CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The World Heritage Committee decided here Sunday that improvements in the preservation of the Everglades National Park (Florida, U.S.) and Ro Pltano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) were sufficient to remove both UNESCO World Heritage sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The World Heritage Committee, meeting for its 31st session in Christchurch, made this decision as it started reviewing the state of conservation of sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, 31 of which were on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The Committee had commended the United States for its investment of scientific and financial resources to rehabilitate the site which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 and on the Danger List in 1993.

Described as a river of grass flowing imperceptibly from the hinterland into the sea, the Everglades' exceptional variety of water habitats has made it a sanctuary for a large number of birds and reptiles, including threatened species such as the manatee.

The Committee also welcomed the corrective measures taken by the Honduran authorities to preserve the Ro Pltano Biosphere Reserve, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982 and on the Danger List in 1996.

The ten-day session started Saturday will also to consider and approve over 40 new World Heritage site nominations.

Forty nominations for new world heritage sites will be debated during this meeting.

In 1972, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the World Heritage Convention as a way to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of the world's most outstanding cultural and natural heritage sites.

With 183 member countries and more than 800 sites, it is one of the most widely supported United Nations' conventions.