Wikipedia:Today's featured list/May 2, 2014
The List of World Heritage in Danger is compiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through the World Heritage Committee according to Article 11.4 of the World Heritage Convention, which was established in 1972 to designate and manage World Heritage Sites. Entries in the list are threatened World Heritage Sites whose conservation requires major operations. The list is intended to increase the international awareness to the threat and to encourage counteractive measures. The Church of the Nativity (Grotto pictured), traditionally considered the birthplace of Jesus, is one of several sites to have been designated as World Heritage Sites and World Heritage in Danger in the same year. Many of the listed sites are located in the developing world with 17 in Africa, 9 in Asia, 8 in the Americas and 4 in Europe. In some cases, danger listing has sparked conservation efforts and prompted the release of funds, resulting in a positive development of such sites as the Galápagos Islands and Yellowstone National Park, both of which have subsequently been removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger. (Full list...)