Half of world heritage sites threatened by development, says WWF

Charity concludes that at least 114 of 229 world heritage sites of outstanding importance for species and habitats are at risk from mining and other activities

Close to half of the sites around the world designated for special protection as areas of outstanding importance for nature are now being threatened by industrial development, a new survey has shown.

The sites, which include Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon in the US, and China's giant panda sanctuaries in Szechuan, are all supposed to be protected under the United Nations' designated world heritage status. But encroachments from industries, including fossil fuel exploration and illegal logging, are threatening to destroy the valuable habitats, the conservation charity WWF said on Wednesday.