India's university town of Santiniketan has secured a place in the UNESCO World Heritage list. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1901. Since then it has been an integral part of India's cultural and intellectual heritage. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Santiniketan now on UNESCO world heritage list

Cultivating truffles calls for an unarguably unique sense of taste, and finding them is also a very complex task. Truffle hunting has now made it to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.

Truffle hunting on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage list

A new study has revealed that forests in 10 World Heritage sites emitted more carbon than they absorbed.

The report released by UNESCO, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has made some shocking revelation about greenhouse gas emissions.

The carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, diesel, gasoline or petrol, kerosene, and natural gas is the main "greenhouse gas" responsible for warming the Earth's atmosphere.

But there are others such as methane, which is produced by cows and waste dumps, that are much more potent than CO2 but much shorter-lived in the atmosphere.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/which-countries-and-blocs-are-major-players-at-the-glasgow-climate-summit-424619" hreflang="en">Which countries and blocs are major players at the Glasgow climate summit?</a>

Forests in the UNESCO World Heritage covers approximately 69 million hectares, that is, twice the size of Germany.

They play a crucial role in regulating the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Between 2001 and 2020, they absorbed almost 190 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. This is equivalent to half the UK's annual emissions from fossil fuels.

However, World Heritage sites lost 3.5 million hectares of forest over the past 20 years This area is larger than Belgium.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poor-nations-to-spend-five-times-as-much-on-debt-as-they-do-against-climate-change-report-424554" hreflang="en">Poor nations to spend five times as much on debt as they do against climate change: Report</a>

''We now have the most detailed picture to date of the vital role that [these] forests play in mitigating climate change,'' said co-author of the report Tales Carvalho Resende.

The two most widespread threats to UNESCO World Heritage forests are climate change with associated severe weather and land-use pressures associated with various human activities.

With just over one degree Celsius warming so far after 150 years of burning fossil fuels, the world is experiencing a rapid-fire onslaught of weather disasters supercharged by climate change. &nbsp;

A new study has revealed that forests in 10 World Heritage sites emitted more carbon than they absorbed. The report released by UNESCO, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has made some shocking revelation about greenhouse gas emissions.

A new study has revealed that forests in 10 World Heritage sites emitted more carbon than they absorbed. The report released by UNESCO, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has made some shocking revelation about greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, diesel, gasoline or petrol, kerosene, and natural gas is the main "greenhouse gas" responsible for warming the Earth's atmosphere. But there are others such as methane, which is produced by cows and waste dumps, that are much more potent than CO2 but much shorter-lived in the atmosphere. Also see | Which countries and blocs are major players at the Glasgow climate summit? Forests in the UNESCO World Heritage covers approximately 69 million hectares, that is, twice the size of Germany. They play a crucial role in regulating the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Between 2001 and 2020, they absorbed almost 190 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. This is equivalent to half the UK's annual emissions from fossil fuels. However, World Heritage sites lost 3.5 million hectares of forest over the past 20 years This area is larger than Belgium. Also read | Poor nations to spend five times as much on debt as they do against climate change: Report ''We now have the most detailed picture to date of the vital role that [these] forests play in mitigating climate change,'' said co-author of the report Tales Carvalho Resende. The two most widespread threats to UNESCO World Heritage forests are climate change with associated severe weather and land-use pressures associated with various human activities. With just over one degree Celsius warming so far after 150 years of burning fossil fuels, the world is experiencing a rapid-fire onslaught of weather disasters supercharged by climate change.

Some forests are now emitting more carbon dioxide than Oxygen. Here is why

The Great Barrier Reef near Australia may be downgraded as 'endangered' in the World Heritage listing this week. This has again focused everyone's attention on the list people often know a bit less about. The common man may well have heard of the list. But for him, it's often somewhat a static thing. Talk about intricacies and there are great chances of puzzled looks.

What is World Heritage List?

World Heritage List is a UNESCO list that mentions sites all over the world. These sites have historical, scientific, cultural or other forms of importance. When a site gets listed, it is demarcated by UNESCO as a protected site.&nbsp;

Inclusion in the list increases chances of the site being better cared for and protected as it comes on international radar. The heritage list has helped conservation of sites all over the world.

The downgrade

The status of a partuicular site can be downgraded. The World Heritage List is not permanently fixed and sites can be downgraded or even deleted entirely on the UN body's recommendation. While placement on the "in-danger" list is not considered a sanction -- some nations have their sites added to gain international attention to help save them -- others see it as a dishonour.

The Great Barrier Reef is facing the same fate.

The Great Barrier Reef -- the world's largest living structure, visible from space -- was added to the list in 1981 for its "superlative natural beauty" and extensive biodiversity.

Why could the reef lose its status?

The reef has suffered three mass coral bleaching events in the past five years, by some measures losing half its corals since 1995 as ocean temperatures have climbed.

It has also been battered by several cyclones, as climate change drives more extreme weather, and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish which eat the coral.

"It's a warning to the international community and all of humanity that the coral ecosystem is in danger," Fanny Douvere, the head of UNESCO's World Heritage marine programme, said in June.

Australian government scientists say the corals have made a comeback over the past year, but acknowledge that will not improve the ecosystem's "very poor" long-term outlook.

What is the likely outcome?

This is not the first time the UN has threatened to downgrade the reef's World Heritage listing -- furious lobbying by Australia prevented it in 2015.

The country created a "Reef 2050" plan and has poured billions of dollars into reef protection, including water quality improvements, in part to address the concerns.

While UNESCO has acknowledged these efforts, it has also taken aim at Australia for its lacklustre climate efforts as the government continues to resist calls to commit to net zero emissions by 2050.

The decision now rests in the hands of the World Heritage Committee, but 12 other countries have proposed delaying the decision until 2023, after reported lobbying from Australian officials.

With 14 votes required to pass that submission, Australia would need to find just one other member to back that position, assuming it also votes in favour.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Great Barrier Reef near Australia may be downgraded as 'endangered' in the World Heritage listing this week. This has again focused everyone's attention on the list people often know a bit less about.

The Great Barrier Reef near Australia may be downgraded as 'endangered' in the World Heritage listing this week. This has again focused everyone's attention on the list people often know a bit less about. The common man may well have heard of the list. But for him, it's often somewhat a static thing. Talk about intricacies and there are great chances of puzzled looks. What is World Heritage List? World Heritage List is a UNESCO list that mentions sites all over the world. These sites have historical, scientific, cultural or other forms of importance. When a site gets listed, it is demarcated by UNESCO as a protected site. Inclusion in the list increases chances of the site being better cared for and protected as it comes on international radar. The heritage list has helped conservation of sites all over the world. The downgrade The status of a partuicular site can be downgraded. The World Heritage List is not permanently fixed and sites can be downgraded or even deleted entirely on the UN body's recommendation. While placement on the "in-danger" list is not considered a sanction -- some nations have their sites added to gain international attention to help save them -- others see it as a dishonour. The Great Barrier Reef is facing the same fate. The Great Barrier Reef -- the world's largest living structure, visible from space -- was added to the list in 1981 for its "superlative natural beauty" and extensive biodiversity. Why could the reef lose its status? The reef has suffered three mass coral bleaching events in the past five years, by some measures losing half its corals since 1995 as ocean temperatures have climbed. It has also been battered by several cyclones, as climate change drives more extreme weather, and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish which eat the coral. "It's a warning to the international community and all of humanity that the coral ecosystem is in danger," Fanny Douvere, the head of UNESCO's World Heritage marine programme, said in June. Australian government scientists say the corals have made a comeback over the past year, but acknowledge that will not improve the ecosystem's "very poor" long-term outlook. What is the likely outcome? This is not the first time the UN has threatened to downgrade the reef's World Heritage listing -- furious lobbying by Australia prevented it in 2015. The country created a "Reef 2050" plan and has poured billions of dollars into reef protection, including water quality improvements, in part to address the concerns. While UNESCO has acknowledged these efforts, it has also taken aim at Australia for its lacklustre climate efforts as the government continues to resist calls to commit to net zero emissions by 2050. The decision now rests in the hands of the World Heritage Committee, but 12 other countries have proposed delaying the decision until 2023, after reported lobbying from Australian officials. With 14 votes required to pass that submission, Australia would need to find just one other member to back that position, assuming it also votes in favour. (With inputs from agencies)

What is World Heritage List and why is Great Barrier Reef facing a downgrade?

South Korea is hoping four of its Getbol tidal flats will be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. About a million birds from 300 different species use the flats as a stopover each year, according to UNESCO.

South Korea's tidal flats considered for UNESCO World Heritage status

The art of making Neapolitan pizza has won world heritage status, and joined UNESCO&#39;s list of &#39;intangible heritage&#39;, reports said on Thursday.&nbsp;

UNESCO has added the art of Naples &quot;pizzaiuoli,&quot; and congratulated Italy for their achievement and announced it on Twitter.&nbsp;

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The art of Neapolitan &#39;Pizzaiuolo&#39; just inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Congratulations, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Italy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Italy</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IntangibleHeritage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IntangibleHeritage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/12COM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#12COM</a><a href="https://t.co/z6xL98TZk4">https://t.co/z6xL98TZk4</a> <a href="https://t.co/HmANxOadG7">pic.twitter.com/HmANxOadG7</a>
&mdash; UNESCO (@UNESCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNESCO/status/938600413149913088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The art of &quot;pizzaiulio&quot; has apparently been handed down for centuries in Italy - was accepted for the world body&#39;s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Almost two million people signed the petition to support Naples&#39; application as they argued that the art of preparing and flipping the dough, topping it and then baking it in a wood-fired oven was a part of the country&#39;s cultural and gastronomic tradition.&nbsp;

In Rome, pizzeria owner Romano Fiore celebrated the decision. &quot;I am honoured like all Italians and Neapolitans are...pizza has centuries of history,&quot; Fiore&nbsp;said.

&quot;Victory!&quot; Maurizio Martina, Italy&#39;s minister for agriculture, food and forestry, wrote on Twitter. &quot;Another step towards the protection of Italy&#39;s food and wine heritage.&quot;

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L&rsquo;arte del pizzaiuolo napoletano &egrave; patrimonio culturale dell&rsquo;Umanit&agrave; Unesco. Vittoria! Identit&agrave; enogastronomica italiana sempre pi&ugrave; tutelata nel mondo <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pizzaUnesco?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pizzaUnesco</a> <a href="https://t.co/MgQ5izZWbf">pic.twitter.com/MgQ5izZWbf</a>
&mdash; Maurizio Martina (@maumartina) <a href="https://twitter.com/maumartina/status/938599966917963776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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In a statement, Martina said the recognition came after a years-long campaign.

&quot;The art of the Neapolitan pizza-maker contains Italian know-how ... the especially traditional knowledge that has been transmitted from generation to generation,&quot; he said.

Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, a former agriculture minister who attended the proceedings in Jeju, said in a video posted on Twitter:

&quot;From South Korea to Naples, today is a day of great celebration. The art of cheerleading Neapolitan is intangible cultural heritage&quot;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pizzaUnesco?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pizzaUnesco</a> Dalla Corea del Sud a Napoli, oggi &egrave; un giorno di grande festa. L&#39;Arte del pizzaiuolo napoletano &egrave; Patrimonio culturale immateriale dell&#39;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNESCO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNESCO</a>! <a href="https://t.co/VlVeMqu6ZI">pic.twitter.com/VlVeMqu6ZI</a>
&mdash; Pecoraro Scanio (@PecoraroScanio) <a href="https://twitter.com/PecoraroScanio/status/938699310463619072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Food culture already on the UNESCO list includes Turkish coffee culture and tradition, the gingerbread craft of northern Croatia and the traditional ancient Georgian method of Qvevri wine-making.

UNESCO accepted the art of Neapolitan "pizzaiuoli," or pizza makers, on the world body's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The art of making Neapolitan pizza has won world heritage status, and joined UNESCO's list of 'intangible heritage', reports said on Thursday. UNESCO has added the art of Naples "pizzaiuoli," and congratulated Italy for their achievement and announced it on Twitter. The art of Neapolitan 'Pizzaiuolo' just inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Congratulations, #Italy! #IntangibleHeritage #12COMhttps://t.co/z6xL98TZk4 pic.twitter.com/HmANxOadG7 — UNESCO (@UNESCO) December 7, 2017 × The art of "pizzaiulio" has apparently been handed down for centuries in Italy - was accepted for the world body's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Almost two million people signed the petition to support Naples' application as they argued that the art of preparing and flipping the dough, topping it and then baking it in a wood-fired oven was a part of the country's cultural and gastronomic tradition. In Rome, pizzeria owner Romano Fiore celebrated the decision. "I am honoured like all Italians and Neapolitans are...pizza has centuries of history," Fiore said. "Victory!" Maurizio Martina, Italy's minister for agriculture, food and forestry, wrote on Twitter. "Another step towards the protection of Italy's food and wine heritage." L’arte del pizzaiuolo napoletano è patrimonio culturale dell’Umanità Unesco. Vittoria! Identità enogastronomica italiana sempre più tutelata nel mondo #pizzaUnesco pic.twitter.com/MgQ5izZWbf — Maurizio Martina (@maumartina) December 7, 2017 × In a statement, Martina said the recognition came after a years-long campaign. "The art of the Neapolitan pizza-maker contains Italian know-how ... the especially traditional knowledge that has been transmitted from generation to generation," he said. Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, a former agriculture minister who attended the proceedings in Jeju, said in a video posted on Twitter: "From South Korea to Naples, today is a day of great celebration. The art of cheerleading Neapolitan is intangible cultural heritage" #pizzaUnesco Dalla Corea del Sud a Napoli, oggi è un giorno di grande festa. L'Arte del pizzaiuolo napoletano è Patrimonio culturale immateriale dell'#UNESCO! pic.twitter.com/VlVeMqu6ZI — Pecoraro Scanio (@PecoraroScanio) December 7, 2017 × Food culture already on the UNESCO list includes Turkish coffee culture and tradition, the gingerbread craft of northern Croatia and the traditional ancient Georgian method of Qvevri wine-making.

Watch: Neapolitan pizza gets UNESCO world heritage status

Climate change imperils one in four natural World Heritage sites, including coral reefs, glaciers, and wetlands -- nearly double the number from just three years ago, a report said Monday.

The number of sites at risk has grown to 62 from 35 in 2014, when one in seven were listed, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which released the report at UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany.

Among the ecosystems most threatened by global warming are coral reefs which bleach as oceans heat up, and glaciers which melt.

&quot;Climate change acts fast and is not sparing the finest treasures of our planet,&quot; said IUCN director general Inger Andersen.

&quot;Climate change now threatens the very fabric of our society, threatens our identity, an identity that is grounded in the rich and yet delicate patchwork of natural heritage,&quot; she told journalists in Bonn.

The report found that 29 percent of World Heritage sites faced &quot;significant&quot; threats, and seven percent -- including the Everglades National Park in the United States and Lake Turkana in Kenya -- had a &quot;critical&quot; outlook.&nbsp;

&quot;The scale and pace at which it (climate change) is damaging our natural heritage underline the need for urgent and ambitious national commitments and actions to implement the Paris Agreement,&quot; said Andersen.

Negotiators are gathered in Bonn to work out a nuts-and-bolts rulebook for executing the pact adopted by nearly 200 countries in the French capital in 2015.

The agreement seeks to limit average global warming caused by greenhouse gases from fossil-fuel burning to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels, and to 1.5 C if possible.

The 1 C mark has already been passed, and scientists say that on current country pledges to cut emissions, the world is headed for a 3 C future.

- &#39;Devastating&#39; - 
The IUCN monitors more than 200 natural Heritage Sites listed by the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Three World Heritage-listed coral reefs -- the Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean, the Belize Barrier Reef in the Atlantic, and Australia&#39;s Great Barrier Reef, the biggest on Earth -- have been affected by &quot;devastating&quot; bleaching events over the last three years, said the IUCN report.

Corals &quot;bleach&quot; when they are stressed by environmental changes -- due to ocean warming or pollution.&nbsp;

The corals expel the colorful algae that live in them and turn bone white.

&quot;Retreating glaciers, also resulting from rising temperatures, threaten sites such as Kilimanjaro National Park, which boasts Africa&#39;s highest peak, and the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, home to the largest Alpine glacier,&quot; said the union.

Wetlands, low-lying deltas, permafrost and fire-sensitive ecosystems are also affected by changes in Earth&#39;s climate, it added.

- Insufficient funding - 
Harm to natural sites endangers local economies and livelihoods, the IUCN said.

&quot;In Peru&#39;s Huascaran National Park, for example, melting glaciers affect water supplies and contaminate water and soil due to the release of heavy metals previously trapped under ice.&quot;

Only invasive plant and animal species surpassed climate change as a risk to natural heritage sites said the union. And climate change boosts their spread.

Sites on the World Heritage list are earmarked for protection for future generations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Countries assume responsibility under the World Heritage Convention to protect listed sites within their borders.&nbsp;

The report said the management of heritage sites has declined since 2014, &quot;notably due to insufficient funding.&quot;

The Bonn meeting is the first of UN climate envoys since US President Donald Trump said he would pull America out of the hard-fought Paris Agreement, a move many fear will make the 2 C goal that much harder to reach.

Among the ecosystems most threatened by global warming are coral reefs which bleach as oceans heat up, and glaciers which melt.

Climate change imperils one in four natural World Heritage sites, including coral reefs, glaciers, and wetlands -- nearly double the number from just three years ago, a report said Monday. The number of sites at risk has grown to 62 from 35 in 2014, when one in seven were listed, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which released the report at UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany. Among the ecosystems most threatened by global warming are coral reefs which bleach as oceans heat up, and glaciers which melt. "Climate change acts fast and is not sparing the finest treasures of our planet," said IUCN director general Inger Andersen. "Climate change now threatens the very fabric of our society, threatens our identity, an identity that is grounded in the rich and yet delicate patchwork of natural heritage," she told journalists in Bonn. The report found that 29 percent of World Heritage sites faced "significant" threats, and seven percent -- including the Everglades National Park in the United States and Lake Turkana in Kenya -- had a "critical" outlook. "The scale and pace at which it (climate change) is damaging our natural heritage underline the need for urgent and ambitious national commitments and actions to implement the Paris Agreement," said Andersen. Negotiators are gathered in Bonn to work out a nuts-and-bolts rulebook for executing the pact adopted by nearly 200 countries in the French capital in 2015. The agreement seeks to limit average global warming caused by greenhouse gases from fossil-fuel burning to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels, and to 1.5 C if possible. The 1 C mark has already been passed, and scientists say that on current country pledges to cut emissions, the world is headed for a 3 C future. - 'Devastating' - The IUCN monitors more than 200 natural Heritage Sites listed by the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Three World Heritage-listed coral reefs -- the Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean, the Belize Barrier Reef in the Atlantic, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the biggest on Earth -- have been affected by "devastating" bleaching events over the last three years, said the IUCN report. Corals "bleach" when they are stressed by environmental changes -- due to ocean warming or pollution. The corals expel the colorful algae that live in them and turn bone white. "Retreating glaciers, also resulting from rising temperatures, threaten sites such as Kilimanjaro National Park, which boasts Africa's highest peak, and the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, home to the largest Alpine glacier," said the union. Wetlands, low-lying deltas, permafrost and fire-sensitive ecosystems are also affected by changes in Earth's climate, it added. - Insufficient funding - Harm to natural sites endangers local economies and livelihoods, the IUCN said. "In Peru's Huascaran National Park, for example, melting glaciers affect water supplies and contaminate water and soil due to the release of heavy metals previously trapped under ice." Only invasive plant and animal species surpassed climate change as a risk to natural heritage sites said the union. And climate change boosts their spread. Sites on the World Heritage list are earmarked for protection for future generations. Countries assume responsibility under the World Heritage Convention to protect listed sites within their borders. The report said the management of heritage sites has declined since 2014, "notably due to insufficient funding." The Bonn meeting is the first of UN climate envoys since US President Donald Trump said he would pull America out of the hard-fought Paris Agreement, a move many fear will make the 2 C goal that much harder to reach.

Climate change imperils one in four natural heritage sites: Report

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