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Australian Consulate-General, Guangzhou
Media Release PD18/07 Date: 29/06/2007
Australia Gives UN $500,000 to Protect Asia-Pacific World Heritage Sites
Australia is to give $500,000 to the UN to identify, protect and promote World Heritage sites in the Asia Pacific region.
Australia’s Assistant Minister for the Environment, Mr John Cobb, said the funding to the UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Centre would go towards a range of activities.
Marking the 2007 World Heritage Committee meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, Mr Cobb said that the $500,000 also celebrated a partnership to conserve places of outstanding universal significance in the region.
“The funding was made through a special Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO, signed in 2002, in which Australia had pledged to take a leadership role on World Heritage issues in the Asia-Pacific.
“Through the Asia-Pacific Focal Point we’ve been able to support a special website for World Heritage managers, on-ground activities in countries including Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam and a variety of other practical initiatives,” Mr Cobb said.
“The $500,000 funding package will go towards similar partnership projects, including best practice management for listed properties and the sharing of information and experiences,” he added.
Details on the projects would be released later and Mr Cobb said that more than 800 World Heritage locations on the list were as unique and diverse as the Egyptian Pyramids, India’s Taj Mahal and America’s Yellowstone National Park.
“In the Asia-Pacific region more than 120 sites were listed, including Sumatra’s tropical rainforests and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
“These places go beyond national borders and identities - as does Australia’s role as a signatory to the World Heritage Convention.
“Australia is proud to be working with the global community to look after these exceptional sites around the world,” Mr Cobb said.
For further information, contact Ellen Chen, Public Affairs Officer on（020）3814 0183.