Italian Nomination of “The Eocene Marine Ecosystems at Bolca and in the Alpone Valley” for the UNESCO World Heritage List 2027

The Board of Directors of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO held a virtual meeting today, during which it approved the nomination of "The Eocene Marine Ecosystems at Bolca and in the Alpone Valley" as Italy's candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for 2027.
The proposed serial site covers an area in Veneto, Italy, where globally significant paleontological fossil findings have been studied since the 16th century. These fossils offer a remarkable insight into the evolution of marine life on Earth during the Middle and Late Eocene, a geological period that spans from 50 to 38 million years ago. The site is made up of the Bolca, San Giovanni Ilarione, and Roncà areas, which feature 15 outcrops with a notable taxonomic variety, allowing for a broad and detailed reconstruction of the shallow coastal and marine environments of this geological era.
The nomination is based on criterion viii of the World Heritage Convention, adopted by UNESCO in 1972, which pertains to the most extraordinary testimonies of the Earth's evolution, life, and geological processes that shape the Earth's surface.
The nomination was promoted by the Temporary Association for Purpose (ATS) "Val d'Alpone - Cenozoic Fauna, Flora, and Rocks", with support from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the Ministry of Culture.
Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Permanent Representation of Italy to UNESCO, the nomination will be submitted by 30 January to the World Heritage Centre for review by the advisory bodies. It will then be presented for inclusion on the prestigious list in 2027 during the session of the Committee of the 1972 UNESCO Convention.