UNESCO calls for substantial investment in science to protect marine world heritage against climate impact

Climate change is happening at many marine World Heritage sites and is the biggest management challenge in a rapidly changing ocean. Some 70% of marine World Heritage sites are currently under threat from climate change according to the 2020 IUCN World Heritage Outlook. While the world seeks to limit warming to 1.5°C, it is vital that we take steps now to protect Earth’s most exceptional ocean places.

The roadmap, which was launched [...] at a high-level event during the 41th session of UNESCO’s General Conference, highlights key gaps in research capacity and infrastructure, explores the technology and capacity required for science-based decision making and the sustainable finance and resources needed to support the necessary research. It outlines what information sites need in order to assess climate vulnerability and use targeted science to underpin conservation and management efforts.

The roadmap reports that 88% of marine World Heritage sites collect baseline ocean observations, 70% use satellite observation and imaging, or physical sensors and 43% of sites have a dedicated research station. Yet, 63% lack the necessary equipment to monitor how climate change is impacting sites’ Outstanding Universal Value: their exceptional, unique cultural and/or natural significance that should be preserved for future generations. Over 60% lack knowledge of how climate change will shift geographical distribution of species, which species are most at risk, or have insufficient capacity to undertake climate projections for their site under different emission scenarios.

It highlights that only one in five marine World Heritage sites in Africa and SIDS receive private or philanthropic support for ocean research while they are at a disproportionately higher risk from climate change compared to sites located elsewhere.

The roadmap is the result of a UNESCO-led science assessment survey on the current status of ocean science and knowledge at marine World Heritage sites among local management teams, and a one-day conference with over 100 leading scientists, managers and philanthropists to investigate gaps and priorities.

The roadmap launches at the start of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade; 2021-2030) which offers the unique opportunity to harness the science to sustainably manage the ocean. The roadmap calls upon the international science community to drastically step up science investment across marine world Heritage sites in an effort to co-design and co-deliver the science we need for the ocean we want.

The 50 marine sites on the World Heritage List hold over 20% of the world’s blue carbon ecosystems and represent some of the last refuge areas for IUCN’s red listed vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species. They have impacts far outside of their site boundaries and actions taken now to preserve these sites will reap rewards across the ocean and for years to come.

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(Source: IOC UNESCO, shortened)

For further information visit ioc.unesco.org