In 2023, three more sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage in Danger List, which calls for the safeguarding of cultural and natural treasures at risk of being lost forever. In total, the UN department has identified 55 sites that are at risk due to climate change, armed conflict, development, poor management or a combination of all those issues. Here are all the sites they've listed so far...

One of the newly-added sites is the Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba in Yemen. These comprise seven archaeological sites built during the Kingdom of Saba (roughly 1000 BC to AD 630) and revered for their eye-pleasing architecture. Located in a semi-arid landscape of valleys, mountains and deserts, these ancient landmarks include the remains of large urban settlements. However, due to threats of destruction from the country’s ongoing civil war, in 2023 it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Another newcomer is Libya's 70-hectare Rachid Karami International Fair of Tripoli, built in 1962 and located between the historic centre of Tripoli and the Al Mina Port. Pictured here is the interior of the huge covered hall, a function space that makes up the fair’s main building. However, according to UNESCO the site is now in an "alarming state of conservation" due to low financial resources needed for maintenance, as well as development proposals which could risk the integrity of the complex. It was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2023.

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Founded in the 18th century, Odessa became one of the most important ports and cosmopolitan cities in eastern Europe. But following the ongoing Russian invasion in February 2022, a number of buildings have been damaged by shelling – such as the palatial Odessa Museum of Fine Arts and the Odessa Museum of Modern Art – causing the historic centre to be added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2023.

Located in the Apuseni Mountains in western Romania, the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape is famed for Roman-era gold-mining that took place for 166 years, where some 500 tonnes of gold were extracted. While mining continued in the medieval age, in 2021 the Mining Landscape was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Proposed plans to resume mining would damage a major part of this UNESCO site of Outstanding Universal Value.

The archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley – containing fortified buildings from the Islamic period as well as Buddhist monastic sanctuaries – are one of Afghanistan's most significant sites. However, the area has been shaken by political unrest and terrorism; in 2001 the two standing Buddha statues – formerly the largest standing Buddha carvings in the world – were destroyed by the Taliban.

Tucked into a plunging river valley amid soaring mountains, the Minaret of Jam is a striking sight. Dating to the 12th century, it's a fine example of the architectural styles of Central Asia's Islamic period, and is celebrated for its detailed brickwork. The leaning tower, which was built by the great Ghurid Sultan Ghiyas-od-din, was placed on the danger list in 2002, due to a lack of staff to ensure the security and preservation of the property. 

Known for its Baroque mansions and gardens and its medieval heart, Vienna’s city centre received UNESCO status in 2001. But with a new high-rise project threatening to change the city’s skyline, its historic centre was placed on the danger list in 2017. UNESCO said: “Vienna’s continuing development requires a very sensitive approach that takes into account the attributes that sustain the outstanding universal value of the property."

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The city of Potosí, a silver mining centre in the south of Bolivia, was once considered to be the world’s largest industrial complex. And today, the area is full of archaeological significance, including the industrial monuments of the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain), its colonial core, and the 'barrios mitayos', where the workers lived. But, over centuries, the mining activity here has rendered the site porous. As parts of the mountain have become unstable and collapsed, the city's beautiful buildings are in peril.

With its sweeping savannahs home to endangered species, including red-fronted gazelles, black rhinoceroses, elephants and hippos, the Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park is a significant habitat. It is the largest park in the central African savannahs, with a diverse terrain made up of forests, wetlands and mountains. Sadly, its integrity is under threat due to poaching and grazing, and a lack of protection and land-management measures, so it was inscribed on the list in 1997.

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for both Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, this verdant site is made up of thick forest draped over the slopes of Mount Nimba, and is home to many extraordinary species, including the endemic viviparous toad and chimpanzees. But the reserve faces numerous pressures on its boundaries, and intense poaching and the practice of clearing land for agriculture by fire have increased. Both Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire are working to protect the property by empowering local communities and promoting transboundary cooperation, UNESCO notes.

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Poaching is also why Garamba National Park was inscribed on the danger list in 1996. The vast stretch of savannah and woodland in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo is home to one of the largest, most threatened populations of elephants in central Africa. The park was also home to the world's last known wild population of northern white rhinos, though it's thought that the species is now extinct in the wild. Counter-poaching measures, including aerial patrols, have been implemented in recent years, but the park's incredible wildlife is still at risk.

One of the last groups of eastern lowland gorillas live in the dense primary tropical forest of this national park in eastern DRC. It's watched over by a pair of extinct volcanoes, and its 250-strong gorilla population live at soaring heights of up to 7,874 feet (2,400m) above sea level. Poaching and illegal mining, coupled with inadequate funds and workers to protect it, are among the issues affecting this stunning reserve.

Named after the rare okapi (or forest giraffe) that live in the Ituri forest, this huge swathe of land in the northeast of DRC was created to protect a wide range of rare flora and fauna. It has also been home to the Mbuti and Efe peoples (traditional nomadic pygmy hunter-gatherers) for centuries. The reserve was listed as under threat in 1997 due to the commercial hunting of bushmeat, slash-and-burn forest clearance and illegal mining and logging. Ensuring the involvement of the indigenous populations in the management of the reserve is critical, says UNESCO.

Created in 1925, Virunga National Park in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s oldest national park. It's home to a quarter of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas, as well as the rare okapi, elephants, leopards, hippos and chimpanzees. The park was shut for more than eight months in 2018 after a series of attacks by militia and smugglers on staff. It reopened in early 2019, but another ranger was shot. UNESCO is urging for strengthened security to combat threats to staff, poaching, deforestation and smuggling.

The archaeological site of Abu Mena, near Alexandria, houses the remains of an early Christian holy city, which was built over the tomb of Saint Menas of Alexandria, martyred in the 3rd century. But, sadly, the foundations of some of the great ruined buildings here have collapsed due to a rise in the water table. The site remains unstable and it was inscribed on the danger list in 2001. 

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The Honduran World Heritage Site of Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve is one of the “few remains of a tropical rainforest in Central America" and is home to upwards of 2,000 indigenous people. But in 2011, the reserve was placed on the danger list due to multiple threats: illegal logging, fishing and land occupation, and poaching. There were also concerns about the ability of the state to manage the site as a result of crime and the presence of drug traffickers.

This site, measuring two and a half million hectares, is made up of three national parks: Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, and includes many endangered species. The area is mind-boggling in its diversity, home to an estimated 10,000 plant species, more than 200 mammal species, and 580 bird species. But, like so many others, the site is in danger due to myriad human threats, which include poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment and plans to build roads through the site.

First established in the third millennium BC, the ancient city of Ashur was an important centre of trade, and became the first capital of the Assyrian Empire between the 14th to 9th century BC. And today its excavated remnants breathe life into a long-gone era. However, modern-day city Qal'at Sherqat made it on to UNESCO's danger list in 2003, due to the prospective construction of a dam that would have flooded its ruins. Its location in a highly volatile conflict area was also noted.

The fortress city of Hatra, which dates back to days of the Parthian empire in the 3rd or 2nd century BC, was the capital of the first Arab Kingdom. It's especially known for its mighty walls and towers, which helped it withstand two Roman invasions in the 2nd century AD. The site was taken by ISIS in 2015, who used sledgehammers and guns to destroy carvings and statues, and is undergoing a lengthy restoration process.

Renowned for its 9th-century mosque and spiral minaret, the Samarra archaeological city is one of Iraq’s most significant cultural treasures. It was the site of a mighty Islamic capital city, which ruled over the provinces of the Abbasid Empire in the 9th century. And, according to UNESCO: “it is the only surviving Islamic capital that retains its original plan, architecture and arts, such as mosaics and carvings.” It was placed on the danger list due to a lack of government control and conflict in the area that threatens its integrity.

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A sacred site for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, this age-old centre is home to innumerable treasures and historic monuments, including the Dome of the Rock and the Wailing Wall. But it has been on the danger list since 1982. Besides political instability, the site is also threatened by urbanisation. In 2007, UNESCO stated its concern about the “obstacles and practices, such as archaeological excavations or new constructions” around the Old City.

The inland sea of Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world, is longer than Kenya’s coastline. Often known as the Jade Sea because of its remarkable colour, the lake is a temporary home for migrant waterfowl and also a key breeding ground for the Nile crocodile, among other species. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 – but with concerns over the impact of a dam on the lake’s flow and ecosystem, it was added to the danger list in 2018 too.

A once flourishing Greek colony, Cyrene was founded in northeastern Libya around 631 BC by emigrants from the Aegean isle of Thera. It came under Roman rule in 96 BC and remained a great capital until an earthquake in AD 365. Its treasures include temples dedicated to Apollo, Demeter and Zeus but, along with four other sites, it was marked as under threat in 2016 due to damage caused by the conflict affecting Libya.

The Old Town of Ghadamès – fondly known as “the Pearl of the Desert” – is one of the oldest pre-Saharan cities and is held up as a glittering example of a traditional dwelling here. But in 2016, Ghadamès – along with Libya’s other World Heritage Sites – was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger because of damage caused by the conflict and future perils.

The Roman ruins of Leptis Magna, on Libya’s Mediterranean coast, are considered among the finest Roman remains in the world. Still, though, they're a mere echo of the former city, which was replete with a harbour, homes and grand public monuments, and was the birthplace of Roman emperor Septimius Severus. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and also added to the danger list in 2016.

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Founded as a Phoenician trading post on the Mediterranean coast, Sabratha was also part of the Numidian Kingdom of Massinissa. Then, the city was a Roman colony during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, around 165–166 BC. Sadly, though, the complex of Roman temples and mosaics has suffered looting and been the site of fighting in recent years. It was classified as under threat by UNESCO in 2016.

On the borders of Tassili N'Ajjer in Algeria (also a World Heritage Site), the vast desert landscape of Tadrart Acacus is home to one of the world’s most significant rock art sites. It features thousands of cave paintings and engravings, dating from 12,000 BC to AD 100. According to UNESCO: “they reflect marked changes in the fauna and flora, and also the different ways of life of the populations that succeeded one another in this region of the Sahara." It joined the danger list in 2016.

Madagascar’s Atsinanana Rainforests, which are made up of six national parks, are well-known for their biodiversity and threatened, rare species, including lemurs and primates. But the rainforests are in danger: illegal logging and the hunting of endangered lemurs is threatening the integrity of the site. Wildfires, mining and other illegal activities were also deemed to be a serious threat by UNESCO.

One of the oldest towns of sub-Saharan Africa, the Old Town of Djenné has been inhabited since 250 BC. Nearly 2,000 of its original mud-walled houses have survived, and its mosque and other historic buildings were designated a World Heritage site in 1988 for being "representative of Islamic architecture in sub-Saharan Africa". It was inscribed on the danger list in 2016 due to insecurity affecting the area.

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Set on the Niger River is this 55-foot (17m) mud-brick pyramidal structure, which was constructed by Askia Mohamed, the Emperor of Songhai, in the 15th century. The site, which was recognised by UNESCO in 2004, also includes two flat-roofed mosques, a cemetery and a square. The Tomb of Askia is now used as a mosque and cultural centre by the people of Gao, but was marked as endangered in 2012 due to conflict-related damage.

Timbuktu is one of Africa’s most historically significant cities, home to the Koranic Sankore University and other madrasas. In fact, its three great mosques are said to “recall Timbuktu's golden age”. However, despite being continuously restored, these monuments are under threat: armed conflict in the region and the illegal trafficking of cultural objects by looters and dealers are just some of the dangers that Timbuktu faces.

The imminent extinction of the vaquita – an endemic porpoise in Mexico’s Gulf of California tipped by WWF as the world’s rarest marine mammal – has seen the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger for 2019. Despite Mexico's steps to protect them, which have included promoting fishing alternatives to gillnets (the main cause of their demise), only about 10 vaquita remain today. This is compared to nearly 300 in 2005.

Upwards of 100 islets off the coast of Pohnpei, which house the ruins of stone palaces and tombs, make up the site of Nan Madol in Eastern Micronesia. Dating from AD 1200 to 1500, they were the ceremonial hub of the Saudeleur dynasty and, according to UNESCO, they reveal a great deal about “the complex social and religious practices of the Pacific island societies of the period”. In 2016, Nan Madol was listed "in danger" due to mangrove overgrowth, storm surge and stonework collapse.

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Ténéré, within the Sahara Desert, is a vast sweep of sand that stretches right from north-eastern Niger into western Chad. In fact, it's the largest protected area in the continent at 7,736,000 hectares. The natural reserves are home to an array of plants and animals, including three threatened species of antelopes. The site was inscribed on the danger list in 1992 for a variety of reasons including political instability, poaching and grazing. 

The old city of Hebron in the West Bank, which includes a site of pilgrimage for three religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – was recognised as a Palestinian World Heritage Site in 2017: a decision that was met with fury from Israel. The Tomb of the Patriarchs as it is known to Jews, or al-Ibrahimi Mosque as it known to Muslims, is revered by all three religions as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's burial place. The historic centre was also placed on the endangered list due to conflicts.

This series of ancient terraces, planted with grapevines and olives, have been used to cultivate Battir since antiquity. The local practices of this Palestinian village involve agricultural towers and a complex irrigation system, and represent some of the world's most ancient and fascinating farming techniques. They became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and were simultaneously added to the World Heritage in Danger list in 2014, as a separation wall had begun construction. This, UNESCO said, would isolate farmers "from fields they have cultivated for centuries”.

The 17th and 18th-century military fortifications on Panama’s Caribbean coast are described as: “a masterpiece of human creative genius” by UNESCO, and comprised part of a defensive system built by the Spanish. The structures were especially important since Portobelo was a key trading port. It’s been deemed as at risk since 2012, due to a variety of environmental factors, as well as uncontrolled urban sprawl and a lack of maintenance and management.

Capital of the ancient Chimu Kingdom before it fell to the Incas, Chan Chan was an enormous earthen city in pre-Columbian America. The incredible settlement is “an absolute masterpiece of town planning”, according to UNESCO. But it’s extremely fragile and vulnerable to decay and deterioration as a result of environmental events, including those caused by El Niño. The property has been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 1986 and, despite the various protections in place, it continues to be at risk.

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The largest national park in Senegal is located on the banks of the Gambia River and home to an array of species including Derby elands, lions and a large population of elephant. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in danger in 2007, due to insufficient resources to protect the wildlife from poaching, plus the premature drying up of ponds and their invasion by plants.

Four Serbian Orthodox monasteries that “reflect the high points of the Byzantine-Romanesque ecclesiastical culture” make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kosovo. The interiors of Dečani monastery, Patriarchal Monastery of Peć, Our Lady of Ljeviš and Gračanica monastery are adorned with vibrant frescos, a style which developed in the Balkans from the Middle Ages. It's on the World Heritage in Danger list due to conservation difficulties, stemming from the region's political instability.

Rennell Island, in the southernmost area of the Solomon Islands, is tipped as the biggest raised coral atoll on the planet. It's home to East Rennell and former lagoon Lake Tegano, which is studded with little limestone islets and a haven for endemic species such as a rare sea snake. In 2013, the island was listed "in danger" because of “the limited ability of traditional owners to adequately protect and manage the natural values and resources of the property to World Heritage standards”.

Syria has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all of which have either been destroyed or severely damaged as a result of the ongoing conflict in the country. They were all placed on the list in 2013 when tensions escalated. One of these sites is the ancient city of Aleppo, including the Umayyad Mosque, the Citadel, mosques, churches, museums and other significant historic buildings. UNESCO estimates that 60% of the old city of Aleppo has been severely damaged, with 30% totally destroyed.

This ancient city was once the capital of the Roman province of Arabia and a stop-off point for pilgrims on the route to Mecca. The site is steeped in history and included a 2nd-century Roman theatre, early Christian ruins and several mosques. As a result of the ongoing civil war, fighting has caused irreparable damage to much of this culturally rich place.

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Syria’s capital, Damascus, is one of the oldest continually-inhabited cities in the world. Its incredible history and the many different civilisations that created it (Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic) are reflected in some 125 monuments scattered around the city. Among the most impressive are the 8th-century Great Mosque of the Umayyads and the Citadel of Damascus. Damascus has been deeply affected by the war, with many of its most important monuments damaged.

A remarkable group of 40 villages, situated across eight parks in northwestern Syria, were given UNESCO World Heritage Status due to the insights they provide of rural life in late antiquity and during the Byzantine period. They were abandoned between the 8th to 10th centuries, but the remains are incredibly well preserved. Sadly, numerable damage has occurred since the war began, particularly to the 5th-century Byzantine Church of Saint Simeon during an air strike in 2016. 

These two castles, located around a two-hour drive from each other in west Syria, are important examples of fortified architecture during the Byzantine, Crusader and Islamic periods (between the 11th and 13th centuries). Crac des Chevaliers (pictured), built between 1142 and 1271, is one of the best-preserved Crusader castles in existence today. While Qal’at Salah El-Din is partly in ruins, it still retains Byzantine features as well as additions made to the castle in the 12th and 13th centuries. There's need to protect the monuments from the development of nearby cities and construction of illegal buildings close to the sites.

The desert ruins of Palmyra, which combine Greco-Roman and Persian architecture, made up one of the ancient world’s most valuable cultural centres, renowned for its beauty. Palmyra has faced repeated attacks, but the precious site was extensively damaged during Isis’ occupation in 2015. UNESCO called the destruction of the ruins a “war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity”.

Uganda’s Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi, in Kampala City, is the major spiritual site for the Baganda, Uganda’s largest ethnic group. It is the burial ground for the previous four kings and a centre for preserving traditional and cultural practices. In 2010, the site was ravaged by a fire which almost completely destroyed the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga building, the main structure here. Made of wood, reeds, bark cloth and dry grass, it contained four royal Buganda tombs. The building was fully restored in 2022.

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Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Africa. However, widespread poaching has threatened the stability of the game reserve, destroying its wildlife populations. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982 but added to the danger list in 2014 when UNESCO reported that the number of elephants and rhinoceros dropped by almost 90% in those 32 years.

Located in southern Florida, Everglades National Park is home to a huge number of birds, reptiles and threatened species including the manatee, American crocodile and Florida panther. In 2010, the World Heritage Committee deemed the park to be endangered because of serious degradation of its aquatic ecosystem. The condition is continuing, with reduced water inflows, increasing pollution, a loss of marine habitat and a subsequent decline in marine species.

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Located on the Silk Road in southern Uzbekistan, this 2,000-year-old city was the cultural and political centre of the Temurids in the 15th and 16th centuries. It’s significant for its collection of exceptional monuments and ancient quarters, which tell of the city's secular development. As well as parts of its medieval walls, the Ak-Sarai Palace, tomb of Temur and Chor-su bazaar are some of the centre's impressive remains. Shakhrisyabz was listed “in danger” in 2016 due to the over-development of tourist infrastructure within the site.

The pretty town and port of Coro in Venezuela dates from the earliest years of Spanish colonisation on the Caribbean coast of South America. It is noted by UNESCO for having usual earthen architecture with buildings displaying “unique examples of traditional mud building techniques”. It became an endangered site in 2005 due to damage inflicted by unusually heavy rains in late 2004 and early 2005.

The second of Yemen's four places on the danger list is former capital (from 13th-15th centuries) Zabid, known for having the highest concentration of mosques in the country, including the world's fifth oldest. Zabid has also played a significant role in the Arab and Muslim world for centuries. Its sandy-coloured streets, traditional minarets and houses are fine examples of the architectural style of the early years of Islam. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and placed on the danger list in 2000, with neglect, poverty and conflict within Yemen's government all to blame.

Famed for its distinctive multi-storied buildings, constructed of “rammed earth” and decorated with geometric patterns, Yemen’s capital is one of the oldest and highest cities in the world. The old city is packed full of exceptional examples of Islamic and Ottoman architecture, which sadly have sustained serious damage due to civil unrest and Saudi-led air strikes. The old city was declared in danger by UNESCO in 2015.

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Nicknamed "the Manhattan of the desert", the 16th-century city of Shibam, surrounded by a wall, is hailed by UNESCO as "one of the oldest and best examples of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction”. But the city is under threat due to armed conflict in the country. UNESCO placed the city on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2015, with the director-general Irina Bokova saying: “In addition to causing terrible human suffering, these attacks are destroying Yemen’s unique cultural heritage."

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