UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is an agency of the United Nations with its purpose to contribute to peace and security by promoting science, culture and education.. UNESCO overseas many different projects but the one I want to concentrate on is their involvement in World Heritage Sites.
UNESCO assists in protecting World Heritage Sites, these are sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance. There are just over 1000 listed sites across 195 member states with Italy ranking the highest with 51 sites. These sites fall under the categories cultural, natural and mixed.
Recently the organisation has been criticised as recent events in Syria led to the destruction of ancient sites and there was little they could do to stop it. Its not only these factors that effect World Heritage Sites. Though the site is protected the area surrounding it is often over developed to accommodate the amount of tourists that UNESCO World Heritage Site label brings.
Does the UNESCO label effect your travel decisions? Is visiting a World Heritage Site important to you?
UNESCO Gallery
Our Shadows Will Remain 
I want to visit them all!
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