2018-北冰洋自然海洋世界遗产（英文版）-23mb

Summary of "Natural Marine World Heritage in the Arctic Ocean"

Core Content

This report, published in 2017 by IUCN and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, outlines the findings of an expert workshop aimed at identifying globally significant marine areas in the Arctic that could be considered for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It emphasizes the importance of protecting these areas due to their unique ecological and environmental value, and highlights the need for enhanced conservation efforts in the face of rapid climate change and increasing human activity.

Main Points

• Arctic's Vulnerability: The Arctic is warming at twice the global average, leading to the loss of sea ice, ocean acidification, and increased human activities such as fishing, shipping, and oil and gas development, which threaten its marine ecosystems.

• World Heritage Convention: The 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention aims to preserve cultural and natural heritage for future generations. As of 2017, only a small percentage of World Heritage sites are marine, and the Arctic is underrepresented in this category.

• Current Arctic World Heritage Sites: There are five World Heritage sites in the Arctic, including three natural, one mixed, and one cultural site. Only one of these, the Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve, is included in the World Heritage Marine Programme.

• Ecological Linkages: The Arctic Ocean is ecologically linked to other World Heritage sites, such as the Wadden Sea and Banc d'Arguin National Park, through migratory bird routes and marine mammal movements. These linkages underscore the importance of Arctic marine conservation for the broader global heritage system.

• Seven Candidate Marine Areas: The report identifies seven areas in the Arctic Ocean as having the potential to be of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and thus should be considered for World Heritage inscription. These areas include:

  • The Bering Strait Ecoregion
  • Remnant Arctic Multi-Year Sea Ice and the Northeast Water Polynya Ecoregion
  • The Northern Baffin Bay Ecoregion
  • Disko Bay and Store Hellefiskebanke Ecoregion
  • The Scoresby Sound Polynya Ecoregion
  • High Arctic Archipelagos
  • The Great Siberian Polynya

Key Information

• Methodology: The identification of candidate sites was based on a preliminary desktop scientific assessment of the Arctic Ocean's unique physical and biological features, followed by expert review and consultation.

• Recommendations:

  1. Update Tentative Lists: States Parties should update their Tentative Lists to include the identified marine areas.
  2. Enhanced Protection: The identified areas require adequate protection and management to meet OUV criteria.
  3. Evaluate Terrestrial and Freshwater Values: The report recommends a broader assessment of the Arctic's terrestrial and freshwater conservation values.
  4. Consider Cultural and Traditional Knowledge: The OUV of the Arctic should be evaluated from both natural and cultural perspectives, recognizing the rights and traditional knowledge of local communities.
  5. Evaluate High Seas: The potential of the Arctic High Seas, including the North Pole, for World Heritage status should be explored.
  6. Nominate Sites: Candidate areas should be nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List, based on their OUV, integrity, and protection status.

Additional Considerations

• Previous Work: The report builds on prior analyses, including the 2007 expert meeting on World Heritage and the Arctic, which highlighted the lack of representation of the Arctic in the World Heritage List.

• Gaps in Representation: The Arctic is significantly underrepresented in marine World Heritage sites, despite its ecological significance. The report calls for a more comprehensive and balanced representation in the World Heritage List.

Conclusion

The report underscores the urgent need for the conservation and protection of the Arctic's unique marine ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of these areas in the global context of biodiversity and climate change. It serves as a foundation for future evaluations and potential nominations of Arctic marine sites for UNESCO World Heritage status.