5 Endangered Treasures About to Join World Heritage List

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IUCN just recommended five spectacular natural sites for UNESCO World Heritage status - two countries might get their first-ever listings!

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The Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau hosts crucial nesting grounds for threatened sea turtles and feeds 850,000 migratory birds. What makes this coastal paradise so special?

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Deep in West Africa, Sierra Leone's Gola-Tiwai Complex protects some of the last intact forests where endangered Western Chimpanzees and rare Pygmy Hippopotamuses find refuge.

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Did you know the Giant Huntsman spider has the largest leg span of any spider? Its home in the limestone caves between Vietnam and Laos could soon gain protected status.

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A cross-border conservation effort would unite Vietnam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang with Laos' Hin Nam No, creating one of the world's most impressive protected tropical karst systems.

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South Africa's iSimangaliso Wetland Park may expand into Mozambique's Maputo National Park, strengthening protection for vital coastal wetlands where sea turtles nest and flamingos breed.

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North Korea's dramatic Mount Kumgang features granite peaks and valleys that have inspired centuries of Buddhist art and literature. How do natural sites gain cultural significance?

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"There's a need for greater action on the imbalance of the World Heritage List," says IUCN's Tim Badman. Which regions are most underrepresented?

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While new sites gain recognition, existing Heritage sites face serious threats - Mexico's Monarch Butterfly populations continue dropping despite protected status.

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The final decision comes this July in Paris - which of these five natural wonders will make the prestigious World Heritage List?

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