UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kiribati
Kiribati has 1 site on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1 natural), the first inscribed in 2010 (Phoenix Islands Protected Area). The map below plots it alongside the rest of the List, and each site is written up in full further down the page.
- World Heritage Sites
- 1
- Cultural
- 0
- Natural and Mixed
- 1
- First Inscribed
- 2010
Map of World Heritage Sites in Kiribati
CulturalNaturalMixedIn DangerLarge dots are in Kiribati. Click a dot to read about the site.
Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Kiribati · 3.6497° S, 172.8575° W · 408,250 km²
The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) is located in the Republic of Kiribati, an ocean nation in the central Pacific approximately midway between Australia and Hawaii. PIPA constitutes 11.34% of Kiribati's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and with a size of 408,250 km2 (157,630 sq mi), it is one of the largest marine protected areas (MPA) and one of the largest protected areas of any type (land or sea) on Earth. The PIPA was also designated as the world's largest and deepest UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.
The PIPA conserves one of the world's largest intact oceanic coral archipelago ecosystems, includes 14 known underwater seamounts (presumed to be extinct volcanoes) and other deep-sea habitats. The area contains approximately 800 known species of fauna, including about 200 coral species, 500 fish species, 18 marine mammals and 44 bird species. In total it is equivalent to the size of the state of California in the US, though the total land area is only 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi). To the north of the PIPA is the U.S. administered Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument that is currently the world's largest designated MPA.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Phoenix Islands Protected Area (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Phoenix Islands Protected Area Is Listed
- (vii)
- Superlative natural phenomena or exceptional natural beauty.
- (ix)
- An outstanding example of ongoing ecological and biological processes.
More about Phoenix Islands Protected Area
UNESCO's Description
The Phoenix Island Protected Area (PIPA) is a 408,250 sq.km expanse of marine and terrestrial habitats in the Southern Pacific Ocean. The property encompasses the Phoenix Island Group, one of three island groups in Kiribati, and is the largest designated Marine Protected Area in the world. PIPA conserves one of the world's largest intact oceanic coral archipelago ecosystems, together with 14 known underwater sea mounts (presumed to be extinct volcanoes) and other deep-sea habitats. The area contains approximately 800 known species of fauna, including about 200 coral species, 500 fish species, 18 marine mammals and 44 bird species. The structure and functioning of PIPA's ecosystems illustrates its pristine nature and importance as a migration route and reservoir. This is the first site in Kiribati to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
History and administration
The Republic of Kiribati, in partnership with the non-governmental conservation organizations Conservation International and the New England Aquarium, has formed the Phoenix Island Protected Area Conservation Trust (PIPA Trust). In 2018, the New England Aquarium resigned as a partner and the Aquarium of the Pacific joined the PIPA Trust Board.
The administrators of the reserve had been criticized for the amount of fishing they allowed prior to full closure on January 1, 2015. As of Jan 1, 2015, all commercial extractive activities (including tuna fishing) are prohibited throughout the MPA. Only a small sustainable-use zone around Canton Island allows for limited activities to support the resident population.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Phoenix Islands Protected Area (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Key Facts
| Established | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Area | 397,447 km² |
Facts from Wikidata Q863815 (CC0).
World Heritage in Kiribati: Quick Answers
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Kiribati?
- Kiribati has 1 World Heritage Site: 1 natural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Kiribati?
- Phoenix Islands Protected Area, inscribed in 2010.
- What are the natural World Heritage Sites in Kiribati?
- Phoenix Islands Protected Area.
- Are any World Heritage Sites in Kiribati in danger?
- None of the World Heritage Sites in Kiribati is on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.