UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, with support from the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), are currently working on a thematic study of the terrestrial biodiversity values recognized under the World Heritage Convention.

The study reviews the biogeographic and biodiversity coverage of the current World Heritage network and identifies broad gaps. It also identifies priority sites for biodiversity conservation that may merit World Heritage listing in the future and reviews how these could help fill the existing gaps in the network.

The study will be launched at the next meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 17 to 27 June 2013.