The report, People and Nature in UNESCO-Designated Sites, assesses UNESCO’s network of 2 260 protected territories as a single system for the first time, spanning more than 13 million square kilometres, an area larger than China and India combined. The report notes that while global wildlife populations have declined by 73% since the 1970s, biodiversity within UNESCO-designated sites has “held its ground” in many locations, positioning these areas as critical buffers against environmental collapse.
UNESCO Director‑General Khaled El‑Enany said the results show protected sites deliver tangible benefits for people and nature. The report describes UNESCO sites as a “fortress for biodiversity”, hosting more than 60% of all mapped species, with four in ten species found in these areas occurring nowhere else.
Beyond biodiversity protection, UNESCO says the sites play a significant role in climate stability. The network stores an estimated 240 gigatons of carbon, roughly equivalent to nearly 20 years of current global emissions. The report warns that destruction of these ecosystems could release massive carbon stores back into the atmosphere, undermining climate goals.
The report also emphasises the human dimension of conservation. UNESCO-designated sites are home to nearly 900 million people, around one in ten globally. More than 1 000 languages are documented across these territories, while about a quarter overlap with Indigenous Peoples’ lands, rising to nearly 50% in Africa and Latin America.
Economic activity is also substantial. UNESCO estimates that about 10% of global gross domestic product is generated within or around these zones, reinforcing the argument that conservation and prosperity can align.
However, the report warns the network is under mounting pressure. Nearly 90% of sites face intense environmental stress, while climate-related hazards such as fires and floods have increased by 40% over the past decade. UNESCO cautions that by 2050, one in four sites could reach a “tipping point” without stronger action.
UNESCO is calling for accelerated ecosystem restoration, cross-border coordination for migratory wildlife, and expanded leadership by local communities and Indigenous Peoples to safeguard these sites as strategic assets for climate and development.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
