Endangered beauties: Iconic buildings of kyiv and Lviv added to UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list
In a context of conflict and Russian invasion in Ukraine, certain emblematic sites of kyiv and Lviv have been included on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage in Danger. This decision aims to raise public awareness and mobilize additional financial and technical resources to preserve these threatened historic buildings. At the same time, the famous Italian city of Venice, faced with climatic and tourist problems, narrowly escaped this list.
The Saint Sophia Cathedral in kyiv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is now in danger. Associated monastic buildings, as well as the historic center of the city of Lviv, have also been added to the list of World Heritage in Danger. These sites are considered “threatened with destruction” due to the Russian invasion and resulting bombing. They are vulnerable to shock waves caused by attacks and risk losing their Outstanding Universal Value.
The decision to add these sites to the list of World Heritage in Danger was taken during the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This list now includes 56 sites, ranging from the archaeological remains of Jam in Afghanistan to the historic city of Zabid in Yemen. All these sites face various threats such as armed conflicts, natural disasters, pollution and the uncontrolled development of tourism.
The inclusion of these sites on the list of World Heritage in Danger allows the World Heritage Committee to provide them with immediate assistance, both financially and technically, through the World Heritage Fund. This assistance aims to preserve the exceptional universal value of these buildings and to guarantee their protection in optimal conditions.
In the case of Ukrainian sites, optimal protection conditions are no longer met due to the ongoing conflict. Their situation meets the criteria for “endangerment” defined by UNESCO, which encompasses specific and established imminent threats that could harm global heritage value. The damage caused by the war in Ukraine is estimated at more than 2.4 billion euros, and it is estimated that 6.9 billion dollars will need to be invested for reconstruction and preservation of cultural heritage in the next ten years .
The inclusion of these Ukrainian sites on the list of world heritage in danger is therefore a call for international help to safeguard these architectural and cultural treasures threatened by the Russian invasion. It is also a way of highlighting the importance of preserving world heritage, which reflects the history and cultural diversity of our planet..
At the same time, the city of Venice narrowly escaped being included on the list of world heritage in danger. Although facing major challenges such as global warming and overtourism, Venice has managed to put in place preservation and conservation measures to protect its unique heritage. However, this decision highlights the importance of responsible and sustainable tourism management and environmental preservation for World Heritage sites.
In conclusion, the decision to add the buildings of Kiev and Lviv to UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list highlights the challenges faced by historic sites in times of conflict and instability. She calls for international mobilization to preserve these threatened cultural treasures. It is essential to recognize the importance of preserving world heritage and to work together to ensure its protection for future generations.