From Thursday 13 to Friday 21 September, in connection with the joint application by three countries, France, Monaco and Italy, for the “Mediterranean Alps” to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the geological criterion, two experts, a geologist and a naturalist, came to visit the eight sites that make up the cross-border perimeter of the nominated Asset.

In particular, they visited the Mercantour and the Alpi Marittime Parks, the Marguareis and Liguria Parks, the Grande Corniche Departmental Park, the Pointe des Douaniers at Cap d’Ail, the marine sites off the coast of Monaco, Cap Ferrat and Cap Martin, the Bouma Sequence in Luceram and the Peille-Peillon fault.

In Monaco, on 17 September, they attended a presentation on the protection and integrity of land and marine sites.

All the key players in the project’s partner countries have been involved, to ensure that this in situ assessment is undertaken in the best possible conditions.

When this assessment is complete, the final submission of the file will be made. A definitive response will be given at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee, to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 30 June to 10 July 2019.

While the final verdict is awaited, several steps still have to be taken to finalise the perimeter and manage this cross-border asset, which combines both terrestrial and marine territory in an unusual way and contains major geological assets of great value.

By supporting this application by the Mediterranean Alps, the Principality undertakes to pursue and strengthen its environmental and sustainable development initiatives in this territory.

The perimeter of this property, both terrestrial and marine, is located at the junction between the western Mediterranean and the Italian peninsula, to the south of the Alpine chain, between the departments of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in south-eastern France and the Regions of Piedmont and Liguria in north-western Italy.