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| Unesco to decide heritage sites | Unesco to decide heritage sites |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UN's cultural organisation Unesco is meeting in New Zealand to discuss which sites to add to the list of most valuable natural or manmade treasures. | The UN's cultural organisation Unesco is meeting in New Zealand to discuss which sites to add to the list of most valuable natural or manmade treasures. |
| Around 45 sites are in competition to be added to the World Heritage list. | Around 45 sites are in competition to be added to the World Heritage list. |
| The committee will also decide if any heritage sites are in danger from war, tourism, overdevelopment or neglect. | The committee will also decide if any heritage sites are in danger from war, tourism, overdevelopment or neglect. |
| Those that could be deemed endangered include the Tower of London, the Galapagos Islands, Dresden in Germany and Machu Picchu in Peru. | Those that could be deemed endangered include the Tower of London, the Galapagos Islands, Dresden in Germany and Machu Picchu in Peru. |
| The committee is also expected to reach an opinion on controversial Israeli excavations near the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. | The committee is also expected to reach an opinion on controversial Israeli excavations near the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. |
| SITES BIDDING FOR HERITAGE LISTING Corfu, GreeceBordeaux, FranceVolcanic island of Jeju, South KoreaSydney's Opera HouseGamzigrad-Romuliana, Serbia | SITES BIDDING FOR HERITAGE LISTING Corfu, GreeceBordeaux, FranceVolcanic island of Jeju, South KoreaSydney's Opera HouseGamzigrad-Romuliana, Serbia |
| The committee will consider bids from 39 different countries in its week-long meeting in Christchurch. | The committee will consider bids from 39 different countries in its week-long meeting in Christchurch. |
| "Each site is visited by a team of experts who assess the management plan presented by the authorities," Unesco spokeswomen Sue William said. | "Each site is visited by a team of experts who assess the management plan presented by the authorities," Unesco spokeswomen Sue William said. |
| There are currently 830 sites on the World Heritage List, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, which has been added to regularly since 1972. | There are currently 830 sites on the World Heritage List, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, which has been added to regularly since 1972. |
| Climate fears for sites | Climate fears for sites |
| But deciding which sites to include on the endangered list could prove more important. | But deciding which sites to include on the endangered list could prove more important. |
| Last year Dresden was added to the list, threatened with losing its heritage status if the city went ahead with a controversial modern bridge. | Last year Dresden was added to the list, threatened with losing its heritage status if the city went ahead with a controversial modern bridge. |
| The Galapagos Islands and the Inca city of Machu Picchu could also be under threat from the effects of mass tourism. | The Galapagos Islands and the Inca city of Machu Picchu could also be under threat from the effects of mass tourism. |
| Plans for the construction of a 310m (1,016ft) skyscraper near the Tower of London could also threaten its status. | |
| Unesco is also being lobbied by campaigners calling on it to protect six World Heritage sites from the impact of climate change. | Unesco is also being lobbied by campaigners calling on it to protect six World Heritage sites from the impact of climate change. |
| Groups including Greenpeace and the Climate Justice Programme have been petitioning the body to list the locations, including Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef, as "in danger". | Groups including Greenpeace and the Climate Justice Programme have been petitioning the body to list the locations, including Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef, as "in danger". |