Coastal erosion
In 2007 the UNESCO World Heritage Centre published a report called "Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage". The report states that a decrease in sea ice, and consequent increase in coastal erosion, poses a serious threat to Herschel Island's historic resources. The World Monuments Fund has placed Herschel Island on its "100 Most Endangered Sites, 2008" watch list, citing "rising sea levels, eroding coastline and melting permafrost" as imminent threats. Coastal erosion is up to per year in parts of the island’s coastline. There are several active thaw slumps of considerable size along the south-eastern shore of the island and they have increased in abundance and size over the last fifty years.