UNESCO Clusters and Districts: Unveiling the potential of territorial synergies among UNESCO-designated sites for sustainable development

Fondazione Santagata is pleased to share the Executive Summary of its new notebook, which explores how the coexistence of multiple UNESCO recognitions can generate added value for sustainable territorial development. The study builds on ten years of research that began with the Foundation’s first publication on UNESCO Clusters.

The notebook maps 108 designations across five major international recognition systems – World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, UNESCO Global Geoparks, Creative Cities, and Intangible Cultural Heritage -alongside more than 80 Ramsar Sites, spanning 13 countries across three continents (Europe, the Americas, and Asia).

Drawing on 13 consolidated case studies and 6 emerging experiences, the analysis shows that these designations are not only tools for safeguarding heritage, but also concrete levers for integrated territorial strategies, connecting environmental protection, cultural valorisation, tourism, and community wellbeing.

The Executive Summary is now available. The full publication will be released in September 2026.