List of World Heritage Sites in Tunisia

class=notpageimage|
Location of World Heritage Sites in Tunisia

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.[1] Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage.[2] Tunisia accepted the convention on 10 March 1975, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list.[3]

Tunisia has nine sites on the list, eight of which are listed for their cultural significance and one, the Ichkeul National Park, for natural significance. This site was listed endangered between 1996 and 2006 because of the construction of dams that threatened the hydrological regime of the lake and resulted in a reduction of vegetation and a drop in bird numbers. By 2006 the situation had improved so the site was removed from the endangered list.[4] The first three sites were listed in 1979 and the most recent, Djerba, in 2023.[3] In addition, Tunisia has 16 sites on the tentative list.[3] The country has served on the World Heritage Committee four times.[3]

  1. ^ "The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Tunisia". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Thirtieth Session: State of conservation reports of the properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger" (PDF). UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2019.