World Heritage Sites UNESCO & OMAN

The delisted Dresden Elbe Valley
The designation of World Heritage Site is a highly prestigious affair. Such a designation bestows not only honor but also has economic implications as it enhances tourism. World Heritage sites may lose their designation when the UNESCO World Heritage Committee determines that the designated site is not properly managed or protected. 1st, however, the committee would place a site it is concerned about on its list of World Heritage in Danger of losing their designation and attempt to negotiate with the local authorities to remedy the situation. If remediation fails, the committee has revoked its designation.

Oman, 2007

In 2007, Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary was the1st site to be removed from UNESCO's World Heritage list. The sanctuary had become a World Heritage Site in 1994. Poaching, habitat degradation had nearly wiped out the Oryx population. The delisting was done in accordance with the wishes of the govt. that reduced the sanctuary by 90 % after oil had been found at the site. Only four breeding pairs of oryx were counted at the time of the removal of the designation.