East Rennell was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2013 for threats to it Outstanding Universal Value posed by commercial logging of its forests and the uncontrolled invasion of rats. The site also suffers from over-exploitation of its marine resources of which little is known to date.
Why is East Rennell important?
Criterion (ix): East Rennell demonstrates significant on-going ecological and biological processes and is an important site for the science of island biogeography. For its size, Rennell Island has a high number of endemic species, particularly among its avifauna and also harbours 10 endemic plant species.
Why is East Rennell a World Heritage site?
East Rennell’s Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, adopted by the World Heritage Committee in 2012, notes the importance of the area as a stepping stone in the migration and evolution of species in the Western Pacific, and as a site for the study of island biogeography.
How was East Rennell formed?
Rennell was formed by the uplift of corals which formed on an undersea ridge and then were subject to faulting. The landform is a typical jagged and eroded limestone karst rising to 200m. A major feature of the island is Lake Tegano which was the former lagoon on the atoll.
What is East Rennell famous for?
East Rennell, declared a World Heritage site in 1998, is the largest raised coral atoll in the world and its dense forest has a canopy averaging 20 metres in height. The World Heritage site makes up the south-eastern half of Rennell Island, the southernmost island in the Solomon Islands in the western Pacific.
Is the Tiger an endangered species?
According to the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species Panthera tigris is endangered (EN), but some of its subspecies have another status. Panthera tigris (Tiger).
Why is the Bengal tiger under constant threat of poaching?
However, it is under constant threat of poaching. Tiger preserves, sanctuaries, and national parks have stabilized the population numbers, but poaching in Asia is still on the rise. Bengal tigers are hunted illegally because their skin and some body parts are considered useful for traditional Asian medicine.
Where has East Rennell been added to the World Heritage List?
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 19 June 2013 (IUCN) – East Rennell in the Solomon Islands has been added to the List of World Heritage in Danger, following the advice of IUCN, the official World Heritage advisory body on nature. Lake Turkana National Parks in Kenya and Virgin Komi Forests in Russia were not added to the Danger List, against IUCN’s advice.
