US Everglades, Madagascar forests added to UNESCO's endangered list

London, Aug 1 (ANI): Florida's Everglades National Park and Madagascar's tropical rainforest have been added to UNESCO's list of endangered world heritage sites.

According to UNESCO'S World Heritage Committee, development in the Everglades had caused water flow to come down by 60 per cent in the wetland, a major wildlife sanctuary.

It said the high pollution there was killing marine life.

Illegal logging and poaching after the 2009 military coup has, meanwhile, imperilled Madagascar's rainforests.

This is the second time the Everglades, home to 20 endangered species, have been added. The wetlands were first included in the risk list between 1993 and 2007 after being devastated by Hurricane Andrew.

"We commend the USA's request to re-inscribe the site on the danger list, and its plans for major infrastructure overhaul to restore the Everglades's fragile wetland ecosystem," The BBC quoted Mariam Kenza Ali of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as saying.

The Atsinanana rainforests of Madagascar were added to the list because of the threat to the many unique species inhabiting them, especially primates and lemurs.

Tim Badman, head of World Heritage at the IUCN, said: "In adding this site to the danger list, we are calling for international action to halt illegal logging and to also ensure that no illegally logged precious woods from Madagascar enter national markets." (ANI)