Disaster Risk Reduction in UNESCO designated sites

UNESCO is currently conducting a survey, aimed at site managers, to better assess the types of risks that they are facing and to identify good practices and knowledge gaps.

UNESCO site managers are encouraged to contribute to this survey (available in English, French and Spanish)

Preliminary results

The inputs that have been shared so far gaided some insights on natural hazard distribution at UNESCO-designated sites. According to the responses received until now, 89% of all Biosphere Reserves, 82% of UNESCO Global Geoparks and 96% of World Heritage sites are potentially exposed to at least one type of natural hazard that may turn into a disaster and threaten a site’s integrity. Most frequent natural hazards are wildfires, floods, mass mouvements and earthquakes.