This makes it the ninth Pacific island country to be listed in the world heritage list.
To mark this achievement, there was a celebration at the Kiribati High Commission in Suva, Fiji where President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was chief guest.
The president of Kiribati, Anote Tong, and members of the Kiribati community in Fiji joined in the celebration.
The Phoenix Islands marine protected area is now on the list of Natural World Heritage Sites following recommendations from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
The islands are one of the six new natural sites inscribed on the world heritage list at the close of the 34th World Heritage meeting in Brazil last week.
Tong said it was a historical occasion for the small island nation.
Though threatened by rising sea level, Tong said being listed as a world marine heritage is one of the ways his country is trying to address rising sea level.
“We’re very happy not only because this move is in line with our region and what we value but what our heritage can get from this,” he said.
Tong said the government of Kiribati hoped to involve the community in protecting these reserved areas.
“The Phoenix Islands are quite isolated and we have sealed off the area to ensure these areas are protected,” he said.
“This is a sacrifice we’re making and it is a demonstration by our community toward managing our marine reserves.”
