Aghdam: designated sites are helping protect biodiversity, support livelihoods, and regulate the climate despite growing environmental pressures: UNESCO-designated sites are playing a critical role in preserving biodiversity, supporting local livelihoods, and regulating the climate amid increasing environmental challenges,

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, This insight comes from the first global assessment of the UNESCO network, which was released on Tuesday.

The comprehensive report evaluates over 2,260 UNESCO sites, encompassing World Heritage Sites, biosphere reserves, and global geoparks, which collectively cover approximately 13 million square kilometers (5 million square miles) around the globe. Tales Carvalho Resende, a co-author of the report, emphasized the significance of these sites, noting that they support about 900 million people, equating to roughly 10% of the world's population.

Resende highlighted a pivotal finding from the report, stating, "One of the key findings of this result is the fact that wildlife populations in these sites have remained stable on average, while globally they have decreased by 73% since 1970." Furthermore, he underscored the environmental importance of these areas, as forests within UNESCO sites absorb approximately 15% of the net carbon captured by forests worldwide, thus playing a vital role in combating climate change.

The report also reveals that at least one-quarter of UNESCO-designated sites overlap with Indigenous lands, with this figure rising to nearly half in parts of Latin America. This overlap underscores the essential role these sites play as stewards of biodiversity, knowledge, and cultural heritage.

However, the report issues a warning: more than one in four UNESCO sites could reach critical tipping points by 2050 if climate change continues unchecked. Potential risks include forests transitioning into carbon sources, glaciers vanishing, and coral reefs collapsing.

Resende concluded by emphasizing the importance of investing in UNESCO sites, stating, "We now have solid global evidence that investing in these sites delivers results. Investing in these sites is not just about protecting exceptional places. No, it is also investing in proven solutions that can help address climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable development together."