The Bijagós Archipelago, off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, was officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Sunday, July 13, during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee. The site was recognized for its exceptional biodiversity and rich cultural traditions.
After an unsuccessful application in 2012, this recognition comes as a result of years of scientific research and close collaboration with local communities. Already designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1996, the archipelago now becomes part of an even broader global network of protected sites.
The archipelago consists of 88 islands and islets, with only about twenty permanently inhabited. It covers more than 10,000 square kilometers, including 1,600 square kilometers of intertidal zones such as mudflats and sandbanks. According to UNESCO, it is the only active deltaic archipelago along Africa’s Atlantic coast.
Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Action, Viriato Luis Cassama, attended the ceremony in Paris and expressed his country’s deep pride. He described the inscription as the result of over a decade of joint efforts, dialogue, and a shared belief in the site’s global significance and the need for its protection.
The Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation in West Africa (PRCM) is proud to have contributed to this historic achievement through the Blue Bijagós project, supported by the Blue Action Fund.
