A survey by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) found that one-third of World Natural Heritage Sites are under threat because of climate change. The study highlights that areas such as the Australian Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world, are already being affected and have been classified as “critical” conservation.

Among the 83 Natural World Heritage Sites that are suffering from climate change are also the Protected Areas of the Cape Floral Region in South Africa, where the change has exacerbated the spread of invasive species; Pantanal Conservation Area in Brazil, which was severely damaged by forest fires; Lake Kluane, located on a World Heritage site in Canada and the United States, which is suffering from the rapid thaw of the Kaskawulsh glacier, a fact that ended up changing the flow of the river, depleting fish populations.

Rodrigo Silva, coordinator of the university degree in Technology in Environmental Management at Centro Universitário Internacional Uninter, explains that these places “are exceptional areas with great cultural and natural value due to their great biological diversity (or biodiversity). In addition, they are regions recognized by UNESCO and whose main function is to preserve this diversity and the traditional populations that live there ”, he says.

According to the professor, climate change is the main environmental problem that will be experienced in the coming decades. “Studies indicate that, until the year 2050, the planet will heat up by about 2 ° C more than today. This means that we will have more floods and floods, changes in the rainfall regime with more severe drought and drought periods, increase in sea and ocean levels as well as an increase in its acidification process, desertification of environments and loss of biodiversity. Obviously, all of this is closely related to huge economic, social and environmental losses ”, he comments.

World Natural Heritage Sites 

The material, which used data from 2014 and 2017, was developed to diagnose whether the conservation of the 252 World Natural Heritage sites is sufficient to protect them in the long term. According to the report, climate change has overtaken invasive species as the main threat to natural World Heritage.

Silva believes that mechanisms for the preservation and conservation of our biodiversity indicate that humanity is on the right path. However, it is necessary that these policies are implemented on a permanent basis and that, in addition, the population also be guided on how to reduce their own ecological footprint.

“As they are sites of very high biodiversity (natural and cultural), these sites are essential for the conservation of this treasure. However, there is a need for effective public policies that positively foster the management process of these areas. In addition, we have to carry out work aimed at citizens' environmental education ”, says Silva.

An alternative presented by the professor is the use of these areas for the development of ecological tourism and, consequently, generation of employment and income for the local populations. "The use of these areas with responsibility and management can be an excellent tool for promoting awareness and sensitization of Brazilian citizens".

Currently, Brazil has seven sites considered as World Natural Heritage Sites. They are: Iguaçu National Park (Foz do Iguaçu / PR and Argentina), Southeast Atlantic Forest Reserves (Paraná and São Paulo), Discovery Coast (Atlantic Forest Reserves, Bahia and Espírito Santo), Protected Areas Complex Central Amazonia, Complex of Protected Areas of the Pantanal (Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul), Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Park (Goiás), Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves .