New World Heritage Site list - 9th August 2021

The United Nations' UNESCO World Heritage Committee has updated its list of World Heritage sites at its annual meeting.

As the 2020 meeting had been postponed due to Covid-19, the cultural body needed to assess 255 sites, including the Great Barrier Reef and Venice. To maintain their World Heritage status, occupants of the list must adhere to specific criteria. The Grand Canyon reveals history about how the Earth has developed. The Taj Mahal is celebrated for its exceptional beauty. The team evaluates whether the sites listed have been conserved and still deserve World Heritage status.

Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City is now considered unworthy of the award. On the list for almost two decades thanks to its stunning, historic waterfront, the UK site was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2012. This was due to proposed development which the committee considers "detrimental". These plans have since gone ahead.

Meanwhile, one of Europe's most famous streets, the Paseo del Prado in Madrid, has been added to the list. Along with the nearby Retiro Park, the tree-lined avenue features several prominent monuments and statues. Home to several prestigious buildings, including the Prado Museum, UNESCO described the Paseo del Prado as a landscape of arts and sciences.

The first boulevard opened to all rather than reserved for the upper classes, it features structures decorated with historic marble sculptures. It also contains the Plaza de Cibeles, which the committee identified as "an iconic symbol of the city".

In a statement, Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez highlighted the historical significance of the area, saying the recognition was 'deserved'.