A recent UNESCO report warns that more than a quarter of over 2,260 World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Global Geoparks face critical ecological risks if pressures continue to rise. Monitored wildlife populations in these areas, however, have largely remained stable—a contrast to the 73% global decline since 1970.

The report, titled "People and Nature in UNESCO-designated Sites: Global and Local Contributions", was released on April 21. The International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under UNESCO — hosted by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) — served as a key technical contributor.

HIST researchers led two major scientific contributions to the report: the first global assessment of future exposure to extreme climate events across UNESCO-designated sites under different socioeconomic and climate scenarios, and a comprehensive evaluation of biodiversity intactness throughout the network.

Using satellite-based monitoring and spatial modeling, HIST researchers found that more than 60 percent of all globally mapped species are distributed across UNESCO-designated sites. Together, the sites span more than 13 million square kilometers and support around 900 million people, including many Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

The report warned that every 1°C of warming avoided could cut by half the number of sites facing major disruption by 2100. HIST's projections pointed to escalating threats from extreme heat, drought and flooding, while also identifying ecological restoration and integrated management as critical pathways for mitigating future risks.

HIST is the first UNESCO Category 2 center dedicated to applying space technologies to help UNESCO and its member states monitor and protect World Heritage sites, Global Geoparks and Biosphere Reserves.

In April 2025, following an independent evaluation of its contributions to UNESCO, the CAS, on behalf of the Chinese government, signed the Phase III agreement for HIST with UNESCO. The new phase is expected to deepen science-based monitoring and assessment efforts in support of global heritage conservation and sustainable development.