Natural World Heritage Sites under severe pressure from human activities

The first ever global quantification of the impact of humanity on natural World Heritage sites (NWHS) finds that the vast majority of NWHS are under severe pressure from increasing human activities and forest loss. Led by an international team of researchers, including the JRC, the study provides crucial baseline information to help inform the ongoing preservation of NWHS.

Using new data, the authors assessed the changes in human pressure and forest loss over time across over 100 terrestrial NWHS around the world. They found that human pressure increased in 63% of NWHS on all continents (particularly in Asia) except Europe where the level of pressure decreased (albeit European sites still face the highest average pressures overall), and that forest loss occurred in 91% of NWHS that contain forests (particularly in North America). NWHS were also found to be increasingly isolated and under threat from increased pressures outside their borders.

Further information: Natural World Heritage Sites under severe pressure from human activities