The UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger calls for the safeguarding of cultural and natural treasures at risk of being lost forever. Currently, the UN department has catalogued 56 sites that are especially vulnerable thanks to problems including climate change, armed conflict, over-development, poor environmental management or all of the above.

Click through this gallery to see which World Heritage Sites are the most in danger right now...

The Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley – containing fortified buildings from the Islamic period as well as Buddhist monastic sanctuaries – is one of Afghanistan's most significant sites. However, the area has been shaken by political unrest and terrorism throughout the 21st century. In 2001 the two standing Buddha statues – formerly the tallest Buddha carvings in the world – were destroyed by the Taliban. In better news, a third sculpture depicting a sleeping Buddha was rediscovered here in 2008.

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.

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Known for its Baroque mansions and gardens, and its medieval heart, Vienna’s city centre received UNESCO status in 2001. But when a new high-rise project threatened 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."

The city of Potosi, 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 the 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 rhinos, 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, along with 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 Cote 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 land clearances for agriculture have increased. Both Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire are working to protect the property by empowering local communities and promoting transboundary cooperation, UNESCO notes.

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 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 lives 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 range of rare flora and fauna. It's 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. Involving 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 Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve is one of the "few remains of tropical rainforest in Central America" and is home to more than 2,000 Indigenous people. But in 2011, the reserve was placed on the danger list due to multiple threats: illegal logging, fishing, land occupation and poaching. There are also concerns about the ability of the state to manage the site due to high crime and prevalent drug trafficking.

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 and 9th centuries BC. Today, its excavated remnants breathe life into a long-gone era. However, the modern-day city of Qal'at Sherqat made it onto 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 the 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 Islamic State 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.

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.

Also added to the list in 2023 was Lebanon'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 and development proposals that could risk the integrity of the complex.

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 Ghadames – 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 traditional desert dwellings. But in 2016, Ghadames – along with Libya’s other World Heritage Sites – was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger because of damage caused by war and concerns about future conflict.

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 added to the danger list in 2016.

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 in sub-Saharan Africa, the Old Town of Djenne 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 political instability.

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 – saw the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 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.

Tenere, within the Sahara Desert, is a vast sweep of sand that stretches right from northeastern 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 antelope. 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 met with fury from Israel. The Tomb of the Patriarchs as it is known to Jewish people, or al-Ibrahimi Mosque as it is known to Muslims, is revered as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's burial place. The historic centre was also placed on the endangered list due to ongoing conflicts, which have recently become much more volatile.

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 change, including those caused by the El Nino weather pattern. 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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Located in the Apuseni Mountains in western Romania, the Rosia Montana Mining Landscape is famed for the Roman-era gold mining that took place here for 166 years, extracting some 500 tonnes of gold. Mining continued throughout the medieval age and into modernity, but in 2021 the Mining Landscape was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Proposed plans to resume large-scale mining would damage a major part of the site, so UNESCO stepped in to protect it.

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 elephants. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in danger in 2007 due to the insufficient resources available for its protection, 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 this UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kosovo. The interiors of Decani monastery, the Patriarchal Monastery of Pec, Our Lady of Ljevis and Gracanica monastery are adorned with vibrant frescos, in a style that developed in the Balkans during 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 the former lagoon Lake Tegano, which is studded with little limestone islets and is a haven for endemic species including rare sea snakes. In 2013, the island was listed as 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.

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 into rural life in late antiquity and during the Byzantine period. They were abandoned between the 8th and 10th centuries, but the remains are incredibly well preserved. Sadly, devastating 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 particularly damaged during Islamic State’s occupation in 2015. UNESCO called the destruction of the ruins "a war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity". 

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 rhinos dropped by almost 90% in those 32 years.

Founded in the 18th century, Odessa became one of the most important ports and cosmopolitan cities in eastern Europe. But following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 a number of buildings have been damaged by shelling – including the palatial Odessa Museum of Fine Arts and the Odessa Museum of Modern Art – causing the city's historic centre to be added to the endangered list in 2023.

Odessa isn’t the only Ukrainian city to have been caught in the crossfire. As of 10 April 2024, UNESCO has confirmed damage to 351 cultural sites in the country since February 2022. Forty of these lie within the Kyiv region alone, and the Saint-Sophia Cathedral and accompanying monastic complex were added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2023. Built in the 11th century and named after Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, the green and gold-domed cathedral is a Byzantine masterpiece.

Located in western Ukraine, the charming city of Lviv also had parts of its old town listed as endangered by UNESCO in 2023. Founded in the late Middle Ages, Lviv thrived as a cultural and commercial centre for several centuries, and today is a patchwork of architectural eras and styles. From its medieval hilltop castle to its Renaissance and Baroque monasteries and residences, the city’s historic heart remains under threat.

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.

Located on the Silk Road in southern Uzbekistan, this 2,000-year-old city was a cultural and political centre for the Timurids 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-Saray Palace and Chor-su bazaar are among the centre's impressive remains. Shakhrisyabz was listed as 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-storey buildings, constructed with 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 in the last decade due to civil unrest and Saudi-led air strikes. The old city was declared in danger by UNESCO in 2015.

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."

The Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba comprises 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 the lingering threat of destruction from the country’s ongoing civil war, they were placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2023.

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