UNESCO World Heritage Sites

WH Sites identify, protect, and preserve cultural and natural heritage around the world that is considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. Sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria to be included on the World Heritage List. The criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.

These criteria are explained in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention which, besides the text of the Convention, is the main working tool on World Heritage.

How to use

To download the text of the Convention, operational guidelines for implementation, and to search the map and individual sites: https://whc.unesco.org

To explore the WHS criteria and download the operational guidelines:

https://whc.unesco.org/en/guidelines/

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Xiamen practice – a case study of integrating Nature-based Solutions in coastal city development

As a typical coastal city, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, faces serious societal challenges such as the impact of climate change, overexploitation of natural resources, and loss of biodiversity. Xiamen is implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) by strengthening ecological protection, promoting ecosystem restoration, building sponge city, supporting sustainable community development and green transformation of mines, while encouraging funding and diverse public participation. After more than 30 years of exploration and practice, the green development concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature has been integrated into areas and processes of Xiamen’s economic and social development, making Xiamen’s practice a global example of excellence in NbS and a model for sustainable development of coastal cities.

让企业参与自然保护

With 26 case studies from 10 multinational companies, this publication highlights their positive actions, interventions and initiatives contributing to specific conservation and restoration goals. The concrete examples illustrate a pivotal part of their work which have direct impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem on their sites and operations, focused on a variety of additional and proactive biodiversity conservation and restoration actions more commonly within the landscape and seascape. The different case studies seek to present current voluntary practices and initiatives that are above and beyond addressing the negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services onsite. While not exhaustive, these case studies seek to be illustrative of current voluntary practices and demonstrative of some of the kinds of initiatives that are currently being carried out.

Zarzadzanie ryzykiem katastrof w światowym dziedzictwie

The objectives of this manual are: to help the managers and management authorities of cultural and natural World Heritage properties to reduce the risks to these properties from natural and humanmade disasters; to illustrate the main principles of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) for heritage and a methodology to identify, assess and mitigate disaster risks; to explain how to prepare a DRM plan based on this methodology; to demonstrate that heritage can play a positive role in reducing risks from disasters; and to suggest how DRM plans for heritage properties can be integrated with national and regional disaster management strategies and plans.

Preparing World Heritage nominations : second edition (Chinese)

The manual is based on the version of the “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention” dated August 2011 and seeks to complement it. In particular, the manual seeks to support States Parties in implementing the World Heritage Convention and to provide guidance and knowledge that will help ensure a credible World Heritage List of well-managed properties of Outstanding Universal Value. it is hoped that the manual will help States Parties to carefully consider the implications of proceeding with World Heritage nominations and take the necessary steps to ensure that the effort is worthwhile for both the conservation of the property and the well-being of local communities and other local stakeholders.

Butunjahon merosi nomzodlarini : ikkinchi nashr

The manual is based on the version of the “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention” dated August 2011 and seeks to complement it. In particular, the manual seeks to support States Parties in implementing the World Heritage Convention and to provide guidance and knowledge that will help ensure a credible World Heritage List of well-managed properties of Outstanding Universal Value. it is hoped that the manual will help States Parties to carefully consider the implications of proceeding with World Heritage nominations and take the necessary steps to ensure that the effort is worthwhile for both the conservation of the property and the well-being of local communities and other local stakeholders.

Przygotowywanie wniosków o wpisanie na Listę światowego dziedzictwa : wersja druga

The manual is based on the version of the “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention” dated August 2011 and seeks to complement it. In particular, the manual seeks to support States Parties in implementing the World Heritage Convention and to provide guidance and knowledge that will help ensure a credible World Heritage List of well-managed properties of Outstanding Universal Value. it is hoped that the manual will help States Parties to carefully consider the implications of proceeding with World Heritage nominations and take the necessary steps to ensure that the effort is worthwhile for both the conservation of the property and the well-being of local communities and other local stakeholders.

Erstellung von Welterbenominierungen : zweite Ausgabe

The manual is based on the version of the “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention” dated August 2011 and seeks to complement it. In particular, the manual seeks to support States Parties in implementing the World Heritage Convention and to provide guidance and knowledge that will help ensure a credible World Heritage List of well-managed properties of Outstanding Universal Value. it is hoped that the manual will help States Parties to carefully consider the implications of proceeding with World Heritage nominations and take the necessary steps to ensure that the effort is worthwhile for both the conservation of the property and the well-being of local communities and other local stakeholders.

Preparing World Heritage nominations : second edition (Armenian)

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Gestire il Patrimonio Mondiale culturale

The manual provides guidance for States Parties and all those involved in the care of World Heritage cultural properties on how to comply with the requirements of the Convention. It also aims to help States Parties to ensure that heritage has a dynamic role in society and harnesses, but also delivers to others, the mutual benefits that such a role can create. This Manual deals only with the management of cultural heritage sites. Natural World Heritage properties have many similar issues but they also have different problems.

Managing cultural World Heritage (Armenian)

The manual provides guidance for States Parties and all those involved in the care of World Heritage cultural properties on how to comply with the requirements of the Convention. It also aims to help States Parties to ensure that heritage has a dynamic role in society and harnesses, but also delivers to others, the mutual benefits that such a role can create. This Manual deals only with the management of cultural heritage sites. Natural World Heritage properties have many similar issues but they also have different problems.

Enhancing our heritage toolkit 2.0

World Heritage properties are internationally recognized as places of Outstanding Universal Value that should benefit from the highest level of management effectiveness. The Toolkit 2.0 offers a self-assessment methodology to evaluate management effectiveness in a World Heritage property or other heritage place. It contains 12 tools that can be used separately or collectively to understand in detail what is working well and what can be done better. The Toolkit supports managers in identifying ways to improve conservation practices, management processes and resource allocation – particularly if used before reviewing or updating management plans. While there is a focus on World Heritage, it can be applied to all heritage places, whether natural, cultural or combinations of both.