As so-called Islamic States continues to invent and
perpetrate new atrocities to remain the focus of world media attention, world
heritage under threat is a recurring theme in newspaper reporting around the
world.
The latest manifestation of the genre is an article in
today's Daily Mail providing a run-down of world heritage sites UNESCO
considers to be in danger, with a focus on "20 ... you should visit now...
before it's too late."
Why these sites were chosen rather than others is
not entirely clear, but the photos included in the article are first rate, and
it is instructive to be reminded of the degree to which world heritage sites the
world over are facing similar problems, notably:
- damage caused by tourists
- weather erosion
- earthquake
- urban development
- agricultural development
- failure to undertake necessary repairs
Needless to say, many of these issues could be addressed
with sufficient resources and commitment by governments, local communities and
site visitors.
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