GA 3- Preservation of World Heritage Sites

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritages are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world’s heritage. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that is on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 state parties which are elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a four-year term.

The programme catalogues, names, and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. Under certain conditions, listed sites can obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund. The programme was founded with the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (http://whc.unesco.org/archive/convention-en.pdf), which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on November 16, 1972. Since then, 185 states have ratified the convention.

As of 2008, 851 sites are listed: 660 cultural, 166 natural, and 25 mixed properties, in 141 states. Italy is home to the greatest number of world heritage sites (41) to date. UNESCO references each World Heritage Site with a identification number; but new inscriptions often include previous sites now listed as part of larger descriptions. As a result, the identification numbers exceed 1200 even though there are fewer on the list.

Each World Heritage Site is the property of the state on whose territory the site is located, but it is considered in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.

Today, a number of World Heritage Sites are in danger. Climate change coupled with neglect and lack of resources poses a great threat. These issues must be identified and the international community must join hands to preserve these priceless World Heritage Sites.

The World Heritage Committee meets several times a year to discuss the management of existing World Heritage Sites, and accept the nominations from countries. A session, known as the World Heritage Committee Session, takes place annually where sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List, after presentations made by the IUCN and/or ICOMOS, and deliberations made among the state parties.

Delegates may use the link below as a reference point for all research.

http://whc.unesco.org/