Forth Bridge viewed from North Queensferry
UNESCO stands for ‘United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’ – a special part of the United Nations (UN) founded in 1945. Its mission is to promote peace, sustainable development, and human rights, by encouraging collaboration and discussion between nations.
UNESCO focuses on education, the environment, social inequality, communication, and the exchange of knowledge. One way it resolves some of these problems by identifying the world’s most special places.
Scotland is home to 16 UNESCO designations, brought together through Scotland’s UNESCO Trail – the first national trail of its kind in the world. These include:
- 7 World Heritage Sites
- 2 Biosphere Reserves
- 3 Global Geoparks
- 4 Creative Cities
By raising awareness of these sites, UNESCO can encourage investment and create jobs, spur technological innovation and scientific progress, and enhance the world’s cultural and environmental diversity.
