On June 26, 2009, the UNESCO Council nominated the Dolomites as a Natural World Heritage Site. This is what the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) says:

The Dolomites display unparalleled geological, botanical and scenic qualities, which make them stand out among all the mountain ranges of the world. They especially stressed the variety of herbs and flowers that can be found here. The Dolomites feature over 2,400 types of plant and an extended Nature Reserve and National Park area (a total of approx. 142,000 ha).

UNESCO lists all protected natural paradises of the world, which deserve special protection. During their 33rd annual congress, which took place in Seville, Spain, on June 27, 2009, they included the Dolomites on this list. The list contains 199 landscapes, 50 of which are in Europe, which have been nominated UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites. Next to the Aeolian Islands, the Dolomites are the second natural world heritage site included on this list.

The following areas of the Dolomites have been protected by UNESCO:

Pelmo-Croda da Lago (BL)

Marmolada (BL, TN)

Pale di San Martino, Pale di San Lucano,

Dolomiti Bellunesi und Vette Feltrine (BL, TN)

Dolomiti Friuliane und Dolomiti d'Oltre (PN, UD)

Northern Dolomites (BZ, BL)

Puez-Geisler (BZ)

Rosengarten, Schlern, Latemar (BZ, TN)

Bletterbach (BZ)

Dolomiti di Brenta (TN)