Fifth of known species on Earth found in Unesco world heritage sites – survey

Sites cover less than 1% of planet and although protected are at risk from climate breakdown and human consumption, say experts

A fifth of known life on Earth can be found in Unesco world heritage sites, according to the first survey of the planet's most important cultural and historical landmarks.

From the Great Barrier Reef to the Kazakh steppe, nearly three-quarters of all recorded bird species, two-thirds of all mammals and more than half of all hard corals have been recorded at world heritage sites even though they cover less than 1% of the planet, according to the new analysis produced by Unesco and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.