UNESCO in 1972, the GDR also became a Member State, actually for the first time in a UN Organization. Since German unification on October 3, 1990, Germany is used as official name; the German Commission for UNESCO integrated the functions of the dissolved GDR National Commission. After the United States of America and Japan, Germany makes the third largest financial contribution to UNESCO. Like most other Member States, Germany has a Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris. It ensures constant working contact with UNESCO and is in charge of Germany's political relations with UNESCO. Germany is participating very actively in UNESCO's programmes. There are more than 30 World Heritage Sites in Germany, 15 UNESCO biosphere reserves, some 200 UNESCO Associated Schools, 10 UNESCO chairs, 10 UNESCO clubs and national committees for the IHP, MAB, the IOC, the IGCP, the MoW Programme, and the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development. Activities In 1972, it organized German-Polish Textbook Commission with its counterpart of Poland. References External links http://www.unesco.de - Website of the German Commission for UNESCO http://www.ups-schulen.de - Website of the German UNESCO associated schools http://www.bne-portal.de - German website for the United Nations Decade Education for Sustainable Development http://www.unesco.org - Website of UNESCO National Commissions for UNESCO Foreign relations of Germany Organisations based in Bonn