UNESCO adds New Caledonia lagoon to heritage list

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

QUEBEC CITY (AFP) — A sweeping part of the coral reef and lagoon in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia was added on Monday to UNESCO's list of world heritage sites, officials said.

"They did not change a thing about the proposal; the text was approved exactly as it was. So we are delighted," said Isabelle Ohlen, vice president of the New Caledonia Congress which lobbied for the inclusion.

A spokesman for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization confirmed the addition to the world heritage list, marking the 33rd French site to appear therein.

The Caledonia reef is only the second purely natural French site on the list, after the Gulf of Porto in Corsica, France.

A significant delegation from the Pacific...