The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), after a decade of waiting, decided to grant Paraty and Ilha Grande the certificate of world heritage. The spot, landed in the Southern State of Rio de Janeiro, includes the historical center of both municipalities.
That is Brazil’s first mixed heritage site, that is, it includes cultural and natural assets. Of more than 1,000 world heritage sites, only 39 sites in 31 countries are mixed sites. Paraty and Ilha Grande join 21 other Brazilian world heritage sites, of which seven are natural and 14 are cultural.
The country’s heritage list includes Ouro Preto (MG), Olinda (PE), São Luís (MA), City of Goiás (GO) and Salvador (BA), the Brasília Pilot Plan, the Pantanal, the islands of Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas, the Iguaçu National Park (PR), the Cariocas Landscapes (RJ) and the Valongo Pier (RJ).
One way Paraty and Ilha Grande won the UNESCO prize, ten years after their first attempt failed, was to focus their dossier on the relevance of local biodiversity. In 2009, the claim had been for the title of cultural heritage. At the second attempt, the title was Cultural and Natural Heritage. In the opinions of Icomos and IUCN, UNESCO advisory bodies, the criteria for victory are explained.
In reactthe state secretary of tourism, Otávio Leite highlighted the pride provided by the achievement: “Now, we have to think about preserving, extolling, bringing tourists and the world to enjoy this charm, which is being recognized by this institution”, he said.
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