Mark Azzopardi’s Post

The Flow Country has just achieved inscription status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the first peatland WHS anywhere. It is Scotland’s first WHS inscribed for purely natural criteria, and the first in mainland UK for the global importance of its natural ecosystems! This area of Caithness and Sutherland in northern Scotland, covering nearly 2,000 sq km, is one of the world's most extensive and intact blanket bog systems. Recognised for its outstanding cultural, historical, and scientific significance, the designation by UNESCO places it among 121 landscapes globally. The Flow Country spans 4,000 sq km, including pools, lochs, hills, and mountains, supporting diverse species such as sphagnum mosses, rare birds, and carnivorous plants. Formed over millennia, the peat bogs are crucial for carbon storage, containing up to 400 million tonnes of carbon. https://lnkd.in/e_Uf8_M4

Approximately 10km off the coast of Peniche, a popular seaside town in central Portugal, lies the Berlengas islands, one of the world’s first nature reserves and since 2011 a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The islands exemplify the successful integration of natural ecosystems and cultural preservation.  The reserve is vital for protecting local biodiversity, hosting numerous unique bird species like the Berlenga Guillemot, and the endemic plant Armeria berlengensis, both now critically endangered. Key conservation efforts include creating exclusion areas to protect A. berlengensis from predatory birds, and removing invasive species like Carpobrotus edulis, a coastal invader plant, rats, and rabbits. These actions have significantly aided the recovery of native species and the overall health of the ecosystem. Amidst this natural beauty stands the Fort of São João Baptista, dating back to the 17th century. The fort was built using the remnants of a former monastery, the Monastery of the Misericórdia da Berlenga, which had previously been abandoned. Construction began under the rule of John IV of Portugal when the need for improved coastal defense was recognized, leading to the decision to demolish the monastery ruins to erect the fort. Its preservation underscores the importance of maintaining historical sites alongside natural habitats, reflecting a holistic approach to heritage conservation.  #BerlengasIslands #ConservationEfforts #HistoricalPreservation #NatureReserve #BiodiversityProtection #CulturalHeritage #Peniche #VisitPortugal https://lnkd.in/dKVvCu49

"Our cultural practices are tied to our traditional Country and protecting this means that our traditions, stories, and connection to the land can remain strong for future generations."—Kuuku Ya'u Elder, Gregory Pascoe. Yesterday the Australian and Queensland governments, alongside a number of Traditional Owners from the region, announced some areas of Cape York Peninsula have been submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Cape York Peninsula is home to extremely rich, complex cultural landscapes which have been vital to and sustained by Traditional Owners for tens of thousands of years. Cape York is also a biodiversity hotspot being home to 18.5% of Australian plant species, despite only being 3% of the continental landmass. The Cape also provides habitat for over 300 threatened species including the green sawfish, Cape York rock wallaby, and southern cassowary. The submission for tentative listing is a first but welcome step towards recognising the globally significant cultural and natural heritage of the Cape, and its universal importance for future generations and the environment. Read more👇 https://lnkd.in/gEhtsDGn #Capeyork #UNESCO #WorldHeritage #biodiversity #queensland

🌳 The European Day of Parks honours the incredible natural and cultural heritage preserved in our protected areas, by safeguarding biodiversity with #parks that are home to numerous rare and endangered species. Learn some fascinating facts 🕰️ Oldest park: the first national park in Europe, established in 1909, is #Sweden's Sarek National Park, known for its stunning mountain landscapes and diverse wildlife. ↔️ Largest park: Vatnajökull National Park in #Iceland is the largest national park in Europe, covering about 14,141 square kilometres, encompassing glaciers, volcanic landscapes, and geothermal features. 📌 UNESCO Sites: many European parks are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites, recognised for their outstanding natural and cultural values. Parks are not just refuges for wildlife but also vital for our well-being, offering clean air, water, and opportunities for recreation and inspiration. ➡️ Learn about this initiative by the EUROPARC Federation at https://lnkd.in/gQi3pe2H #ECOSN2K #EuropeanDayOfParks #ProtectOurPlanet #EcoSport

🏔️ Mountains and Heritage-Making: Balancing Conservation and Cultural Preservation In recent years, mountain regions have gained significant recognition as both cultural and natural heritage. This global trend, championed by Western countries and Eastern Asia, has been institutionalized by organizations like UNESCO, ICCROM, and IUCN. The goal? To protect these precious landscapes and traditional practices, while fostering social cohesion within mountain communities. Heritage designation offers incredible benefits, from the creation of national parks to the safeguarding of cultural traditions. It also promotes sustainable tourism that supports local economies, as seen in successful examples like Australia’s Uluru and the inscription of Alpinism as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. These initiatives show how heritage-making can tackle contemporary challenges like climate change while preserving the essence of mountain traditions. However, there are challenges, including over-tourism, cultural commodification, and the disruption of traditional systems. As highlighted in a new policy brief, careful planning and community engagement are essential. The brief, featuring insights from GEDT members Prof. Bernard D. and Peter Bille Larsen, stresses the importance of local knowledge in creating policies that harmonize heritage preservation with the livelihoods of mountain communities. https://lnkd.in/eX_f8EEA #CulturalHeritage #MountainConservation #SustainableTourism #ISE #UNESCO #Alpinism #LocalCommunities

Celebrating Heritage Day: Embracing Our Culture and the Oceans that Define Us Today, as we commemorate Heritage Day, we are reminded of the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that shape our identities. This day serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of connecting with our roots and honoring the diverse stories that make up our communities. As we reflect on the importance of this day I am reminded of the role our Oceans play in our heritage. In our Xhosa culture we call the Ocean Inkudla Ka Gqumayo loosely translated as the Krall of those that Cover us. Our oceans are not just vast bodies of water; they are an integral part of our heritage. They serve as a source of sustenance, inspiration, and connectivity across generations. Each wave carries stories of our ancestors, their struggles, triumphs, and the cultural practices that have been passed down through time. From fishing traditions to coastal celebrations, these practices highlight the deep bond between community and the marine environment. As we celebrate our diverse heritages today, let us also recognize our responsibility to preserve these vital ecosystems. Protecting our oceans is not only about safeguarding the biodiversity within them but also about sustaining the cultural practices that depend on marine resources. By promoting awareness and taking meaningful action, we can ensure that future generations can continue to celebrate their heritage in ways that honor both culture and the ocean. Let’s come together to cherish our cultural legacies and commit ourselves to preserving the beauty of our oceans. Together, we can create a sustainable future where history, culture, and nature thrive side by side. #HeritageDay #CulturalHeritage #Oceans #Sustainability #PreserveOurOceans #CelebrateCulture

one step closer to make peatlands real main characters in the mitigation of climate change.

Have you ever wondered how many cultural and natural landmarks are deemed so crucial that they need to be preserved for future generations? The UNESCO World Heritage List includes over 1,100 sites around the globe. These are places of outstanding universal value to humanity, ranging from ancient ruins and architectural masterpieces to nature reserves and biospheres.

It’s difficult to put into words how happy this makes me! I spent years of my childhood living in Caithness and my family on the maternal side comes from a wee village in Sutherland. The power of pride in heritage is unmatched! And this recognition of the Flow Country as a World Heritage site is a landmark achievement for the celebration of natural heritage in Scotland. This country has some of the most beautiful blue-green spaces in the world - a biased statement of course but our natural landscapes are such a massive part of our history in how the clans lived, our present in how Scotland’s beauty is appreciated and our future in how we safeguard our survival in the midst of the climate and biodiversity crises. This status will deliver untold benefits for our country: 🌍 Peatland is the strongest carbon sink we have - protection of peatland will prevent catastrophic release of CO2 and enhancing it will capture even more. 🦋 This will ensure the protection and expansion of habitats for wildlife and increase the biodiversity which is vital to so many of the systems on which we rely. 🖼️ This will safeguard the Highlands’ connection to its history during a time which is obsessed with growth and grey, concrete development. 💪🏼 The conservation and landscape restoration will require training, skills development and job creation in a sector which will only explode in demand once it’s realised how vital this work is for our survival, meaning people who are trained up will have outstanding opportunities. When there are challenges and you feel like you’re banging your head against the wall, these kinds of stories provide the energy to keep going and have faith that we as humans will be able to rise to this challenge as long as we dare to try! Especially in a country which is famous for its inventions and innovations 🙏🏼

Through habitat restoration, species reintroductions, and research, all underpinned by ecotourism, they restored 67,000 acres of land and created South Africa's third-largest protected area. Learn about the Samara Story here: https://ow.ly/LHw850QIajb #rewilding #conservationoptimism