Gaps and opportunities for the World Heritage Convention to contribute to global wilderness conservation

Only about 1.8% of the world's wilderness is protected under UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS), with notable exceptions like the Okavango Delta and Central Suriname Nature Reserve. A global analysis identified significant gaps in wilderness representation across 22 terrestrial biorealms, despite WHS containing some excellent examples. The study used a 'last-of-the-wild' method to map remaining wilderness areas and assessed their coverage under existing protected designations. It also pinpointed 840 large protected areas—predominantly wilderness—that could serve as candidates for future WHS designation, addressing critical biodiversity gaps. The research underscores the urgent need for the World Heritage Convention to prioritize ecological integrity in preserving these irreplaceable landscapes.

Allan, J. R., Kormos, C., Jaeger, T., Venter, O., Bertzky, B., Shi, Y., Mackey, B., van Merm, R., Osipova, E., & Watson, J. E. M. (2017). Gaps and opportunities for the World Heritage Convention to contribute to global wilderness conservation. Conservation Biology, 32(1), 116–126. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12976