Saimaa's world heritage project has ended.

'In the fall of 2023, it has been decided to suspend the application preparation for the Saimaa Norppa Archipelago's UNESCO World Heritage List. According to the preliminary assessment of the World Heritage Panel of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the IUCN World Heritage Panel, the Norppasa Archipelago of Saimaa probably would not have the conditions to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.'

https://www.metsa.fi/projekti/saimaan-maailmanperintohanke/ (includes link to IUCN Feedback July 2023)

Recently confirmed nomination files being sent to UNESCO. We can expect more news in the coming weeks as the deadline approaches.

● Møns Klint (Denmark)
● The Megaliths of Carnac and the Banks of Morbihan (France)
● Sunken City of Port Royal (Jamaica)
● Bangu Stream Petroglyphs (Korea)

YEZ! Almost drove by as it was stormy weather and my wife didn't want to go out and do the about 1km walk to the place in the pouring rain. I insisted, happy now. When I got to the place (this was 2019) the major of Ulsan was there with 3-5 members to check it out as well.

● Olive Grove Landscapes in Andalusia (Spain)

"The institutional commission of the candidacy "Olive Grove Landscapes in Andalusia. Millennial History of a Sea of ​​Olive Trees" World Heritage has approved the sending of the file to UNESCO so that its inscription on the list of registered properties can be debated in 2025."

La Payunia, Llancanelo Volcanic Fields and Payún Matrú (Argentina)

My impression is this means submitted this month to UNESCO, but perhaps it could be read differently?

"In November, a document prepared with all the requirements established by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee was presented to Marina Larrea, secretary of the Argentine Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO. The Government of Mendoza presented, at the end of 2023, the Preliminary Evaluation document to the Argentine National Commission before UNESCO, and the final translated document was sent for submission to the international organization."

https://www.mendoza.gov.ar/prensa/mendoza-avanza-en-la-postulacion-de-la-payunia-como-patrimonio-de-la-humanidad/

Further confirmation that Vietnam's nomination will be submitted on time.

Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Relics and Landscapes Complex (Vietnam)

Official webpage confirmation for Canada's nomination. I have not see other indications of a submitted nomination recently, but based on previous reports and the official website, I think we can be near certain on this nomination.

Wanuskewin (Canada)

Una National Park (Bosnia)

"Together with colleagues from the Faculty of Science and Mathematics, we completed the nomination file related to the procedure for entering the Milančev buk microsite into the Register of World Natural Heritage at UNESCO. We hope that in February we will have an official answer as to whether our candidacy has been accepted and we hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina will receive the first area entered in the Register of World Natural Heritage." Article December 2023

D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy, 1944 (France) - not sure if this nomination can be included as a 2nd nomination based on previous submission that was on hold?

"Recognition hoped for in 2025 - If it is too late for recognition in 2024, a ranking could be formalized as early as 2025 , if the registration procedure is restarted this year. The application has been on hold since 2019." Article January 2024

The Early Modernist Centre of Gdynia (Poland)

"Full documentation regarding the entry of the early modernist center of Gdynia on the World Heritage List will be submitted by February 1, 2024 - confirms the Information Center of the Ministry of Culture." Article January 2024

WHC 2025

Africa (2)
- Bijagos Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Guinea-Bissau)
- Gola-Tiwai Complex (Sierra Leone)

Arab States (2)
- Gebel Qatrani Area (Egypt)
- Faya Palaeolandscape (UAE)

Asia and the Pacific (7)
- Bangu Stream Petroglyphs (Korea)
- Hin Nam No National Park [extension] (Laos)
- Tilaurakot, the Archaeological remains of Ancient Shakya Kingdom (Nepal)
- Ancient Port of Banbhore (Pakistan)
- The Andaman Sea Nature Reserves of Thailand (Thailand)
- Koytendag Mountain Ecosystem (Turkmenistan)
- Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Relics and Landscapes Complex (Vietnam)

Europe and North America (11)
- Una National Park (Bosnia)
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes (Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia)
- Wanuskewin (Canada)
- Møns Klint (Denmark)
- The Megaliths of Carnac and the Banks of Morbihan (France)
- D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy, 1944 (France)
- Dreams in Stone - the Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee (Germany)
- Via Francigena (Italy)
- The Early Modernist Centre of Gdynia (Poland)
- Olive Grove Landscapes in Andalusia (Spain)
- Civil Rights Movement Sites (United States)

Latin America and the Caribbean (5)
- La Payunia, Llancanelo Volcanic Fields and Payún Matrú (Argentina)
- Brazilian Fortresses Ensemble (Brazil)
- Sunken City of Port Royal (Jamaica)
- Huichol Route through Sacred Sites to Huiricuta (Mexico)
- Isla de Flores Cultural Landscape (Uruguay)

Dual Nominations (uncertain priority): 2
- Flinders Ranges OR Murujuga Cultural Landscape (Australia)
- Mount Olympus OR Minoan Palatial Centres (Greece)

Potential Surprises: 5
- Bagh-e Babur, The Garden of Babur (De Babur Bun) (Afghanistan)
- Historical Sultanates of the Comoros (Comoros)
- The Hajj Pilgrimage Routes: The Darb Zubaydah (Iraq, Saudi Arabia)
- Silk Roads: Fergana-Syrdarya Corridor (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan & Uzbekistan)
- Ensemble of Alvaro Siza's Architecture Works (Portugal)

Thanks for the summary again, winterkjm!
If 80% of it comes true, it will really help to get me to 1000 by the end of 2025.

Its inevitable some of these will be wrong, but 80% would be great! I assume we'll hear shortly about China, India, Türkiye, and Iran's official nomination(s). Nepal's Tilaurakot's dossier was confirmed today via Twitter as officially submitted. The U.S. might miss the deadline! I am waiting on an email regarding the U.S. nomination.

Turkiye's nomination is Sardis Archeological Site. I learnt that from a trustful source. He told me 2024 Iznik, 2025 Sardis, 2026 Izmir.

Possible clue that Murujuga has taken priority.

'Ancient art site's UNESCO nomination fixed after delay' (November 2023)

"the Australian government's incomplete submission delayed the Burrup Peninsula's nomination by 12 months which means consideration for the sacred rock art will not begin until 2025"

https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/art/ancient-art-sites-unesco-nomination-fixed-after-delay-c-12695279?utm_campaign=share-icons&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&tid=1701260381176

The assumption here is that Hainan Rainforests will be 2025 and Jingdezhen 2026.

I've updated the 2025 list on the website according to winterkjm's latest overview, plus the amendments after that.

Not only does it look confirmed that the 1st natural nomination for Laos will be submitted, it looks like some additions to their Tentative List are coming soon.

"Pha Khanxay, director of the Department of Heritage, said: "We are preparing to submit the necessary documents to UNESCO to request that Hin Nam No (Karst) National Reserve in Bualapha District, Khammuan Province be listed as Laos' first World Natural Heritage. Completed documents will be submitted in February." - Article December 2023

Els, do you think its 'Minoan Palatial Centres' for Greece then? Also, I am becoming more doubtful of the US nomination for 2025. I just read an article that 2 of the 13 components (located in 9 states and D.C.) are still seeking to be designated as National Historic Landmarks at the earliest in Spring 2024. Typically the U.S. does not officially submit a nomination before all sites are designated at the National level. If there is a delay, I think the whole nomination would move to 2027 after Okefenokee. Furthermore, the later seems to have so much momentum, whereas this complicated serial nomination related to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement has been slow and methodical, with sparse news over the past year. I should know for sure in the next week or so, I have certainly been surprised before when a U.S. nomination was submitted and then plenty of news media picked up the story.

So of the big 4: China, India, Türkiye, and Iran

We are pretty sure about China and Türkiye. Still nothing from Iran and India?

It's just a guess as I didn't want 2 entries from the same country in the overview.

Maratha Military Landscape (India)

Https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/maratha-military-landscapes-of-india-will-be-indias-nomination-for-recognition-as-unesco-world-heritage-list-for-the-year-2024-2520240129230553/