© Steve Morello / WWF
World Heritage sites, the pinnacle of Earth’s most protected areas, contain some of the planet’s most treasured species. Many are home to large populations of rare plants and animals, including almost a third of all remaining wild tigers, and 40 per cent of all African elephants.
Despite the protection given to World Heritage sites and their wildlife, poaching, illegal logging and illegal fishing occur in more than 25% of all natural and mixed World Heritage sites.