The novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, has affected humanity in an unprecedented manner. This has brought attention to pandemics as a disaster with global disruption of political, social and economic life. In the light of such a global affliction, UNESCO and its ‘Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage’, comprising the largest membership of 193 States Parties, is uniquely placed to address the issues requiring collaboration and cooperation among all countries. These unique protected areas and cultural spaces are also a critical source of dependence, sustenance and coping mechanism for the associated society, communities, species and natural systems.

The lockdown imposed by Governments across the world have disrupted social and economic services for the people and restricted access to many areas including to the World Heritage Sites. In this context, Wildlife Institute of India - Category 2 Centre (WII-C2C) for World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia and the Pacific Region, under the auspices of UNESCO, in partnership with United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Vienna and MAXAR, Singapore, organized a Webinar on the theme of “Disaster and World Heritage with focus on Pandemics” on 22nd May, 2020 from 14:00-15:30 hours Indian Standard Time. This was streamed live on platforms like Zoom and YouTube, which was attended by over 500 participants, worldwide.

• Download report on the webinar  (7.95 mb)

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