HELSINKI, Finland (15 Dec 2001) -- Two island groups and lying more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) off Brazil's Atlantic coast were designated a World Heritage Site today, when the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed six new natural sites on the prestigious World Heritage List. The Fernando de Norhonha and Atol das Rocas archipelagos are exceptionally rich with marine life. Their waters are vital breeding and feeding areas for tuna, sharks, marine mammals and sea turtles, including endangered species such as the hawksbill turtle. The islands are inhabited by the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Baia de Golfinhos supports unusual numbers of resident spinner dolphins, while the Rocas Atoll provides a spectacular seascape of lagoons and tidal pools teeming with fish. To reach this isolated marine treasure trove, just head for the far northern Brazilian city of Recife, then turn right and fly for an hour and a half straight out into the Atlantic. Adding to the solitude are strict rules already imposed by the Brazilian environment ministry: 70 percent of the archipelago is already national park, and the number of visitors may never exceed 420 at any given time. The archipelagos comprise one of the few remaining fully intact island ecosystems to be found in the tropical western Atlantic. Lush green mountainsides roll down to sheer rocky cliffs, which themselves fall onto wide sandy beaches that have known neither condo nor cabana. And beneath the waves floats a paradise of coral, fish, manta rays, and lemon sharks. Each new dive site offers new possibilities. Laje dos dois Irmaos is known for its coral. Ilha do Frade is the place to see rock formations and manta rays. Early in the morning, if you're looking for something scenic above the surface, wander over to the Baia dos Golfinhos just after dawn to watch 2,000 spinner dolphins gather in pods to feed and frolic in the morning sunshine. The Brazilian government says it will adopt a series of measures to guarantee the preservation of these areas while at the same time promoting "sustainable development", mainly through eco-tourism. Status as a World heritage Site should help in conservation efforts, providing international recognition of the value of these areas and wide support for sensible protective measures. | | Brazil's new World Heritage Site In a related action, the Committee also approved expansion of the Galapagos Islands World Heritage site to include the Galapagos Marine Reserve, which adds an additional 133,000 square kilometers (5,135 square miles) to the existing site. Located at the confluence of three Pacific Ocean currents 620 miles west of South America, the waters around Ecuador's Galapagos Islands are rich with marine species. Unusual animal life such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise and the many types of finches developed, inspiring Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, following his visit in 1835. With the prestige of World Heritage listing comes responsibility, says the IUCN - The World Conservation Union, which acts as the Advisory Body for natural heritage to the World Heritage Committee. "The underlying principle is that sites that are inscribed on the list become the heritage of all the world's people," the IUCN says. "Therefore, national governments, under the principles of sovereignty, have a responsibility to protect these sites for humankind, yet all the signatories to the Convention undertake to help the individual countries protect their World Heritage sites." © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
