WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Heritage is:

our legacy from the pastwhat we live with today

what we pass on to future generations

NATURAL VS. CULTURAL SITES

Cultural (Human)Stonehenge

Natural (Physical) Yellowstone

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Our world contains natural (physical) and cultural (human) features that are important and significant to many people.Some of these features should be protected and conserved for the benefit of all global citizens, as they are part of our heritage

The World Heritage Committee was formed in 1972 and was administered by the United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

(UNESCO)World Heritage sites belong to

all the people of the world, regardless of the country in which the sites are located.

THEY INCLUDE 725 CULTURAL , 183

NATURAL AND 28 MIXED PROPERTIES IN 153

STATES PARTIES

WHERE ARE THEWORLD HERITAGE SITES?

The cultural and natural heritage is among the priceless and irreplaceable assets, not only of each nation, but of humanity as a whole.

The loss, through deterioration or disappearance, of any of these most prized assets constitutes an impoverishment of the heritage of all the peoples of the world

WHY PROTECT?

• Represents human creative genius

• Shows important exchange of human values over time or over an area.

• It can be displayed in architecture, technology, monuments, town planning or landscape design

• Evidence of a civilization that has disappeared or which still exists

• An outstanding building or landscape that represents significant stage(s) in human history

• An outstanding example of human settlement or land use representing human interaction with the environment

• Directly associated with events or traditions

CULTURAL CRITERIA

To be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage

List a place must be of outstanding value to the

world.

CRITERIA FOR WORLD HERITAGE

LISTING

NATURAL CRITERIA• Represents major stages of

the Earth’s natural history, including record of life, geological processes and landforms

• Represents ongoing processes in evolution and development of living things on land and water, developing ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.

• Contains natural phenomena or areas of natural beauty and importance.

• Important and significant natural habitats for conservation of biodiversity. May contain threatened species with value for science or conservation.

CRITERIA FOR WORLD HERITAGE LISTING

UNITED NATIONSUNESCO adopted an international treaty called the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World

Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972.This is an agreement between countries that have signed

the convention. It defines the types of natural and cultural sites that can be on the World Heritage List.

The convention sets out the duties of governments in identifying, protecting, preserving and reporting on

existing and potential sites

INTERNATIONAL TREATIESAND AGREEMENTS

- RESPONSIBILITY FOR WORLD HERITAGE SITES

GOVERNMENTSThe governments of the countries that sign

the convention agree to identify and nominate properties in their national territory.

They also have to give details on how the site is going to be protected, and devise a management plan.

They also must promise to educate their citizens on the importance of world heritage sites

RESPONSIBILITY FORWORLD HERITAGE SITES

IUCNThe World Conservation Union (IUCN) is an international organisation that investigates natural and mixed sites, and reports on conservation. ICOMOSThe International Council on Monuments and Sites is a non-government organisation that investigates cultural and mixed sites.

ICCROMThe International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property provides advice on how to conserve sites properly.

WHCThe World Heritage Committee meets once a year and is made up of 21 member countries. It has the final say on whether a site will be World Heritage listed or not, and allocates funds and examines reports on the state of conservation of sites already on the World Heritage List. It also decides on sites that need to be on the List of World Heritage in Danger

RESPONSIBILITY FORWORLD HERITAGE SITES -

ADVISORY BODIES

Global citizens can become actively involved in the protection and management of World Heritage sitesThere are many non-government organisations that

provide opportunities to volunteer at World Heritage sites.These include the Earthwatch Institute, Sea Shepherd

Conservation Society and Rempart.

GLOBAL CITIZENS ANDWORLD HERITAGE

Some sites are in danger as they are not being properly managed or are threatened by natural activity. It is not only the responsibility of international organisations to preserve World Heritage sites—the actions of global citizens are also

importantBecause there are threats to World Heritage sites, the

World Heritage Committee (WHC) created the List of World Heritage in Danger. The WHC lists sites that are in danger

of destruction or degradation. The threats can include rapid urban or tourist development; armed conflict; serious fires, earthquakes and landslides; volcanic eruptions; changes in

water level, floods and tidal waves

WORLD HERITAGE IN DANGER