Nearly one in three natural world heritage sites are at risk of exploration for fossil fuels and mining, a report from the conservation charity WWF has found.



The record high of 31% at risk is up from 24% last year. Natural world heritage sites are selected as the most important globally to conserve for reasons of natural beauty or significance, including game reserves, and unique natural features such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Some are home to species near extinction in the wild, including mountain gorillas, snow leopards and whales. Among those listed at risk are Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Malawi national park, Tanzania’s Selous reserve, Canada’s Wood Buffalo national park and the Danube delta in Romania. Together, world heritage sites currently cover less than 1% of the planet, but the number of designated sites is on the rise.

However, more sites are now in areas that could be opened up to the extraction of oil, gas and mining for minerals and ores, according to the report published on Wednesday called Safeguarding Outstanding Natural Value, and written by WWF, Aviva Investors and Investec Asset Management.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Danube delta is the second largest and best preserved of Europe’s deltas: 2,200 square miles of rivers, canals, marshes, tree-fringed lakes and reed islands. Photograph: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

Of natural world heritage sites in Africa, more than six in ten are threatened with development. Not all of the sites judged to be at risk are likely to be subject to exploration from fossil fuel or mining companies - many may be nearby to concessions for extraction, or at risk from the transport and infrastructure needed for such development.

The investment companies that co-wrote the report said that companies involved in developments that could have an impact on natural world heritage sites should be aware of the potential risks they are running. These risks include both potential financial implications, and more nebulous risks to their reputation, such as the threat that conservation groups will target them in future for their activities and any damage resulting from them.

Earlier this week, the oil giant Shell pulled out of long-term operations to drill for oil in the Arctic, despite having sunk billions in the projects. The company found that the extraction was not economic, given the expenses involved with the technology required, but was also believed to have been stung by strong criticism from environmental groups, including Greenpeace, that have drawn attention to the potential risks from such extraction.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Belize barrier reef is one of the natural world heritage sites that WWF says is at risk from fossil fuel exploration or mining. Photograph: Alamy

Accordingly, companies and their investors were warned on Wednesday that there might be “too much risk for not enough reward” in some cases of exploration in natural world heritage sites. Currently, commodities prices are at a relative low, but the long-term prospects for extraction of minerals, ores, oil and gas are still high.

WWF has urged companies and governments to consider creating “no-go” areas within some natural heritage sites. David Nussbaum, chief executive of the charity, said: “We are going to the ends of the Earth in pursuit of more resources that are becoming more difficult to extract. Some of the world’s most treasured places are threatened by destructive industrial activities. Protecting these iconic places is not only important in terms of their environmental worth - it is crucial for the livelihoods and future of the people who depend on them.”

He said the role of stock market investors would be key, as they had a responsibility to be “stewards of capital and shape our future”.