The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is taking place in Busan, South Korea, from July 19 to 29, 2026.

By 2025, 53 World Heritage properties had been placed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger due to armed conflict, climate change and overdevelopment.

Between 2008 and 2024, the World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Initiative brought together more than 200 implementing organizations across 84 countries and regions, engaging over 10,000 volunteers in heritage conservation and promotion.

Their collective efforts have helped safeguard irreplaceable cultural and natural treasures for future generations.

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Graphics: China's growing footprint in the World Heritage landscape