UNESCO World Heritage sites contain 20% of known species
The 1,157 protected sites account for less than 1% of Earth's surface but play vital roles as biodiversity hotspots.
The 1,157 protected sites account for less than 1% of Earth's surface but play vital roles as biodiversity hotspots.
Five nations announced a new alliance to promote more conservation of marine ecosystems in the fight against climate change.
Climate change is damaging one-third of the world's UNESCO sites and has become the single-biggest threat they face, IUCN warned.
Diplomats, experts and international organizations are negotiating a new treaty aimed at protecting the rich biodiversity of open oceans against commercial pressures.
Because these ocean areas and deep seabeds lie beyond national jurisdictions, they fall within a patchwork of laws overseen mostly by U.N.-affiliated international organizations.