Latest news with #WorldHeritage
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Germany issues invitation to culture and nature on World Heritage Day
The Wadden Sea, Cologne Cathedral and the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen have one thing in common: They have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, marking them as places of exceptional value to all of humanity. There are now 54 World Heritage Sites in Germany, and, for the 20th time, the German UNESCO Commission invited people to these protected sites with a variety of activities for World Heritage Day on Sunday. "The aim of the day of action is to make World Heritage accessible to everyone," German UNESCO Commission President Maria Böhmer said at a ceremony in St Michael's Church in the northern German city of Hildesheim. The World Heritage Day was opened there under the motto "Convey, Connect, Enthuse." It is a "very beautiful, colourful, lively festival," a spokesman said on Sunday afternoon. The Romanesque cathedral and St Michael's Church in the approximately 1,200-year-old city have been World Cultural Heritage sites since 1985. According to UNESCO, more than 350 events are on the programme across Germany. These range from a torchlight tour for children through the caves of the Swabian Jura to a mining adventure hike in the Ore Mountains and a rap tour through Hamburg's Speicherstadt. There are now more than 1,200 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 168 countries worldwide, and the list expands every year. Already nominated are Germany's castles of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee. The World Heritage Committee is expected to decide in July whether they will be added to the World Heritage list. In the meantime, some World Heritage Sites are transnational. Germany's Ancient Beech Forests were added to the list in 2011 as an extension of the Carpathian Beech Forests, which span 18 countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe. The Wadden Sea, on the edge of the North Sea, was included in 2009 and extended in 2014 to include the Danish Wadden Sea. In the German state of Lower Saxony, the Rammelsberg Mine, the old town of Goslar in the Harz, and the Upper Harz Water Management System can also boast the title. The Fagus Factory in Alfeld, Lower Saxony, designed in 1911 by architect and Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, has been on the World Heritage list since 2011.
Shafaq News
10 hours ago
- General
- Shafaq News
World heritage dries up: The silent exodus of Iraq's Maxwell otter
Shafaq News/ Iraq's iconic southern marshes are drying up at an alarming rate, placing enormous strain on wildlife and forcing rare species like the smooth-coated otter—known locally as 'Maxwell'—to abandon their native habitat in search of survival. Among the worst-affected areas is Maysan province, where environmental degradation has reached critical levels due to persistent drought and severe water shortages. This sharp ecological decline marks a tragic reversal from the optimism of 2016, when UNESCO recognized the marshes as a World Heritage Site. The designation celebrated the wetlands' remarkable biodiversity, symbolizing Iraq's pledge to preserve and restore one of the world's most unique ecosystems. The Legend of Maxwell Iraq is home to two otter species, one of which is the rare smooth-coated otter, now facing increasing peril. The Green Climate Organization has raised concerns over the dual threats of drought and illegal hunting, which are accelerating the species' disappearance from the Hawizeh Marsh. 'The first is the common otter (Lutra lutra), found along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers,' explained Mokhtar Khamees, executive director of the organization, in remarks to Shafaq News. 'The second is the smooth-coated otter, which is rarer, more valuable due to its distinctive fur, and found exclusively in the Hawizeh Marsh of Maysan.' Khamees underscored that the presence of this otter played a major role in UNESCO's decision to designate the marshes as a heritage site. Yet despite its ecological and cultural significance, no official steps have been taken to safeguard the species or its habitat. Environmental activist Mahdi al-Saadi noted that Iraqis refer to the smooth-coated otter as 'Maxwell,' a tribute to Scottish naturalist Gavin Maxwell, who encountered the species during a visit to the Hawizeh Marsh in the 1950s. During his expedition, Maxwell captured a male and a female otter and brought them to Scotland, naming them 'Mijbil' after a local meshhouf (canoe) operator, and 'Kahlaa,' after the Kahlaa subdistrict in Maysan where they were found. Today, a monument in Scotland commemorates the Iraqi origin of these animals, reinforcing their symbolic link to Iraq's southern wetlands. Al-Saadi highlighted recent sightings of the Maxwell otter in central and northern parts of the country—an indication that the species is fleeing its traditional habitat. 'It has started to leave the Hawizeh Marsh in search of safer environments and more abundant food,' he observed in comments to Shafaq News, calling it a troubling sign of escalating ecological distress. Dwindling & Trafficked The deterioration of the marshes began in the 1990s with large-scale drainage operations. Once hailed as one of the most diverse wetland systems in the Middle East, the marshes have since been devastated by upstream dam construction in Turkiye and Iran, outdated irrigation infrastructure, and increasingly severe droughts linked to climate change. Water levels in some areas have plummeted by as much as 90%, while salinity levels have risen above 6,000 parts per million, making the water uninhabitable for most aquatic life. According to Nature Iraq, a leading environmental NGO, fish populations have declined by 95%, and nearly 30% of water buffaloes have perished. The resulting economic losses to marshland communities have surpassed 17 billion Iraqi dinars, or roughly $11.3 million. The human toll has been equally stark. Around 80% of the local population has been forced to relocate, severing ancestral ties to fishing, reed harvesting, and agriculture that have sustained generations. Adding to the crisis is the threat of poaching. Al-Saadi identified illegal hunting as a major driver of the otter's decline. 'Their pelts are highly sought after and smuggled to Turkiye and Italy, where they are used in making high-end garments and leather bags.' Despite the existence of legal protections for endangered species, enforcement remains weak, allowing cross-border trafficking to flourish. Plea for Lifeline Environmental campaigner Ahmed Saleh Naama emphasized the need to properly distinguish the smooth-coated otter from similar-looking species. 'It is neither a beaver nor a river otter,' he clarified to Shafaq News. 'It is a unique ecological treasure that must be protected.' Officially classified as Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, the Maxwell otter is one of Iraq's rarest mammals, with fewer than 200 individuals believed to remain in the wild. Naama warned that without immediate action, Iraq is on track to lose the species altogether. He and other activists have consistently urged the government to establish a dedicated reserve for the smooth-coated otter and to restore sustainable water flows to the Maysan marshes. Once sprawling across approximately 20,000 square kilometers, Iraq's southern wetlands are now reduced to fragmented and degraded patches. This collapse threatens more than just the otter—it endangers over 80 species of birds, fish, and mammals, and disrupts the lives of nearly 40,000 indigenous Marsh Arabs who depend on the ecosystem for their livelihoods. Environmental experts are calling for an immediate nationwide rescue initiative to revive the marshes, ensure stable water flows from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and create protected zones for endangered species. They stress that preserving the Maxwell otter is not only a matter of saving a rare animal but also a symbol of protecting Iraq's natural and cultural heritage. 'Maxwell,' an expert argues, 'is more than an endangered animal. It is a living emblem of Iraq's ecological identity and a reminder of what is at stake if this unique wetland is allowed to vanish.'
West Australian
21 hours ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Approval of Woodside's North West Shelf gas extension to 2070 slammed by religious leaders
Faith leaders say they are 'deeply troubled' by the Federal Government's decision to approve the extension of the North West Shelf gas processing facility to 2070. On Wednesday, Labor approved a 40-year extension of the country's largest gas plant. While Environment Minister Murray Watt's decision to grant the approval for Woodside's North West Shelf extension in Western Australia's Pilbara has been praised by industry and unions, others have condemned it due to the threat to the Murujuga cultural heritage. President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Charissa Suli told reporters in Perth on Sunday, she is 'profoundly disappointed' about the approval of the North West Shelf gas processing facility. 'As a daughter of the Pacific, I have witnessed first-hand the devastating impacts of climate change on culturally rich but environmentally vulnerable nations in our region,' she said. 'These nations — many of which are home to Uniting Church partners within the Asia-Pacific — contribute the least to global emissions yet suffer the greatest consequences. 'Why then is approval granted to an old, polluting facility to continue emitting vast volumes of climate damaging emissions of a magnitude many times greater than the emissions of all the Pacific nations? This is not loving thy neighbour.' Rev Mitchell Garlett from the Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress added he is 'very disappointed' that the decision was made without 'close consultation with the relevant Traditional Owners'. 'The connection we feel to Country is not just a physical thing but a spiritual connection that is deeper than what we see with our eyes,' he said. 'It is heartbreaking that reconciliation is spoken of but our brothers and sisters voices are not being heard, and the land continues to suffer for so-called progress.' Rev Dr Ian Tozer added they are 'deeply concerned' by the threat to First Nations cultural heritage sites, including 60,000-year-old priceless petroglyphs at the World Heritage nominated Murujuga rock art site. 'It is vital that these ancient sites, so precious to Australia's First Peoples and to our history, are not further damaged by industry,' he said. Meanwhile, Woodside has said the approval would support thousands of jobs and supply affordable energy to Western Australia. The project has supplied 6000 petajoules of domestic gas, powering homes and industry in Western Australia with enough energy to power homes in a city the size of Perth for approximately 175 years, the company said. Environmental groups estimate the project will produce 4.3 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime.
Perth Now
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Heartbreaking': Gas extension decision slammed
Faith leaders say they are 'deeply troubled' by the Federal Government's decision to approve the extension of the North West Shelf gas processing facility to 2070. On Wednesday, Labor approved a 40-year extension of the country's largest gas plant. While Environment Minister Murray Watt's decision to grant the approval for Woodside's North West Shelf extension in Western Australia's Pilbara has been praised by industry and unions, others have condemned it due to the threat to the Murujuga cultural heritage. President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Charissa Suli told reporters in Perth on Sunday, she is 'profoundly disappointed' about the approval of the North West Shelf gas processing facility. Faith leaders say they are 'deeply troubled' by the Federal Government's decision to approve the extension of the North West Shelf Gas processing facility to 2070. NewsWire/Philip Gostelow Credit: News Corp Australia 'As a daughter of the Pacific, I have witnessed first-hand the devastating impacts of climate change on culturally rich but environmentally vulnerable nations in our region,' she said. 'These nations — many of which are home to Uniting Church partners within the Asia-Pacific — contribute the least to global emissions yet suffer the greatest consequences. 'Why then is approval granted to an old, polluting facility to continue emitting vast volumes of climate damaging emissions of a magnitude many times greater than the emissions of all the Pacific nations? This is not loving thy neighbour.' Rev Mitchell Garlett from the Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress added he is 'very disappointed' that the decision was made without 'close consultation with the relevant Traditional Owners'. 'The connection we feel to Country is not just a physical thing but a spiritual connection that is deeper than what we see with our eyes,' he said. 'It is heartbreaking that reconciliation is spoken of but our brothers and sisters voices are not being heard, and the land continues to suffer for so-called progress.' Rev Dr Ian Tozer added they are 'deeply concerned' by the threat to First Nations cultural heritage sites, including 60,000-year-old priceless petroglyphs at the World Heritage nominated Murujuga rock art site. President of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, pictured here, at the event outside Wesley Uniting Church, in Perth, WA. NewsWire/Philip Gostelow Credit: News Corp Australia 'It is vital that these ancient sites, so precious to Australia's First Peoples and to our history, are not further damaged by industry,' he said. Meanwhile, Woodside has said the approval would support thousands of jobs and supply affordable energy to Western Australia. The project has supplied 6000 petajoules of domestic gas, powering homes and industry in Western Australia with enough energy to power homes in a city the size of Perth for approximately 175 years, the company said. Environmental groups estimate the project will produce 4.3 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime.
Muscat Daily
a day ago
- Science
- Muscat Daily
140kg of ghost nets, iron debris cleaned up off Dimaniyat
Muscat – Environment Authority (EA) conducted its first coral reef cleanup campaign of 2025 recently, clearing 140kg of abandoned fishing nets and iron debris from the Dimaniyat Islands, a protected marine reserve off the coast of Barka. The campaign in South Batinah began with an underwater cleanup at Lumiyh Island, one of several islands in the Dimaniyat archipelago. Specialised divers removed entangled ghost nets and rusted metal fragments from the reef, which marine experts say pose serious threats to coral ecosystems and marine species. 'This campaign reflects our commitment to safeguarding Oman's marine biodiversity and underscores the urgent need to address pollution threats in ecologically sensitive areas,' EA stated. The Dimaniyat Islands, part of nature reserve named after it, are Oman's first marine sanctuary and are listed on Unesco's tentative list of World Heritage sites. The area attracts local and international visitors for diving, snorkelling and wildlife observation, and is home to coral reefs, nesting sea turtles and migratory birds. Marine scientists warn that ghost nets can persist for many years in the ocean, trapping fish and turtles while damaging coral structures. Iron debris, once corroded, release harmful substances that degrade the marine environment. EA stated that this operation was part of a broader effort to promote environmental awareness and sustainable marine tourism. The authority plans several cleanup dives this year in cooperation with local diving teams, volunteers and environmental organisations. 'This is just the beginning,' an EA official said. 'Through collaborative efforts and continued monitoring, we aim to restore the health of our reefs.'
