The UNESCO Sites Navigator offers a comprehensive monitoring tool that visualises verified, georeferenced boundaries of World Heritage properties, Biosphere Reserves, and UNESCO Global Geoparks. It brings together nearly 40 relevant datasets, supporting enhanced monitoring through remote sensing and providing deeper insights into the sites – be it their natural values, geographical features, or exposure to risks and pressures.

The UNESCO Sites Navigator includes a suite of cartographic tools, enabling users to measure distances and areas, annotate and draw directly on the map, import shapefiles, export customised maps and access pop-up windows with key site details. It is fully integrated with the State of Conservation Information System, for added contextual depth.

A standout feature is the automated alert system, offering daily and weekly updates derived from near real-time satellite and geospatial data. These alerts enable rapid situational awareness of potential hazards affecting UNESCO sites, initially focused on World Heritage properties, with plans to expand further. While alerts do not confirm damage, they flag emerging risks such as wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, coral bleaching, or vegetation disturbances. This capability is especially valuable in assessing and addressing threats linked to climate change, aligning with the Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage.
About the Navigator
The UNESCO Sites Navigator fulfils a longstanding need: a unified, publicly accessible online platform that offers trusted geospatial data to support the monitoring, management, and conservation of UNESCO designated sites.

Building on the World Heritage Online Map Platform (operational since 2023) and other internal tools, the UNESCO Sites Navigator enhances understanding of site boundaries, facilitating early identification of risks and helping States Parties monitor the conservation status of sites within their territories. It currently provides authoritative spatial data for World Heritage properties, Biosphere Reserves, and UNESCO Global Geoparks, and is particularly valuable for the integrated management of multi-designated sites.

The development and refinement of the platform are ongoing. World Heritage polygons not yet featured either await submission by the relevant State Party/Parties or remain under review by UNESCO. Data for Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks is managed and updated by their respective secretariats. The Navigator’s interface and tools are also being progressively enhanced.
Key Functions
There are 4 main functions of this platform: Monitoring and Management: Support informed decision-making for the protection and sustainable management of UNESCO designated sites, via a reliable, centralised geospatial platform accessible to all stakeholders; Early Warning for Hazards: Strengthen monitoring and early warning capabilities, with near real-time satellite integration and automated alerts highlighting potential hazards—especially those linked to climate change; Bringing Designations Together: Promote integrated management and visibility of sites with multiple designations, by displaying their official boundaries and site-specific attributes within a single interactive system; Quality and Consistency: Improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of official site boundary data, supporting informed planning, impact assessments, and intersectoral collaboration (e.g., in relation to No-Go commitments or renewable energy related projects).
Explore the plaqtform at https://whc.unesco.org/en/wh-gis.

Source: UNESCO