Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp Among New Additions to Join UNESCO World Heritage List

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – The Okefenokee Swamp in GeorgiaAn ornate 13th-century Buddhist temple in Thailand and tidal flats in western South Korea were among several sites added to the World Heritage List on Saturday at a UN committee meeting in South Korea.

of UNESCO meetings in Busan, which continue until next Wednesday, are considering dozens of other nominations, including D-day landing beaches in France, Mount Olympus in Greece and the ancient Japanese capitals of Asuka-Fujiwara.

The Okefenokee Swamp boasts impressive biodiversity

The Okefenokee Marsh is considered one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the world, comprising an extensive network of wetlands that supports incredible biodiversity and serves as the source of two major rivers. Its largely undisturbed peat beds preserve a 5,000-year record of environmental change, making the marsh a globally important natural habitat and a valuable source of information on long-term environmental change, according to a UNESCO description.

While the World Heritage designation places the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge alongside iconic US landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, some locals have opposed the listingfor fear that it would increase the involvement of the UN in the management of the site.

“We accept this inscription not as a finish line, but as a commitment to keep the Okefenokee wild, resilient and thriving for generations to come,” said Kim Bednarek, executive director of Okefenokee Swamp Park. worked with the US government in the shelter nomination packet.

A 13th-century Thai Buddhist temple with unique architecture makes the list

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihana 13th-century Buddhist temple in southern Thailand known for its 78-meter (255-foot) stupa and distinctive architecture was also inscribed on the World Heritage List, becoming Thailand’s ninth site.

UNESCO has described the temple as an outstanding example of Theravada Buddhist architecture that remains a vibrant place of worship, preserving religious traditions that attract large gatherings of devotees. The temple was first proposed to UNESCO in 2012 and has undergone more than a decade of preparation to meet the nomination requirements.

While the World Heritage listing is expected to dramatically increase visitors to the temple, Kanop Ketchart, mayor of Nakhon Si Thammarat city, said officials are prepared to address potential infrastructure and capacity challenges.

“We have prepared our infrastructure, buffer zoning and evacuation plan to fit all UNESCO requirements,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press this month. “Most importantly, people have been getting used to this whole process for almost 10 years. So they’re looking forward to (it).

Religious, environmental and historical sites join the World Heritage List

Sarnath, an ancient Buddhist site in the northern Indian city of Varanasi, was another Asian religious site recently added to the World Heritage List. Known as the holy place where the Buddha gave his first sermon, the site’s architectural and archaeological properties remain deeply significant despite periods of decline and revival, UNESCO said.

The committee also decided to expand the World Heritage list of South Korea’s “getball” tidal flats with four additional coastal wetlands in Seosan, Goheung, Muan and Yeosu in the west of the country. UNESCO had previously inscribed four other South Koreans tidal flats in 2021 for their biodiversity and crucial role as a stopover for migratory birds.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said the expanded designation of tidal flats “reaffirms the importance of international cooperation to conserve the ecosystem of the Yellow Sea and the East Asia-Australasia Flyway,” a major migratory bird route that stretches from the Arctic through Asia to Australia and New Zealand.

Another new addition to the World Heritage List was the old porcelain craft industry sites in the eastern Chinese city of Jingdezhen. The sites trace the evolution of handmade porcelain production in China from the 10th to the 19th century, showcasing the innovations that helped make Jingdezhen a major center for fine porcelain, with its blue and white porcelain becoming a global symbol of Chinese craftsmanship, according to UNESCO.

The Indian Ocean island nation of Comoros secured its first World Heritage listing after the committee marked six historic cities dating back to the 11th century that later emerged as the main urban centers of the country’s sultanates. UNESCO says the cities reflect centuries of cultural exchange through Indian Ocean trade networks, preserving distinct urban traditions shaped by African, Arab and Islamic influences.

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By KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press