The 2,260 sites designated by UNESCO (the United Nations cultural and scientific agency) as World Heritage locations collectively protect some of the planet's most remarkable biodiversity, yet they are increasingly under pressure from human activity and environmental change. These protected areas, spanning natural and cultural landmarks across the globe, serve as critical refuges for countless species found nowhere else. The growing threats to these sites raise urgent concerns among conservationists about the long-term viability of international heritage protection frameworks.