UN to List More Sites as ‘In Danger’ Due to Conflict and Climate

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, July 19, 2026

UNESCO will vote next week on adding several threatened sites, including a key animal migration route in South Sudan and the ancient Greek settlement of Tauric Chersonese in Crimea, to its World Heritage in Danger list. The designation aims to increase global awareness and coordinated efforts to protect these locations despite challenges from conflict, climate change, and geopolitical disputes.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is set to consider adding several significant sites to its World Heritage in Danger list during its upcoming meeting in Busan, South Korea. The 196 member states are scheduled to vote next week on new inclusions that face threats from conflicts, climate change, and human activity.

Among the sites under review is a Biblical location, a collection of Lebanese castles, the migration path of antelopes in South Sudan, and the world’s deepest freshwater lake, all recognized for their outstanding cultural or natural value. UNESCO currently recognizes around 1,200 World Heritage sites worldwide, which often benefit from increased tourism and funding for preservation efforts when designated as endangered.

The Boma-Badingilo grassland and woodland savannahs in South Sudan are being considered for the endangered list due to the combined impacts of armed conflict and climate change. This vast ecosystem, situated between the White Nile and the Ethiopian border, serves as an annual corridor for the migration of approximately one million animals, including antelopes and gazelles. The intense movement across the landscape leaves visible marks on the grasslands, underscoring the vulnerability of this natural habitat.

Another site under consideration is the ancient Greek settlement of Tauric Chersonese, located in the Crimean Peninsula. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, a move not internationally recognized, leading to disputes over the site’s status and preservation. Ukrainian authorities have expressed concerns over unauthorized excavations, large-scale construction activities, and the removal of artifacts since Russia’s military intervention in the region. The situation highlights the challenges UNESCO faces when cultural heritage becomes entangled with geopolitical conflicts.

The decision by UNESCO seeks to balance raising global awareness and mobilizing preservation resources with the complex realities on the ground. Designation as a World Heritage in Danger site does not only recognize the cultural or environmental significance but also aims to prompt coordinated international action to protect these irreplaceable sites from further degradation. Voting on the proposals will take place during the members’ general assembly next week.

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