World Heritage and Sustainable Development
About the convention
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, known as the World Heritage Convention, is the international agreement recognized worldwide by the States Parties . By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage.
Countries adhered to the World Heritage Convention have agreed agree to identify and nominate natural and cultural properties of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) on their national territory to be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List . The OUV means “cultural and / or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generation of all humanity” (OG 49). The sites also have to meet at least one out of ten selection criteria .
Outstanding Universal Value
Each property on the World Heritage List has its own Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV). This includes a brief synthesis of the significance (values), criteria, integrity and authenticity and management arrangements that are in place. These terms are explained in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, together with the text of the Convention, is the main working tool on World Heritage.
The three pillars of Outstanding Universal Value. Source: Based on IUCN (2007).
Criteria
Why is this place important? Based on the Operational Guidelines (OG 77), the Committee considers a property as having Outstanding Universal Value (see paragraphs 49-53) if the property meets one or more of the following criteria. Nominated properties shall therefore:
(i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
(ii) exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
(iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
(iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
(v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
(vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
(vii) contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
(viii) be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
(ix) be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
(x) contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of Outstanding Universal Value from the point of view of science or conservation.
Authenticity
Is it truthful? Cultural value needs to be truthfully and credibly expressed through a variety of attributes (OG para. 82)
Integrity
Does it tell the whole story? Integrity is a measure of the wholeness and intactness of heritage and its attributes (OG para. 88)
- Wholeness: All necessary elements to express OUV are within the property
- Intactness: All attributes are still present and not eroded
- Absence of threats: Threats of development and / or neglect are absent
Protection and Management
What is needed to assure its future? Protection and management include an appropriate regulations, management plan or other documented management system, defined boundaries and buffer zones and a systematic monitoring and reporting of each World Heritage property.
- Management Systems: Each nominated property should have an appropriate management plan or other documented management system which must specify how the Outstanding Universal Value of a property should be preserved, preferably through participatory means (OG para.108-118bis). An Intergrated Management Plan could include other plans such as cconservation plan or tourism plans.
- Boundaries: They incorporate all the attributes that convey the Outstanding Universal Value and ensure the integrity and/or authenticity of the property.
- Buffer Zone: It is an area surrounding the World Heritage Site that gives an added layer of protection to the Site. Buffer Zones should include the immediate setting of the nominated Site, important views and other areas or attributes that are functionally important as a support to the Site and its protection.
