July 30, 2010 – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco today commended the World Heritage Committee for adding Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Papahānaumokuākea) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List at its annual meeting in Brasilia, Brazil. Measuring nearly 140,000 square miles and protecting more than 7,000 marine and terrestrial species, Papahānaumokuākeaa is the nation's first site designated for its outstanding value as both a natural and cultural heritage site.
World Heritage listing acknowledges the historical, cultural or natural value of a site, as well as the commitment of the sovereign nation and the site's owners to its long-term protection and management.
"I am pleased that the World Heritage Committee recognized the unique cultural and natural heritage of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the commitment of the United States and the state of Hawaii to conserve it," Salazar said. "The monument will now be part of an exclusive list that includes sites such as the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Barrier Reef."
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