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Tim Badman, head of head of World Heritage at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, explains at a press conference during the 34th summit of the World Heritage Committee held in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, July 30, 2010. The Everglades National Park in the United States and the Subtropical Forest in Madagascar were added to the List of the World Heritage in Danger on Friday. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei)
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BRASILIA, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Florida's Everglades and Madagascar's tropical forests were added to a list of imperiled world heritage sites, UNESCO officials said Friday.
The decision was made by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 34th meeting, which opened in Brasilia last Sunday and ends on Aug. 3.
"It is about international support and the Danger List mechanism signals a concern about an international issue that is affecting the sites," Tim Badman, head of World Heritage at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said.
The Everglades National Park, a sanctuary of birds, reptiles and home to 20 rare, endangered species, was put on the list at the request of the U.S. government "because of serious and continuing degradation of its aquatic ecosystem."
It was the second time the Everglades has been added to the list. The first time was between 1993 and 2007 because hurricane has caused large amounts of water to be diverted to cities
The Atsinanana rain forests of Madagascar, with more than 80 percent of endemic species, was also inscribed on the list due to excessive illegal logging and lemurs poaching on the island.` Also on Friday, the committee decided to maintain Jerusalem on the list and remove the Machu Picchu in Peru.
While Machu Picchu is not included in the endangered list, UNESCO recommended the 15th century Incan ruins be put under close watch because of severe flooding this year.
During the meeting, the committee is reviewing the status of 31 World Heritage sites, including some that could be put on the endangered site list.
The List of World Heritage in danger now contains 890 sites, including 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed sites in 148 countries.
