The five sites in danger include Virunga, Garamba, Kahuzi-Biega, and Salonga National Parks, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, which are home to a unique range of flora and fauna including the Mountain Gorilla and the Okapi.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

The region contains a number of lakes, mires, meadows, swamp and lake complexes with peculiar flora and fauna, including a number of rare and endangered species.

UNESCO: EDUCATION

Much of Madagascar's flora and fauna, including its famous lemurs, are unique to the island.

BBC: Smuggled rare Madagascar tortoises seized in Malaysia

In turn, these massive U-shaped glacially formed valleys create a home for countless species of flora and fauna, including animals such as the much photographed mountain sheep and the elusive grizzly bear.

BBC: The natural wonders of Banff and Jasper National Parks

They offer a unique geography, flora and fauna (including a pleasingly spine-chilling collection of venomous creatures), fascinating traces of the country's first inhabitants, and enough empty space to give visitors from more crowded places agoraphobia.

ECONOMIST: A survey of Australia