Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. Mountain gorillas are found in the park, some 20,000 hippopotamuses live in the rivers and birds from Siberia spend the winter there.
The park contains two highly important ecological corridors as it connects the different respective sectors: the Muaro corridor connects the Mikeno sector to the Nyamulagira sector. The presence of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, a protected area contiguous with Uganda, also constitutes an ecological land corridor connecting the center and north sectors.
The park is unique with its active chain of volcanoes and rich diversity of habitats that surpass those of any other African park. Its range contains an amalgamation of steppes, savannas and plains, marshlands, low altitude and afro-montane forest belts to unique afro-alpine vegetation and permanent glaciers and snow on Monts Rwenzori whose peaks culminate in 5,000-meter height. The property includes the spectacular massifs of Rwenzori and Virunga Mountains containing the two most active volcanoes of Africa. The wide diversity of habitats produces exceptional biodiversity, notably endemic species and rare and globally threatened species such as the mountain gorilla. CA
Shanghai is located on the east coast of China near the Yangtze River Delta. Recognized internationally for its mixture of Western and Eastern cultures, the city is the largest commercial and financial center in China with a surface area of 6,340.5 square km and a population of 24.15 million inhabitants.
Shanghai was the first city in China to have creative industry units such as the first design, film and music studios.
In February 2010, Shanghai joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as City of Design, demonstrating its determination to put design at the core of its sustainable economic growth and development plan.
By the end of 2013, Shanghai was home to 87 Creative Clusters, over 4,000 innovative design-related agencies and institutions, 283 art institutions, 239 art and cultural community centers, 100 museums, 25 libraries and 743 archive institutions.
Shanghai established the UNESCO Creative City (Shanghai) Promotion Office within the framework of the Municipal Commission of Economy and Technology, which is the main governmental organization responsible for promoting the sub-network of Cities of Design; upgrading industries by mobilizing all related sectors; promoting the planning and implementation of policies; and supporting international cooperation and exchange in the creative design industries.
Tunis has been the country’s capital since the 13th century. The city stands in an exceptional location at the heart of the Mediterranean and at the crossroads between the major trans-saharan trade routes, and has established itself as a trade hub and a natural point of exchange with Europe.
As a center of cultural outreach, it is also one of the greatest seats of learning in the Arab world. Granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979, the Medina of Tunis is a living testimony to 18th century urban planning and a major hub for craft creation. Around 40 souks form a network of little covered alleyways lined with traders’ and artisans’ stores.
The Crafts Fair in Kram, which is organized each year by the National Handicrafts Office, is the most visited exhibition at national level. This major event brings together artisans from all regions of the country. The Medina Festival, launched in 1982, is also a flagship event that invites a broad public to rediscover through cultural evenings the history of the Medina and its architectural, musical and craft heritage. CA