The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the extension of three natural sites already inscribed on the World Heritage List at the committee's 28th Session, according to a press release issued by the committee here Wednesday night.
Following is a brief introduction of the three sites:
-- St Kilda (UK, first inscribed as a natural site in 1986). The volcanic archipelago, with its spectacular landscapes, is situated off the coast of the Hebrides and comprises the islands of Hirta, Dun, Soay and Boreray. It has some of the highest cliffs in Europe, inhabited by large colonies of rare and endangered species of birds, especially puffins and gannets. The marine area around the archipelago was extended, almost doubling the size of the site.
-- The 14 square kms Inaccessible Island was added to the GoughIsland Wildlife Reserve, first inscribed in 1995. Gough Island, in the South Atlantic. The site now called Gough and Inaccessible Islands is one of the least-disrupted island and marine ecosystems in the cool temperate zone. Dependent on British Tristan da Cunha, midway between the southern tip of Africa and South America, Goughand Inaccessible Islands are among the least-disrupted island and marine ecosystems in the cool temperate zone. The spectacular cliffs of each island, towering above the ocean, are free of introduced mammals and homes to one of the world's largest colonies of sea birds. Gough Island is home to two endemic species of land birds, the gallinule and the Gough rowettie, as well as to12 endemic species of plants, while Inaccessible Island boasts of two birds, eight plants and at least ten invertebrates endemic to the island.
-- The Area de Conservacin Guanacaste (Costa Rica) inscribed in1999, was extended with the addition of a 15,000-ha private property, St Elena. Area de Conservacin Guanacaste contains important natural habitats for the conservation of biological diversity, including the best dry forest habitats from Central America to northern Mexico and key habitats for endangered or rare plant and animal species. The site demonstrates significant ecological processes in both its terrestrial and marine-coastal environments.
(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2004)
