Hawaii marine reserve may get world heritage status

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Designation of new sites due end of July; Mount Vernon is also on the list

The Pitons, Cirques and Remparts of La Réunion, France, in the Indian Ocean, is another area actively seeking World Heritage status for the conservation and tourism benefits of the designation. Click on the photo for more information. Image courtesy Reunionweb.com.

An endangered Hawaiian monk seal comes ashore at the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawai’i. Photo courtesy the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — By the end of this month, planet Earth will have a few more of its most cherished spots designated as World Heritage sites, recognized internationally for their outstanding natural and cultural values. And this year, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawai’i is one of the candidates for listing. Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate, is the other U.S. candidate this year.

Papahānaumokuākea is the country’s largest marine reserve and has a good chance of making the list, as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) focuses on marine ecosystems. See a YouTube video on the reserve at the end of this story.

“This year … we will launch new studies promoting greater representation of deserts and marine areas on the World Heritage List,” said Tim Badman, IUCN’s Head of World Heritage. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Environment, Marine biology, Summit County Colorado, Travel | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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