Protecting World Heritage Sites with investors
Iin 2015 we collaborated with investors on a joint report for financial institutions, highlighting the threat to natural World Heritage Sites from extractives. The report is based on evidence from WWF’s own analysis and mapping of extractives concession overlaps using data from our new early engagement spatial intelligence tool WWF-SIGHT.
- Almost a third of all natural World Heritage Sites under threat of oil, gas and mining exploration
- Risk rises to almost two thirds for natural World Heritage Sites in Africa
- Investors warned to assess risk of backing extractive companies threatening WHS
In our report Safeguarding Outstanding Natural Value, we describe how almost a third of all natural World Heritage Sites are threatened by oil, gas and mining exploration. This threat rises to an alarming 61 per cent in Africa. Natural World Heritage Sites are places of outstanding natural value, such as the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania.
This assessment, produced by WWF, Aviva Investors and Investec Asset Management, puts the risk at a higher level than previously thought.
The report also brings to light the risk to investors of involvement with extractives companies working in these special places, or who might work here in the future.