New York  - One of Germany's most historic and scenic sites, the Dresden Elbe Valley, may stand to lose its status as a World Heritage site when UNESCO meets next month to review criteria of some of the more than 800 sites on the list.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said Wednesday it will meet in Quebec, Canada, July 2-10, to decide the fate of 30 sites on the so-called List in Danger because they failed to follow rules to remain on the World Heritage List. The Dresden site is one of them.

German authorities had decided to build a bridge in the heart of the well-known landscape against UNESCO's advice to build a tunnel. Warnings were issued about the site's status back in 2006 after the decision to build the bridge was taken.

The Quebec meeting by the World Heritage Committee will decide whether the building of a bridge warrants the removal of the site from the World Heritage List.

The more than 800 sites around the world on the list receive support, including financial, to maintain their values.

The 18-km-long Dresden Elbe Valley along the Elbe River from Ubigau Palace and Ostragehege fields to the Pillnitz Palace and Elbe River Island has some of the best landscapes in Germany, adorned with 18th and 19th century constructions and valuable natural areas.

UNESCO said, however, that the valley has many criteria working in its favour as a World Heritage site, including its art collections, architecture and important reference for Central European developments dating from the 18th and 19th century. It has also exceptional testimonies of court architecture and festivities, and land use. (dpa)