the threatened sites in the EU are: Laurisilva of Madeira (Portugal), the largest surviving area of laurel forest; the Danube Delta (Romania); Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia); the Wadden Sea (Denmark, Germany, Netherlands); the primeval beech forests of the Carpathians and the ancient beech forests of Germany (Germany, Slovakia, Ukraine); Doñana National Park (Spain); the Laponian area (Sweden); Pirin National Park (Bulgaria); Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria); the Aeolian Islands (Italy); the Po River delta (Italy); and the Venice Lagoon (Italy).
WWF is calling on the private sector to pledge not to engage in harmful industrial activities in UNESCO world heritage sites and on national governments to hold multinationals headquartered or operating within their borders to the very highest standards of corporate accountability and stewardship. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)