UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC
AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE
PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL
AND NATURAL HERITAGE
Operational Guidelines for the Implementation
of the World Heritage Convention
WHC-97/2
February 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraph Nos.
INTRODUCTION 1-5
I. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
A. General Principles 6
B. Indications to States Parties concerning
nominations to the List 7-22
C. Criteria for the inclusion of cultural
properties in the World Heritage List 23-42
D. Criteria for the inclusion of natural
properties in the World Heritage List 43-45
E. Procedure for the eventual deletion of
properties from the World Heritage List 46-56
F. Guidelines for the evaluation and examination
of nominations 57-63
G. Format and content of nominations 64
H. Procedure and timetable for the processing of
nominations 65-67
II. MONITORING THE STATE OF CONSERVATION OF
PROPERTIES INSCRIBED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST 68
A. Systematic monitoring and reporting 69-74
B. Reactive monitoring 75
III.ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE
IN DANGER
A. Guidelines for the inclusion of properties
in the List of World Heritage in Danger 76
B. Criteria for the inclusion of properties
in the List of World Heritage in Danger 77-81
C. Procedure for the inclusion of properties
in the List of World Heritage in Danger 82-89
IV. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
A. Different forms of assistance available
under the World Heritage Fund
(i) Preparatory assistance 90-91
(ii) Emergency assistance 92-93
(iii) Training 94-98
(iv) Technical co-operation 99-106
(v) Assistance for promotional activities 107
B. Deadlines for presentation of requests for
international assistance for consideration
by the Bureau and the Committee 108
C. Order of priorities for the granting of
international assistance 109-112
D. Agreement to be concluded with States
receiving international assistance 113-115
E. Implementation of projects 116
F. Conditions for the granting of
international assistance 117
V. WORLD HERITAGE FUND 118-120
VI. BALANCE BETWEEN THE CULTURAL AND THE NATURAL
HERITAGE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION 121
VII. OTHER MATTERS
A. Use of the World Heritage Emblem and the 122-125
name, symbol or depiction of World Heritage
sites
B. Production of plaques to commemorate the 126-128
inclusion of properties in the World Heritage
List
C. Rules of Procedure of the Committee 129
D. Meetings of the World Heritage Committee 130-131
E. Meetings of the Bureau of the World Heritage
Committee 132
F. Participation of experts from developed
countries 133-134
G. Publications of the World Heritage List 135-136
H. Action at the national level to promote a
greater awareness of the activities
undertaken under the Convention 137-138
I. Links with other Conventions and 139
Recommendations
INTRODUCTION
1. The cultural heritage and the natural heritage are
among the priceless and irreplaceable possessions, not
only of each nation, but of mankind as a whole. The
loss, through deterioration or disappearance, of any
of these most prized possessions constitutes an
impoverishment of the heritage of all the peoples in
the world. Parts of that heritage, because of their
exceptional qualities, can be considered to be of
outstanding universal value and as such worthy of
special protection against the dangers which
increasingly threaten them.
2. In an attempt to remedy this perilous situation
and to ensure, as far as possible, the proper
identification, protection, conservation and
presentation of the world's irreplaceable heritage,
the Member States of UNESCO adopted in 1972 the
Convention concerning the Protection of the World
Cultural and Natural Heritage, hereinafter referred to
as "the Convention". The Convention complements
heritage conservation programmes at the national level
and provides for the establishment of a "World
Heritage Committee" and a "World Heritage Fund". Both
the Committee and the Fund have been in operation
since 1976.
3. The World Heritage Committee, hereinafter referred
to as "the Committee", has four essential functions:
(i) to identify, on the basis of nominations
submitted by States Parties, cultural and
natural properties of outstanding universal
value which are to be protected under the
Convention and to list those properties on the
"World Heritage List";
(ii) monitor the state of conservation of
properties inscribed on the World Heritage
List, in liaison with the States Parties.
(iii) to decide in case of urgent need which
properties included in the World Heritage List
are to be inscribed on the "List of World
Heritage in Danger" ((only properties which
require for their conservation major
operations and for which assistance has been
requested under the Convention can be
considered));
(iv) to determine in what way and under what
conditions the resources in the World Heritage
Fund can most advantageously be used to assist
States Parties, as far as possible, in the
Protection of their properties of outstanding
universal value.
4. The Operational Guidelines which are set out below
have been prepared for the purpose of informing States
Parties to the Convention of the principles which
guide the work of the Committee in establishing the
World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in
Danger and in granting international assistance under
the World Heritage Fund. These Guidelines also provide
details on monitoring and other questions, mainly of a
procedural nature, which relate to the implementation
of the Convention.
5. The Committee is fully aware that its decisions
must be based on considerations which are as objective
and scientific as possible, and that any appraisal
made on its behalf must be thoroughly and responsibly
carried out. It recognizes that objective and well
considered decisions depend upon:
- carefully prepared criteria,
- thorough procedures,
- evaluation by qualified experts and the use of expert referees.
The Operational Guidelines have been prepared with
these objectives in mind.
I. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
A. General Principles
6. The Committee agreed that the following general
principles would guide its work in establishing the
World Heritage List:
(i) The Convention provides for the protection of
those cultural and natural properties1 deemed
to be of outstanding universal value. It is
not intended to provide for the protection of
all properties of great interest, importance
or value, but only for a select list of the
most outstanding of these from an
international viewpoint. The outstanding
universal value of cultural and natural
properties is defined by Articles 1 and 2 of
the Convention. These definitions are
interpreted by the Committee by using two sets
of criteria: one set for cultural property and
another set for natural property. The criteria
and the conditions of authenticity or
integrity adopted by the Committee for this
purpose are set out in paragraphs 24 and 44
below.
(ii) The criteria for the inclusion of properties
in the World Heritage List have been
elaborated to enable the Committee to act with
full independence in evaluating the intrinsic
merit of property, without regard to any other
consideration (including the need for
technical co-operation support).
(iii) Efforts will be made to maintain a
reasonable balance between the numbers of
cultural heritage and the natural heritage
properties entered on the List.
(iv) Cultural and natural properties are included
in the World Heritage List according to a
gradual process and no formal limit is imposed
either on the total number of properties
included in the List or on the number of
properties any individual State can submit at
successive stages for inclusion therein.
(v) Inscriptions of sites shall be deferred until
evidence of the full commitment of the
nominating government, within its means, is
demonstrated. Evidence would take the forms
of relevant legislation, staffing, funding,
and management plans, as described below in
Paragraph 24 (b) (ii) for cultural properties,
and in Paragraph 44 (b) (vi) for natural
properties.
(vi) When a property has deteriorated to the extent
that it has lost those characteristics which
determined its inclusion in the World Heritage
List. It should be placed on the World
Heritage in Danger List, subsequently the
procedure concerning the possible deletion
from the List will be applied. This procedure
is set out in paragraphs 46 to 54 below.
(vii) In view of the difficulty in handling the
large numbers of cultural nominations now
being received, however, the Committee invites
States Parties to consider whether their
cultural heritage is already well represented
on the List and if so to slow down voluntarily
their rate of submission of further
nominations. This would help in making it
possible for the List to become more
universally representative. By the same token,
the Committee calls on States Parties whose
cultural heritage is not yet adequately
represented on the List and who might need
assistance in preparing nominations of
cultural properties to seek such assistance
from the Committee.
B. Indications to States Parties concerning
nominations to the List
7. The Committee requests each State Party to submit
to it a tentative list of properties which it intends
to nominate for inscription to the World Heritage List
during the following five to ten years. This tentative
list will constitute the "inventory" (provided for in
Article 11 of the Convention) of the cultural and
natural properties situated within the territory of
each State Party and which it considers suitable for
inclusion in the World Heritage List. The purpose of
these tentative lists is to enable the Committee to
evaluate within the widest possible context the
"outstanding universal value" of each property
nominated to the List. The Committee hopes that States
Parties that have not yet submitted a tentative list
will do so as early as possible. States Parties are
reminded of the Committee's earlier decision not to
consider cultural nominations unless such a list of
cultural properties has been submitted.
8. In order to facilitate the work of all concerned,
the Committee requests States Parties to submit their
tentative lists in a standard format (see Annex 1)
which provides for information under the following
headings:
- the name of the property;
- the geographical location of the property;
- a brief description of the property;
- a justification of the "outstanding universal
value" of the property in accordance with the
criteria and conditions of authenticity or
integrity set out in paragraphs 24 and 44
below, taking account of similar properties
both inside and outside the boundaries of the
State concerned.
Natural properties should be grouped according to
biogeographical provinces and cultural properties
should be grouped according to cultural periods or
areas. The order in which the properties listed would
be presented for inscription should also be indicated,
if possible.
9. The fundamental principle stipulated in the
Convention is that properties nominated must be of
outstanding universal value and the properties
nominated therefore should be carefully selected. The
criteria and conditions of authenticity or integrity
against which the Committee will evaluate properties
are set out in paragraphs 24 and 44 below. Within a
given geo-cultural region, it may be desirable for
States Parties to make comparative assessments for the
harmonization of tentative lists and nominations of
cultural properties. Support for the organization of
meetings for this purpose may be requested under the
World Heritage Fund.
10. Each nomination should be presented in the form of
a well-argued case. It should be submitted on the
appropriate form (see paragraph 64 below) and should
provide all the information to demonstrate that the
property nominated is truly of "outstanding universal
value". Each nomination should be supported by all the
necessary documentation, including suitable slides and
maps and other material. With regard to cultural
properties, States Parties are invited to attach to
the nomination forms a brief analysis of references in
world literature (e.g. reference works such as general
or specialized encyclopaedias, histories of art or
architecture, records of voyages and explorations,
scientific reports, guidebooks, etc.) along with a
comprehensive bibliography. With regard to
newly-discovered properties, evidence of the attention
which the discovery has received internationally would
be equally helpful.
11. Under the management section of the nomination
form States Parties should provide, in addition to the
legal texts protecting the property being nominated,
an explanation of the way in which these laws actually
operate. Such an analysis is preferable to a mere
enumeration or compilation of the legal texts
themselves.
12. When nominating properties belonging to certain
well-represented categories of cultural property the
nominating State Party should provide a comparative
evaluation of the property in relation to other
properties of a similar type, as already required in
paragraph 7 with regard to the tentative lists.
13. In certain cases it may be necessary for States
Parties to consult the Secretariat and the specialized
NGO concerned informally before submitting nomination
forms. The Committee reminds States Parties that
assistance for the purpose of preparing comprehensive
and sound nominations is available to them at their
request under the World Heritage Fund.
14. Participation of local people in the nomination
process is essential to make them feel a shared
responsibility with the State Party in the maintenance
of the site.
15. In nominating properties to the List, States
Parties are invited to keep in mind the desirability
of achieving a reasonable balance between the numbers
of cultural heritage and natural heritage properties
included in the World Heritage List.
16. In cases where a cultural and/or natural property
which fulfills the criteria adopted by the Committee
extends beyond national borders the States Parties
concerned are encouraged to submit a joint nomination.
17. Whenever necessary for the proper conservation of
a cultural or natural property nominated, an adequate
"buffer zone" around a property should be provided and
should be afforded the necessary protection. A buffer
zone can be defined as an area surrounding the
property which has restrictions placed on its use to
give an added layer of protection; the area
constituting the buffer zone should be determined in
each case through technical studies. Details on the
size, characteristics and authorized uses of a buffer
zone, as well as a map indicating its precise
boundaries, should be provided in the nomination file
relating to the property in question.
18. In keeping with the spirit of the Convention,
States Parties should as far as possible endeavour to
include in their submissions properties which derive
their outstanding universal value from a particularly
significant combination of cultural and natural
features.
19. States Parties may propose in a single nomination
a series of cultural or natural properties in
different geographical locations, provided that they
are related because they belong to:
(i) the same historico-cultural group or
(ii) the same type of property which is
characteristic of the geographical zone
(iii) the same geomorphological formation, the
same biogeographic province, or the same
ecosystem type
and provided that it is the series as such, and not
its components taken individually, which is of
outstanding universal value.
20. When a series of cultural or natural properties,
as defined in paragraph 19 above, consists of
properties situated in the territory of more than one
State Party to the Convention, the States Parties
concerned are encouraged to jointly submit a single
nomination.
21. States Parties are encouraged to prepare plans for
the management of each natural site nominated and for
the safeguarding of each cultural property nominated.
All information concerning these plans should be made
available when technical co-operation is requested.
22. Where the intrinsic qualities of a property
nominated are threatened by action of man and yet meet
the criteria and the conditions of authenticity or
integrity set out in paragraphs 24 and 44, an action
plan outlining the corrective measures required should
be submitted with the nomination file. Should the
corrective measures submitted by the nominating State
not be taken within the time proposed by the State,
the property will be considered by the Committee for
delisting in accordance with the procedure adopted by
the Committee.
C. Criteria for the inclusion of cultural properties
in the World Heritage List
23. The criteria for the inclusion of cultural
properties in the World Heritage List should always be
seen in relation to one another and should be
considered in the context of the definition set out in
Article 1 of the Convention which is reproduced below:
"monuments: architectural works, works of
monumental sculpture and painting, elements or
structures of an archaeological nature,
inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations of
features, which are of outstanding universal value
from the point of view of history, art or science;
groups of buildings: groups of separate or
connected buildings which, because of their
architecture, their homogeneity or their place in
the landscape, are of outstanding universal value
from the point of view of history, art or science;
sites: works of man or the combined works of
nature and of man, and areas including
archaeological sites which are of outstanding
universal value from the historical, aesthetic,
ethnological or anthropological points of view."
24. A monument, group of buildings or site - as
defined above - which is nominated for inclusion in
the World Heritage List will be considered to be of
outstanding universal value for the purpose of the
Convention when the Committee finds that it meets one
or more of the following criteria and the test of
authenticity. Each property nominated should
therefore:
(a) (i) represent a masterpiece of human creative
genius; or
(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; or
(iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional
testimony to a cultural tradition or to a
civilization which is living or which has
disappeared; or
(iv) be an outstanding example of a type of
building or architectural or
technological ensemble or landscape which
illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in
human history; or
(v) be an outstanding example of a
traditional human settlement or land-use
which is representative of a culture (or
cultures), especially when it has become
vulnerable under the impact of
irreversible change; or
(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 justify
inclusion in the List only in exceptional
circumstances and in conjunction with
other criteria cultural or natural);
and
(b) (i) meet the test of authenticity in
design, material, workmanship or setting
and in the case of cultural landscapes
their distinctive character and
components (the Committee stressed that
reconstruction is only acceptable if it
is carried out on the basis of complete
and detailed documentation on the
original and to no extent on conjecture).
(ii) have adequate legal and/or
contractual and/or traditional protection
and management mechanisms to ensure the
conservation of the nominated cultural
properties or cultural landscapes. The
existence of protective legislation at
the national, provincial or municipal
level and/or a well-established
contractual or traditional protection as
well as of adequate management and/or
planning control mechanisms is therefore
essential and, as is clearly indicated in
the following paragraph, must be stated
clearly on the nomination form.
Assurances of the effective
implementation of these laws and/or
contractual and/or traditional protection
as well as of these management mechanisms
are also expected. Furthermore, in order
to preserve the integrity of cultural
sites, particularly those open to large
numbers of visitors, the State Party
concerned should be able to provide
evidence of suitable administrative
arrangements to cover the management of
the property, its conservation and its
accessibility to the public.
25. Nominations of immovable property which are likely
to become movable will not be considered.
26. With respect to groups of urban buildings, the
Committee has furthermore adopted the following
Guidelines concerning their inclusion in the World
Heritage List.
27. Groups of urban buildings eligible for inclusion
in the World Heritage List fall into three main
categories, namely:
(i) towns which are no longer inhabited but which
provide unchanged archaeological evidence of
the past; these generally satisfy the
criterion of authenticity and their state of
conservation can be relatively easily
controlled;
(ii) historic towns which are still inhabited and
which, by their very nature, have developed
and will continue to develop under the
influence of socio-economic and cultural
change, a situation that renders the
assessment of their authenticity more
difficult and any conservation policy more
problematical;
(iii) new towns of the twentieth century which
paradoxically have something in common with
both the aforementioned categories: while
their original urban organization is clearly
recognizable and their authenticity is
undeniable, their future is unclear because
their development is largely uncontrollable.
28. The evaluation of towns that are no longer
inhabited does not raise any special difficulties
other than those related to archaeological sites in
general: the criteria which call for uniqueness or
exemplary character have led to the choice of groups
of buildings noteworthy for their purity of style, for
the concentrations of monuments they contain and
sometimes for their important historical associations.
It is important for urban archaeological sites to be
listed as integral units. A cluster of monuments or a
small group of buildings is not adequate to suggest
the multiple and complex functions of a city which has
disappeared; remains of such a city should be
preserved in their entirety together with their
natural surroundings whenever possible.
29. In the case of inhabited historic towns the
difficulties are numerous, largely owing to the
fragility of their urban fabric (which has in many
cases been seriously disrupted since the advent of the
industrial era) and the runaway speed with which their
surroundings have been urbanized. To qualify for
inclusion, towns should compel recognition because of
their architectural interest and should not be
considered only on the intellectual grounds of the
role they may have played in the past or their value
as historical symbols under criterion (vi) for the
inclusion of cultural properties in the World Heritage
List (see paragraph 24 above). To be eligible for
inclusion in the List, the spatial organization,
structure, materials, forms and, where possible,
functions of a group of buildings should essentially
reflect the civilization or succession of
civilizations which have prompted the nomination of
the property. Four categories can be distinguished:
(i) Towns which are typical of a specific
period or culture, which have been almost
wholly preserved and which have remained
largely unaffected by subsequent developments.
Here the property to be listed is the entire
town together with its surroundings, which
must also be protected;
(ii) Towns that have evolved along characteristic
lines and have preserved, sometimes in the
midst of exceptional natural surroundings,
spatial arrangements and structures that are
typical of the successive stages in their
history. Here the clearly defined historic
part takes precedence over the contemporary
environment;
(iii) "Historic centres" that cover exactly the same
area as ancient towns and are now enclosed
within modern cities. Here it is necessary to
determine the precise limits of the property
in its widest historical dimensions and to
make appropriate provision for its immediate
surroundings;
(iv) Sectors, areas or isolated units which, even
in the residual state in which they have
survived, provide coherent evidence of the
character of a historic town which has
disappeared. In such cases surviving areas and
buildings should bear sufficient testimony to
the former whole.
30. Historic centres and historic areas should be
listed only where they contain a large number of
ancient buildings of monumental importance which
provide a direct indication of the characteristic
features of a town of exceptional interest.
Nominations of several isolated and unrelated
buildings which allegedly represent, in themselves, a
town whose urban fabric has ceased to be discernible,
should not be encouraged.
31. However, nominations could be made regarding
properties that occupy a limited space but have had a
major influence on the history of town planning. In
such cases, the nomination should make it clear that
it is the monumental group that is to be listed and
that the town is mentioned only incidentally as the
place where the property is located. Similarly, if a
building of clearly universal significance is located
in severely degraded or insufficiently representative
urban surroundings, it should, of course, be listed
without any special reference to the town.
32. It is difficult to assess the quality of new towns
of the twentieth century. History alone will tell
which of them will best serve as examples of
contemporary town planning. The examination of the
files on these towns should be deferred, save under
exceptional circumstances.
33. Under present conditions, preference should be
given to the inclusion in the World Heritage List of
small or medium-sized urban areas which are in a
position to manage any potential growth, rather than
the great metropolises, on which sufficiently complete
information and documentation cannot readily be
provided that would serve as a satisfactory basis for
their inclusion in their entirety.
34. In view of the effects which the entry of a town
in the World Heritage List could have on its future,
such entries should be exceptional. Inclusion in the
List implies that legislative and administrative
measures have already been taken to ensure the
protection of the group of buildings and its
environment. Informed awareness on the part of the
population concerned, without whose active
participation any conservation scheme would be
impractical, is also essential.
35. With respect to cultural landscapes, the Committee
has furthermore adopted the following guidelines
concerning their inclusion in the World Heritage List.
36. Cultural landscapes represent the "combined works
of nature and of man" designated in Article 1 of the
Convention. They are illustrative of the evolution of
human society and settlement over time, under the
influence of the physical constraints and/or
opportunities presented by their natural environment
and of successive social, economic and cultural
forces, both external and internal. They should be
selected on the basis both of their outstanding
universal value and of their representativity in terms
of a clearly defined geo-cultural region and also for
their capacity to illustrate the essential and
distinct cultural elements of such regions.
37. The term "cultural landscape" embraces a diversity
of manifestations of the interaction between humankind
and its natural environment.
38. Cultural landscapes often reflect specific
techniques of sustainable land-use, considering the
characteristics and limits of the natural environment
they are established in, and a specific spiritual
relation to nature. Protection of cultural landscapes
can contribute to modern techniques of sustainable
land-use and can maintain or enhance natural values in
the landscape. The continued existence of traditional
forms of land-use supports biological diversity in
many regions of the world. The protection of
traditional cultural landscapes is therefore helpful
in maintaining biological diversity.
39. Cultural landscapes fall into three main
categories, namely:
(i) The most easily identifiable is the clearly
defined landscape designed and created
intentionally by man. This embraces garden
and parkland landscapes constructed for
aesthetic reasons which are often (but not
always) associated with religious or other
monumental buildings and ensembles.
(ii) The second category is the organically evolved
landscape. This results from an initial
social, economic, administrative, and/or
religious imperative and has developed its
present form by association with and in
response to its natural environment. Such
landscapes reflect that process of evolution
in their form and component features. They
fall into two sub-categories:
- a relict (or fossil) landscape is one in
which an evolutionary process came to an
end at some time in the past, either
abruptly or over a period. Its
significant distinguishing features are,
however, still visible in material form.
- a continuing landscape is one which
retains an active social role in
contemporary society closely associated
with the traditional way of life, and in
which the evolutionary process is still
in progress. At the same time it
exhibits significant material evidence of
its evolution over time.
(iii) The final category is the associative
cultural landscape. The inclusion of such
landscapes on the World Heritage List is
justifiable by virtue of the powerful
religious, artistic or cultural associations
of the natural element rather than material
cultural evidence, which may be insignificant
or even absent.
40. The extent of a cultural landscape for inclusion
on the World Heritage List is relative to its
functionality and intelligibility. In any case, the
sample selected must be substantial enough to
adequately represent the totality of the cultural
landscape that it illustrates. The possibility of
designating long linear areas which represent
culturally significant transport and communication
networks should not be excluded.
41. The general criteria for conservation and
management laid down in paragraph 24.(b).(ii) above
are equally applicable to cultural landscapes. It is
important that due attention be paid to the full range
of values represented in the landscape, both cultural
and natural. The nominations should be prepared in
collaboration with and the full approval of local
communities.
42. The existence of a category of "cultural landscape",
included on the World Heritage List on the basis of
the criteria set out in paragraph 24 above, does not
exclude the possibility of sites of exceptional
importance in relation to both cultural and natural
criteria continuing to be included. In such cases,
their outstanding universal significance must be
justified under both sets of criteria.
D. Criteria for the inclusion of natural properties
in the World Heritage List
43. In accordance with Article 2 of the Convention,
the following is considered as "natural heritage":
"natural features consisting of physical and
biological formations or groups of such
formations, which are of outstanding universal
value from the aesthetic or scientific point of
view;
geological and physiographical formations and
precisely delineated areas which constitute the
habitat of threatened species of animals and
plants of outstanding universal value from the
point of view of science or conservation;
natural sites or precisely delineated natural
areas of outstanding universal value from the
point of view of science, conservation or natural
beauty."
44. A natural heritage property - as defined above -
which is submitted for inclusion in the World Heritage
List will be considered to be of outstanding universal
value for the purposes of the Convention when the
Committee finds that it meets one or more of the
following criteria and fulfills the conditions of
integrity set out below. Sites nominated should
therefore:
(a) (i) be outstanding examples representing
major stages of earth's history,
including the record of life, significant
on-going geological processes in the
development of land forms, or significant
geomorphic or physiographic features; or
(ii) 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; or
(iii) contain superlative natural phenomena
or areas of exceptional natural beauty
and aesthetic importance; or
(iv) 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;
and
(b) also fulfil the following conditions of
integrity:
(i) The sites described in 44(a)(i) should
contain all or most of the key
interrelated and interdependent elements
in their natural relationships; for
example, an "ice age" area should include
the snow field, the glacier itself and
samples of cutting patterns,
deposition and colonization (e.g.
striations, moraines, pioneer stages of
plant succession, etc.); in the case of
volcanoes, the magmatic series should be
complete and all or most of the varieties
of effusive rocks and types of eruptions
be represented.
(ii) The sites described in 44(a)(ii) should
have sufficient size and contain the
necessary elements to demonstrate the key
aspects of processes that are essential
for the long-term conservation of the
ecosystems and the biological diversity
they contain; for example, an area of
tropical rain forest should include a
certain amount of variation in elevation
above sea-level, changes in topography
and soil types, patch systems and
naturally regenerating patches; similarly
a coral reef should include, for example,
seagrass, mangrove or other adjacent
ecosystems that regulate nutrient and
sediment inputs into the reef.
(iii) The sites described in 44(a)(iii)
should be of outstanding aesthetic value
and include areas that are essential for
maintaining the beauty of the site; for
example, a site whose scenic values
depend on a waterfall, should include
adjacent catchment and downstream areas
that are integrally linked to the
maintenance of the aesthetic qualities of
the site.
(iv) The sites described in paragraph
44(a)(iv) should contain habitats for
maintaining the most diverse fauna and
flora characteristic of the biographic
province and ecosystems under
consideration; for example, a tropical
savannah should include a complete
assemblage of co-evolved herbivores and
plants; an island ecosystem should
include habitats for maintaining endemic
biota; a site containing wide-ranging
species should be large enough to include
the most critical habitats essential to
ensure the survival of viable populations
of those species; for an area containing
migratory species, seasonal breeding and
nesting sites, and migratory routes,
wherever they are located, should be
adequately protected; international
conventions, e.g. the Convention of
Wetlands of International Importance
Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar
Convention), for ensuring the protection
of habitats of migratory species of
waterfowl, and other multi- and bilateral
agreements could provide this assurance.
(v) The sites described in paragraph 44(a)
should have a management plan. When a
site does not have a management plan at
the time when it is nominated for the
consideration of the World Heritage
Committee, the State Party concerned
should indicate when such a plan will
become available and how it proposes to
mobilize the resources required for the
preparation and implementation of the
plan. The State Party should also
provide other document(s) (e.g.
operational plans) which will guide the
management of the site until such time
when a management plan is finalized.
(vi) A site described in paragraph 44(a)
should have adequate long-term
legislative, regulatory or institutional
protection. The boundaries of that site
should reflect the spatial requirements
of habitats, species, processes or
phenomena that provide the basis for its
nomination for inscription on the World
Heritage List. The boundaries should
include sufficient areas immediately
adjacent to the area of outstanding
universal value in order to protect the
site's heritage values from direct
effects of human encroachment and impacts
of resource use outside of the nominated
area. The boundaries of the nominated
site may coincide with one or more
existing or proposed protected areas,
such as national parks or biosphere
reserves. While an existing or proposed
protected area may contain several
management zones, only some of those
zones may satisfy criteria described in
paragraph 44(a); other zones, although
they may not meet the criteria set out in
paragraph 44(a), may be essential for the
management to ensure the integrity of the
nominated site; for example, in the case
of a biosphere reserve, only the core
zone may meet the criteria and the
conditions of integrity, although other
zones, i.e. buffer and transitional
zones, would be important for the
conservation of the biosphere reserve in
its totality.
(vii) Sites described in paragraph 44(a) should
be the most important sites for the
conservation of biological diversity.
Biological diversity, according to the
new global Convention on Biological
Diversity , means the variability among
living organisms in terrestrial, marine
and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are
part and includes diversity within
species, between species and of
ecosystems. Only those sites which are
the most biologically diverse are likely
to meet criterion (iv) of paragraph 44 (a).
45. In principle, a site could be inscribed on the
World Heritage List as long as it satisfies one of the
four criteria and the relevant conditions of
integrity. However, most inscribed sites have met two
or more criteria. Nomination dossiers, IUCN
evaluations and the final recommendations of the
Committee on each inscribed site are available for
consultation by States Parties which may wish to use
such information as guides for identifying and
elaborating nomination of sites within their own
territories.
E. Procedure for the eventual deletion of properties
from the World Heritage List
46. The Committee adopted the following procedure for
the deletion of properties from the World Heritage
List in cases:
(a) where the property has deteriorated to the
extent that it has lost those characteristics
which determined its inclusion in the World
Heritage List; and
(b) where the intrinsic qualities of a World
Heritage site were already threatened at the
time of its nomination by action of man and
where the necessary corrective measures as
outlined by the State Party at the time, have
not been taken within the time proposed.
47. When a property inscribed on the World Heritage
List has seriously deteriorated, or when the necessary
corrective measures have not been taken within the
time proposed, the State Party on whose territory the
property is situated should so inform the Secretariat
of the Committee.
48. When the Secretariat receives such information
from a source other than the State Party concerned, it
will, as far as possible, verify the source and the
contents of the information in consultation with the
State Party concerned and request its comments.
49. The Secretariat will request the competent
advisory organization(s) (ICOMOS, IUCN or ICCROM) to
forward comments on the information received.
50. The information received, together with the
comments of the State Party and the advisory
organization(s), will be brought to the attention of
the Bureau of the Committee. The Bureau may take one
of the following steps:
(a) it may decide that the property has not
seriously deteriorated and that no further
action should be taken;
(b) when the Bureau considers that the property
has seriously deteriorated, but not to the
extent that its restoration is impossible, it
may recommend to the Committee that the
property be maintained on the List, provided
that the State Party takes the necessary
measures to restore the property within a
reasonable period of time. The Bureau may also
recommend that technical co-operation be
provided under the World Heritage Fund for
work connected with the restoration of the
property, proposing to the State Party to
request such assistance, if it has not already
been done;
(c) when there is evidence that the property has
deteriorated to the point where it has
irretrievably lost those characteristics which
determined its inclusion in the List, the
Bureau may recommend that the Committee delete
the property from the List; before any such
recommendation is submitted to the Committee,
the Secretariat will inform the State Party
concerned of the Bureau's recommendation; any
comments which the State Party may make with
respect to the recommendation of the Bureau
will be brought to the attention of the
Committee, together with the Bureau's
recommendation;
(d) when the information available is not
sufficient to enable the Bureau to take one of
the measures described in (a), (b) or (c)
above, the Bureau may recommend to the
Committee that the Secretariat be authorized
to take the necessary action to ascertain, in
consultation with the State Party concerned,
the present condition of the property, the
dangers to the property and the feasibility of
adequately restoring the property, and to
report to the Bureau on the results of its
action; such measures may include the sending
of a fact-finding mission or the consultation
of specialists. In cases where emergency
action is required, the Bureau may itself
authorize the financing from the World
Heritage Fund of the emergency assistance that
is required.
51. The Committee will examine the recommendation of
the Bureau and all the information available and will
take a decision. Any such decision shall, in
accordance with Article 13 (8) of the Convention, be
taken by a majority of two-thirds of its members
present and voting. The Committee shall not decide to
delete any property unless the State Party has been
consulted on the question.
52. The State Party shall be informed of the
Committee's decision and public notice of this
decision shall be immediately given by the Committee.
53. If the Committee's decision entails any
modification to the World Heritage List, this
modification will be reflected in the next updated
list that is published.
54. In adopting the above procedure, the Committee was
particularly concerned that all possible measures
should be taken to prevent the deletion of any
property from the List and was ready to offer
technical co-operation as far as possible to States
Parties in this connection. Furthermore, the Committee
wishes to draw the attention of States Parties to the
stipulations of Article 4 of the Convention which
reads as follows:
"Each State Party to this Convention recognizes
that the duty of ensuring the identification,
protection, conservation, presentation and
transmission to future generations of the cultural
and natural heritage referred to in Articles 1 and
2 and situated on its territory, belongs primarily
to that State...".
55. In this connection, the Committee recommends that
States Parties co-operate with the advisory bodies
which have been asked by the Committee to carry out
monitoring and reporting on its behalf on the progress
of work undertaken for the preservation of properties
inscribed on the World Heritage List.
56. The World Heritage Committee invites the States
Parties to the Convention Concerning the Protection of
the World Cultural and Natural Heritage to inform the
Committee, through the UNESCO Secretariat, of their
intention to undertake or to authorize in an area
protected under the Convention major restorations or
new constructions which may affect the World Heritage
value of the property. Notice should be given as soon
as possible (for instance, before drafting basic
documents for specific projects) and before making any
decisions that would be difficult to reverse, so that
the Committee may assist in seeking appropriate
solutions to ensure that the world heritage value of
the site is fully preserved.
F. Guidelines for the evaluation and examination of
nominations
57. The evaluation of whether or not individual sites
nominated by States Parties satisfy the criteria and
the conditions of authenticity/integrity will be
carried out by the International Council on Monuments
and Sites (ICOMOS) for cultural properties and by the
World Conservation Union (IUCN) for natural
properties. In the case of nominations of cultural
properties in the category of 'cultural landscapes',
as appropriate, the evaluation will be carried out in
consultation with the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
ICOMOS and IUCN present evaluation reports to the
Bureau of the World Heritage Committee.
ICOMOS and IUCN, taking into account the decisions
of the Bureau and additional information that might
have been received from the nominating State Party,
present a final evaluation report to the World
Heritage Committee.
The report of the World Heritage Committee's
session will include its decision, the criteria under
which the nominated site has been inscribed, the
justification of their application as well as any
recommendation the Committee may wish to make on that
occasion.
58. The World Heritage List should be as
representative as possible of all cultural and natural
properties which meet the Convention's requirement of
outstanding universal value and the cultural and
natural criteria and the conditions of authenticity or
integrity adopted by the Committee (see paragraphs 24
to 44 above).
59. Each cultural property, including its state of
preservation, should be evaluated relatively, that is,
it should be compared with that of other property of
the same type dating from the same period, both inside
and outside the State Party's borders.
60. Each natural site should be evaluated relatively,
that is, it should be compared with other sites of the
same type, both inside and outside the State Party's
borders, within a biogeographic province or migratory
pattern.
61. Furthermore ICOMOS and IUCN should pay particular
attention to the following points which relate to the
evaluation and examination of nominations:
(a) both NGOs are encouraged to be as strict as
possible in their evaluations;
(b) the manner of the professional evaluation
carried out by ICOMOS and IUCN should be fully
described when each nomination is presented;
(c) ICOMOS is requested to make comparative
evaluations of properties belonging to the
same type of cultural property;
(d) IUCN is requested to make comments and
recommendations on the integrity and future
management of each property recommended by the
Bureau, during its presentation to the
Committee;
(e) the NGO concerned is encouraged to present
slides on the properties recommended for the
World Heritage List during the preliminary
discussions which take place prior to the
examination of individual proposals for
inscription on the List.
62. Representatives of a State Party, whether or not a
member of the Committee, shall not speak to advocate
the inclusion in the List of a property nominated by
that State, but only to deal with a point of
information in answer to a question.
63. The criteria for which a specific property is
included in the World Heritage List will be set out by
the Committee in its reports and publications, along
with a clearly stated summary of the characteristics
which justified the inclusion of the property which
should be reflected in its future management.
G. Format and content of nominations
64. The same form approved by the Committee is used
for the submission of nominations of cultural and
natural properties. Although it is recognized that all
properties have specific characteristics, States
Parties are encouraged to provide information and
documentation on the following items2.
1. Identification of the Property
a. Country (and State Party if different)
b. State, Province or Region
c. Name of Property
d. Exact location on map and indication of
geographical coordinates to the nearest second
e. Maps and/or plans showing boundary of area
proposed for inscription and of any buffer
zone
f. Area of site proposed for inscription (ha.)
and proposed buffer zone (ha.) if any
2. Justification for Inscription
a. Statement of significance
b. Possible comparative analysis (including state
of conservation of similar sites)
c. Authenticity/Integrity
d. Criteria under which inscription is proposed
(and justification for inscription under these
criteria)
3. Description
a. Description of Property
b. History and Development
c. Form and date of most recent records of site
d. Present state of conservation
e. Policies and programmes related to the
presentation and promotion of the
property
4. Management
a. Ownership
b. Legal status
c. Protective measures and means of
implementing them
d. Agency/agencies with management authority
e. Level at which management is exercised
(e.g., on site, regionally) and
name and address of responsible person
for contact purposes
f. Agreed plans related to property (e.g.,
regional, local plan, conservation plan,
tourism development plan)
g. Sources and levels of finance
h. Sources of expertise and training in
conservation and management techniques
i. Visitor facilities and statistics
j. Site management plan and statement of
objectives (copy to be annexed)
k. Staffing levels (professional, technical,
maintenance)
5. Factors Affecting the Site
a. Development Pressures (e.g.,
encroachment, adaptation, agriculture,
mining)
b. Environmental Pressures (e.g., pollution,
climate change)
c. Natural disasters and preparedness
(earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.)
d. Visitor/tourism pressures
e. Number of inhabitants within site, buffer zone
f. Other
6. Monitoring
a. Key indicators for measuring state of
conservation
b. Administrative arrangements for
monitoring property
c. Results of previous reporting exercises
7. Documentation
a. Photographs, slides and, where available, film/video
b. Copies of site management plans and
extracts of other plans relevant to the site
c. Bibliography
d. Address where inventory, records and
archives are held
8. Signature on behalf of the State Party
The Committee adopted at its twentieth session
substantive Explanatory Notes to the above nomination
form. These notes relate to each of the above headings
and will be made available as an annex to the
nomination form to the States Parties in order to
provide guidance to those nominating properties for
inclusion on the World Heritage List.
H. Procedure and timetable for the processing of
nominations
65. The annual schedule set out below has been fixed
for the receipt and processing of nominations to the
World Heritage List. It should be emphasized, however,
that the process of nominating properties to the World
Heritage List is an ongoing one. Nominations to the
List can be submitted at any time during the year.
Those received by 1 July of a given year will be
considered during the following year. Those received
after 1 July of a given year can only be considered in
the second subsequent year. Despite the inconvenience
it may cause certain States Parties, the Committee has
decided to bring forward the deadline for submission
of nominations in order to ensure that all working
documents can be made available to the Bureau as well
as States members of the Committee no later than 6
weeks before the start of the sessions of the Bureau
and the Committee. This will also enable the Committee
at its annual December session to be made aware of the
number and nature of nominations to be examined at its
next session the following year.
1 July
Deadline for receipt by the Secretariat of
nominations to be considered by the Committee the
following year.
15 September
The Secretariat:
(1) registers each nomination and thoroughly
verifies its contents and accompanying
documentation. In the case of incomplete
nominations, the Secretariat must immediately
request the missing information from States
Parties.
(2) transmits nominations, provided they are
complete, to the appropriate international
non-governmental organization (ICOMOS, IUCN or
both), which:
immediately examines each nomination to
ascertain those cases in which additional
information is required and takes the
necessary steps, in co-operation with the
Secretariat, to obtain the complementary
data, and
By 1 April
The appropriate non-governmental organization
undertakes a professional evaluation of each
nomination according to the criteria adopted by
the Committee. It transmits these evaluations to
the Secretariat under three categories:
(a) properties which are recommended for
inscription without reservation;
(b) properties which are not recommended for
inscription;
(c) properties whose eligibility for inscription
is not considered absolutely clear.
During April
The Secretariat checks the evaluations of the
non-governmental organizations and ensures that
States members of the Committee receive them by 1
May with available documentation.
June/July
The Bureau examines the nominations and makes its
recommendations thereon to the Committee under the
following four categories:
(a) properties which it recommends for inscription
without reservation;
(b) properties which it does not recommend for
inscription;
(c) properties that need to be referred back to
the nominating State for further information
or documentation;
(d) properties whose examination should be
deferred on the ground that a more in-depth
assessment or study is needed.
July-November
The report of the Bureau is transmitted by the
Secretariat as soon as possible to all States
Parties members of the Committee, as well as to
all States Parties concerned. The Secretariat
endeavours to obtain from the States Parties
concerned the additional information requested on
properties under category (c) above and transmits
this information to ICOMOS, IUCN and States
members of the Committee. If the requested
information is not obtained by 1 October, the
nomination will not be eligible for review by the
Committee at its regular session in the same year.
Nominations assigned to category (c) by the Bureau
may not be examined except in the case that
missing information at the time of the Bureau was
factual. Nominations assigned to category (d)
will not be examined by the Committee the same
year.
December
The Committee examines the nominations on the
basis of the Bureau's recommendations, together
with any additional information provided by the
States Parties concerned as well as the comments
thereon of ICOMOS and IUCN. It classifies its
decisions on nominated properties in the following
three categories:
(a) properties which it inscribes on the World
Heritage List;
(b) properties which it decides not to inscribe on
the List;
(c) properties whose consideration is deferred.
January
The Secretariat forwards the report of the
December session of the World Heritage Committee,
which contains all the decisions taken by the
Committee, to all States Parties.
66. In the event that a State Party wishes to nominate
an extension to a property already inscribed on the
World Heritage List, the same documentation should be
provided and the same procedure shall apply as for new
nominations, set out in paragraph 64 above. This
provision will not apply for extensions which are
simple modifications of these limits of the property
in question: in this case, the request for
modification of these limits is submitted directly to
the Bureau which will examine in particular the
relevant maps and plans. The Bureau can approve such
modifications, or it may consider that the change is
sufficiently important to constitute an extension of
the property, in which case the procedure for new
nominations will apply.
67. The normal deadlines for the submission and
processing of nominations will not apply in the case
of properties which, in the opinion of the Bureau,
after consultation with the competent international
non-governmental organization, would unquestionably
meet the criteria for inclusion in the World Heritage
List and which have suffered damage from disaster
caused by natural events or by human activities. Such
nominations will be processed on an emergency basis.
II. MONITORING THE STATE OF CONSERVATION OF PROPERTIES
INSCRIBED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
68. One of the essential functions of the Committee is
to monitor the state of conservation of properties
inscribed on the World Heritage List and to take
action thereupon. In the following, a distinction will
be made between systematic and reactive monitoring.
A. Systematic monitoring and reporting
69. Systematic monitoring and reporting is the
continuous process of observing the conditions of
World Heritage sites with periodic reporting on its
state of conservation.
The objectives of systematic monitoring and
reporting are:
World Heritage site: Improved site management,
advanced planning, reduction of emergency and ad-
hoc interventions, and reduction of costs through
preventive conservation.
State Party: Improved World Heritage policies,
advanced planning, improved site management and
preventive conservation.
Region: Regional cooperation, regional World
Heritage policies and activities better targeted
to the specific needs of the region.
Committee/Secretariat: Better understanding of the
conditions of the sites and of the needs on the
site, national and regional levels. Improved
policy and decision making.
70. It is the prime responsibility of the States
Parties to put in place on-site monitoring
arrangements as an integral component of day-to-day
conservation and management of the sites. States
Parties should do so in close collaboration with the
site managers or the agency with management authority.
It is necessary that every year the conditions of the
site be recorded by the site manager or the agency
with management authority.
71. The States Parties are invited to submit to the
World Heritage Committee through the World Heritage
Centre, every five years, a scientific report on the
state of conservation of the World Heritage sites on
their territories. To this end, the States Parties may
request expert advice from the Secretariat or the
advisory bodies. The Secretariat may also commission
expert advice with the agreement of the States
Parties.
72. To facilitate the work of the Committee and its
Secretariat and to achieve greater regionalization and
decentralization of World Heritage work, these reports
will be examined separately by region as determined by
the Committee. The World Heritage Centre will
synthesize the national reports by regions. In doing
so, full use will be made of the available expertise
of the advisory bodies and other organizations.
73. The Committee will decide for which regions state
of conservation reports should be presented to its
forthcoming sessions. The States Parties concerned
will be informed at least one year in advance so as to
give them sufficient time to prepare the state of
conservation reports.
74. The Secretariat will take the necessary measures
for adequate World Heritage information collection and
management, making full use, to the extent possible,
of the information/documentation services of the
advisory bodies and others.
B. Reactive monitoring
75. Reactive monitoring is the reporting by the World
Heritage Centre, other sectors of UNESCO and the
advisory bodies to the Bureau and the Committee on the
state of conservation of specific World Heritage sites
that are under threat. To this end, the States Parties
shall submit to the Committee through the World
Heritage Centre, specific reports and impact studies
each time exceptional circumstances occur or work is
undertaken which may have an effect on the state of
conservation of the site. Reactive monitoring is
foreseen in the procedures for the eventual deletion
of properties from the World Heritage List as set out
in paras. 48-56. It is also foreseen in reference to
properties inscribed, or to be inscribed, on the List
of World Heritage in Danger as set out in paras. 82-
89.
III. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE IN
DANGER
A. Guidelines for the inclusion of properties in the
List of World Heritage in Danger
76. In accordance with Article 11, paragraph 4, of the
Convention, the Committee may include a property in
the List of World Heritage in Danger when the
following requirements are met:
(i) the property under consideration is on the
World Heritage List;
(ii) the property is threatened by serious and
specific danger;
(iii) major operations are necessary for the
conservation of the property;
(iv) assistance under the Convention has been
requested for the property; the Committee is
of the view that its assistance in certain
cases may most effectively be limited to
messages of its concern, including the message
sent by inclusion of a site on the List of
World Heritage in Danger and that such
assistance may be requested by any Committee
member or the Secretariat.
B. Criteria for the inclusion of properties in the
List of World Heritage in Danger
77. A World Heritage property - as defined in Articles
1 and 2 of the Convention - can be entered on the List
of World Heritage in Danger by the Committee when it
finds that the condition of the property corresponds
to at least one of the criteria in either of the two
cases described below.
78. In the case of cultural properties:
(i) ASCERTAINED DANGER - The property is faced
with specific and proven imminent danger, such as:
(a) serious deterioration of materials;
(b) serious deterioration of structure and/or
ornamental features;
(c) serious deterioration of architectural or
town-planning coherence;
(d) serious deterioration of urban or rural
space, or the natural environment;
(e) significant loss of historical
authenticity;
(f) important loss of cultural significance.
(ii) POTENTIAL DANGER - The property is faced with
threats which could have deleterious effects
on its inherent characteristics. Such threats
are, for example:
(a) modification of juridical status of the
property diminishing the degree of its
protection;
(b) lack of conservation policy;
(c) threatening effects of regional planning
projects;
(d) threatening effects of town planning;
(e) outbreak or threat of armed conflict;
(f) gradual changes due to geological,
climatic or other environmental factors.
79. In the case of natural properties:
(i) ASCERTAINED DANGER - The property is faced
with specific and proven imminent danger, such
as:
(a) A serious decline in the population of
the endangered species or the other
species of outstanding universal value
which the property was legally
established to protect, either by natural
factors such as disease or by man-made
factors such as poaching.
(b) Severe deterioration of the natural
beauty or scientific value of the
property, as by human settlement,
construction of reservoirs which flood
important parts of the property,
industrial and agricultural development
including use of pesticides and
fertilizers, major public works, mining,
pollution, logging, firewood collection,
etc.
(c) Human encroachment on boundaries or in
upstream areas which threaten the
integrity of the property.
(ii) POTENTIAL DANGER - The property is faced with
major threats which could have deleterious
effects on its inherent characteristics. Such
threats are, for example:
(a) a modification of the legal protective
status of the area;
(b) planned resettlement or development
projects within the property or so
situated that the impacts threaten the
property;
(c) outbreak or threat of armed conflict;
(d) the management plan is lacking or
inadequate, or not fully implemented.
80. In addition, the factor or factors which are
threatening the integrity of the property must be
those which are amenable to correction by human
action. In the case of cultural properties, both
natural factors and man-made factors may be
threatening, while in the case of natural properties,
most threats will be man-made and only very rarely
with a natural factor (such as an epidemic disease) be
threatening to the integrity of the property. In some
cases, the factors threatening the integrity of a
property may be corrected by administrative or
legislative action, such as the cancelling of a major
public works project or the improvement of legal
status.
81. The Committee may wish to bear in mind the
following supplementary factors when considering the
inclusion of a cultural or natural property in the
List of World Heritage in Danger:
(a) Decisions which affect World Heritage
properties are taken by Governments after
balancing all factors. The advice of the World
Heritage Committee can often be decisive if it
can be given before the property becomes
threatened.
(b) Particularly in the case of ascertained
danger, the physical or cultural
deteriorations to which a property has been
subjected should be judged according to the
intensity of its effects and analyzed case by
case.
(c) Above all in the case of potential danger to a
property, one should consider that:
- the threat should be appraised according
to the normal evolution of the social and
economic framework in which the property
is situated;
- it is often impossible to assess certain
threats - such as the threat of armed
conflict - as to their effect on cultural
or natural properties;
- some threats are not imminent in nature,
but can only be anticipated, such as
demographic growth.
(d) Finally, in its appraisal the Committee should
take into account any cause of unknown or
unexpected origin which endangers a cultural
or natural property.
C. Procedure for the inclusion of properties in the
List of World Heritage in Danger
82. When considering the inclusion of a property in
the List of World Heritage in Danger, the Committee
shall develop, and adopt, as far as possible, in
consultation with the State Party concerned, a
programme for corrective measures.
83. In order to develop the programme referred to in
the previous paragraph, the Committee shall request
the Secretariat to ascertain, as far as possible in
cooperation with the State Party concerned, the
present condition of the property, the dangers to the
property and the feasibility of undertaking corrective
measures. The Committee may further decide to send a
mission of qualified observers from IUCN, ICOMOS,
ICCROM or other organizations to visit the property,
evaluate the nature and extent of the threats and
propose the measures to be taken.
84. The information received, together with the
comments as appropriate of the State Party and the
advisory organization(s) shall be brought to the
attention of the Committee by the Secretariat.
85. The Committee shall examine the information
available and take a decision concerning the
inscription of the property on the List of World
Heritage in Danger. Any such decision shall be taken
by a majority of two-thirds of the Committee members
present and voting. The Committee will then define
the programme of corrective action to be taken. This
programme will be proposed to the State Party
concerned for immediate implementation.
86. The State Party concerned shall be informed of the
Committee's decision and public notice of the decision
shall immediately be issued by the Committee, in
accordance with Article 11.4 of the Convention.
87. The Committee shall allocate a specific,
significant portion of the World Heritage Fund to
financing of possible assistance to World Heritage
properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in
Danger.
88. The Committee shall review at regular intervals
the state of property on the List of World Heritage in
Danger. This review shall include such monitoring
procedures and expert missions as might be determined
necessary by the Committee.
89. On the basis of these regular reviews, the
Committee shall decide, in consultation with the State
Party concerned whether:
(i) additional measures are required to conserve
the property;
(ii) to delete the property from the List of World
Heritage in Danger if the property is no
longer under threat;
(iii) to consider the deletion of the property
from both the List of World Heritage in Danger
and the World Heritage List if the property
has deteriorated to the extent that it has
lost those characteristics which determined
its inclusion in the World Heritage List, in
accordance with the procedure set out in
paragraphs 46 to 56 above.
IV. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
A. Different forms of assistance available under the
World Heritage Fund
(i) Preparatory assistance
90. Assistance is available to States Parties for the
purpose of:
(a) preparing tentative lists of cultural and/or
natural properties suitable for inclusion in
the World Heritage List;
(b) organizing meetings for the harmonization of
tentative lists within the same geo-cultural
area;
(c) preparing nominations of cultural and natural
properties to the World Heritage List; and
(d) preparing requests for technical co-operation,
including requests relating to the
organization of training courses.
This type of assistance, known as "preparatory
assistance", can take the form of consultant services,
equipment or, in exceptional cases, financial grants.
The budgetary ceiling for each preparatory assistance
project is fixed at $15,000.
91. Requests for preparatory assistance should be
forwarded to the Secretariat which will transmit them
to the Chairperson, who will decide on the assistance
to be granted. Request forms (reference WHC/5) can be
obtained from the Secretariat.
(ii) Emergency assistance
92. States Parties may request emergency assistance
for work in connection with cultural and natural
properties included or suitable for inclusion in the
World Heritage List and which have suffered severe
damage due to sudden, unexpected phenomena (such as
sudden land subsidence, serious fires or explosions,
flooding) or are in imminent danger of severe damage
caused by these phenomena. Emergency assistance does
not concern cases of damage or deterioration that has
been caused by gradual processes such as decay,
pollution, erosion, etc. Such assistance may be made
available for the following purposes:
(a) to prepare urgent nominations of properties
for the World Heritage List in conformity with
paragraph 65 of these Guidelines;
(b) to draw up an emergency plan to safeguard
properties inscribed on or nominated to the
World Heritage List;
(c) to undertake emergency measures for the
safeguarding of a property inscribed on or
nominated to the World Heritage List.
93. Requests for emergency assistance may be sent to
the Secretariat at any time using Form WHC/5. The
World Heritage Centre should consult to the extent
possible relevant advisory bodies and then submit
these requests to the Chairperson who has the
authorization to approve emergency requests up to an
amount of US$50,000 whereas the Bureau can approve
requests up to an amount of US$75,000.
(iii) Training
94. States Parties may request support for the
training of specialised staff at all levels in the
field of identification, protection, conservation,
presentation and rehabilitation of the cultural and
natural heritage. The training must be related to the
implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
95. Priority in training activities will be given to
group training at the local or regional levels,
particularly at national or regional centres in
accordance with Article 23 of the Convention. The
training of individual persons will be essentially
limited to short term refresher programmes and
exchanges of experience.
96. Requests for the training of specialised staff at
the national or regional level should contain the
following information:
(a) details on the training course concerned
(courses offered, level of instruction,
teaching staff, number of students and country
of origin, date, place and duration, etc.)
and, when applicable, the functional
responsibility of each participant with
respect to a designated World Heritage site;
priority should be given, if funds are not
sufficient to satisfy all requests, to those
concerning management or conservation
personnel of inscribed properties;
(b) type of assistance requested (financial
contribution to costs of training, provision
of specialised teaching staff, provision of
equipment, books and educational materials for
training courses);
(c) approximate cost of support requested,
including as appropriate tuition fees, daily
subsistence allowance, allocation for purchase
of educational material, travel costs to and
from training centre, etc.
(d) other contributions: national financing,
received or anticipated multilateral or
bilateral contributions;
(e) for recurring training courses, an in-depth
report of the results obtained in each
previous session shall be submitted by the
recipient government or organization. The
report shall be forwarded to the appropriate
advisory body for review and for its
recommendations in connection with additional
funding requests, as appropriate.
97. Requests for support for individual training
courses should be submitted on the standard
"Application for Fellowship" form used for all
fellowships administered by UNESCO and which can be
obtained from UNESCO National Commissions, UNESCO
offices and the offices of the United Nations
Development Programme in Member States, as well as
from the Secretariat. Each request should be
accompanied by a statement indicating the relationship
of the proposed study plan to the implementation of
the World Heritage Convention within the State Party
submitting the request and by a commitment to submit a
final technical report on the results obtained as a
result of the training grant.
98. All requests for support for training activities
should be transmitted to the Secretariat which will
ensure that the information is complete and forward
these requests along with an estimation of the costs
to the Chairperson for his approval. In this regard
the Chairperson can approve amounts up to $20,000.
Requests for sums above this amount follow the same
procedure for approval as for requests for technical
cooperation set out in paragraphs 100-104.
(iv) Technical co-operation
99. States Parties can request technical co-operation
for work foreseen in safeguarding projects for
properties included in the World Heritage List. This
assistance can take the forms outlined in paragraph 22
of the Convention for World Heritage properties.
100. In order to make best use of the limited resources
of the World Heritage Fund and because of the
increasing number of cultural sites to be assisted,
the Committee, while recognizing the importance of
archaeological objects coming from sites inscribed on
the World Heritage List, has decided not to accept
requests which may be submitted for equipment for
archaeological site museums whose function is the
preservation of movables.
101. The following information should be provided in
requests for technical co-operation:
(a) Details of property
- date of inscription in the World Heritage List,
- description of property and of dangers to
property,
- legal status of property;
(b) Details of request
- scientific and technical information on
the work to be undertaken,
- detailed description of equipment
requested (notably make, type, voltage,
etc.) and of required personnel
(specialists and workmen), etc.,
- if appropriate, details on the "training"
component of the project,
- schedule indicating when the project
activities will take place;
(c) Cost of proposed activities
- paid nationally,
- requested under the Convention,
- other multilateral or bilateral
contributions received or expected,
indicating how each contribution will be
used;
(d) National body responsible for the project and
details of project administration
(e) The Committee, wishing to establish a link
between the monitoring of the state of
conservation of World Heritage Sites and the
granting of international assistance, has
established as a requirement that requests for
technical cooperation be accompanied by a
state of conservation report of the property
or site concerned.
102. The Secretariat, if necessary, will request the
State Party concerned to provide further information.
The Secretariat can also ask for expert advice from
the appropriate organization (ICOMOS, IUCN, ICCROM).
103. The Bureau will consider the requests which are
presented at its meetings and will make
recommendations thereon to the Committee. The
Secretariat will forward the Bureau's recommendation
to all the States members of the Committee.
104. If the recommendation is positive, the Secretariat
will proceed with all the preparatory work necessary
for implementing the technical co-operation
immediately after the Committee has decided to approve
the project.
105. At the Committee meeting, the Committee will make
a decision on each request for technical cooperation,
and for emergency assistance and training beyond
amounts authorized for approval by the Chairperson and
Bureau, taking account of the Bureau's recommendation.
Representatives of a States Party, whether or not a
member of the Committee, shall not speak to advocate
the approval of an assistance request submitted by
that State, but only to deal with a point of
information in answer to a question. The Committee's
decisions will be forwarded to the States Parties and
the Centre will proceed to implement approved
projects.
106. The above schedule does not apply, however, to
projects the cost of which does not exceed a ceiling
of $30,000 for which the following simplified
procedure will be applied.
(a) In the case of requests not exceeding $20,000,
the Secretariat after examining the dossier
and receiving the advice of ICCROM, ICOMOS or
IUCN, as appropriate, will forward the request
accompanied by all other relevant documents
directly to the Chairperson, who is authorized
to take decisions on the financing of such
projects up to the total amount set aside for
this purpose in the annual allocation from the
World Heritage Fund, on the understanding that
no more than 20 percent of the total annual
assistance budget, including technical
cooperation and training (but excluding
emergency assistance and preparatory
assistance, for which separate rules have been
established) may be allocated by the
Chairperson. The Chairperson is not
authorized to approve requests submitted by
his own country.
(b) The Bureau is authorized to approve requests
up to a maximum of $30,000 except for requests
from States members of the Bureau; in such
cases, the Bureau can only make
recommendations to the Committee.
(v) Assistance for promotional activities
107. (a) at the regional and international levels:
The Committee has agreed to support the holding of
meetings which could:
- help to create interest in the Convention
within the countries of a given region;
- create a greater awareness of the different
issues related to the implementation of the
Convention to promote more active involvement
in its application;
- be a means of exchanging experiences;
- stimulate joint promotional activities.
(b) at the national level:
The Committee felt that requests concerning
national activities for promoting the Convention
could be considered only when they concern:
- meetings specifically organized to make the
Convention better known or for the creation of
national World Heritage associations, in
accordance with Article 17 of the Convention;
- preparation of information material for the
general promotion of the Convention and not
for the promotion of a particular site.
The World Heritage Fund shall provide only small
contributions towards national promotional activities
on a selective basis and for a maximum amount of
$5,000. However, requests for sums above this amount
could exceptionally be approved for projects which are
of special interest: the Chairperson's agreement would
be required and the maximum amount approved would be
$10,000.
B. Deadlines for presentation of requests for
International Assistance for consideration by the
Bureau and the Committee
108. All requests for international assistance which
are to be examined by the Bureau, with the exception
of requests for emergency assistance, should be
submitted before 1 May and 1 September respectively
for consideration by the following session of the
Bureau. Large-scale requests (that is those exceeding
US$ 30,000) will be forwarded, with the Bureau's
recommendation, to the following session of the World
Heritage Committee for decision-making.
C. Order of priorities for the granting of
international assistance
109. Without prejudicing the provisions of the
Convention, which shall always prevail, the Committee
agreed on the following order of priorities with
respect to the type of activities to be assisted under
the Convention:
- emergency measures to save property included,
or nominated for inclusion, in the World
Heritage List (see paragraph 92 above);
- preparatory assistance for drawing up
tentative lists of cultural and/or natural
properties suitable for inclusion in the World
Heritage List as well as nominations of types
of properties under-represented on the list
and requests for technical co-operation;
- projects which are likely to have a multiplier
effect ("seed money") because they:
. stimulate general interest in conservation;
. contribute to the advancement of scientific research;
. contribute to the training of specialized personnel;
. generate contributions from other sources.
110. The Committee also agreed that the following
factors would in principle govern its decisions in
granting assistance under the Convention:
(i) the urgency of the work and of the protective
measures to be taken;
(ii) the legislative, administrative and financial
commitment of the recipient State to protect
and preserve the property;
(iii) the cost of the project;
(iv) the interest for, and exemplary value of, the
project in respect of scientific research and
the development of cost/effective conservation
techniques;
(v) the educational value both for the training of
local experts and for the general public;
(vi) the cultural and ecological benefits accruing
from the project, and
(vii) the social and economic consequences.
111. Properties included in the World Heritage List are
considered to be equal in value. For this reason, the
criteria proposed above make no reference to the
relative value of the properties. A balance will be
maintained between funds allocated to projects for the
preservation of the cultural heritage on the one hand
and projects for the conservation of the natural
heritage on the other hand.
112. Requests for emergency, training and technical
cooperation shall be referred, if deemed necessary by
the Secretariat, to the appropriate advisory body
(IUCN, ICOMOS, and/or ICCROM) for professional review
and evaluation, and its recommendations shall be
presented to the Bureau and the Committee for action.
D. Agreement to be concluded with States receiving
international assistance
113. When technical co-operation on a large scale is
granted to a State Party, an agreement will be
concluded between the Committee and the State
concerned in which will be set out:
(a) the scope and nature of the technical
co-operation granted;
(b) the obligations of the Government, including
the submission of mid-term and final financial
and technical reports, which shall be
referred, if deemed necessary by the
Secretariat, to the appropriate advisory body
(IUCN, ICOMOS, ICCROM) for review, and
summaries of which shall be available to the
Committee.
(c) the facilities, privileges and immunities to
be applied by the Government to the Committee
and/or UNESCO, to the property, funds and
assets allocated to the project as well as to
the officials and other persons performing
services on behalf of the Committee and/or
UNESCO in connection with the project.
114. The text of a standard agreement will be in
conformity with UNESCO regulations.
115. The Committee decided to delegate authority to the
Chairperson to sign such agreements on its behalf. In
exceptional circumstances, or when necessary for
practical purposes, the Chairperson may delegate
authority to a member of the Secretariat whom he will
designate.
E. Implementation of projects
116. In order to ensure the efficient implementation of
a project for which technical co-operation has been
granted under the World Heritage Fund, the Committee
recommends that a single body - whether national,
regional, local, public or private - should be
entrusted with the responsibility of executing the
project in the State Party concerned.
F. Conditions for the granting of international
assistance
117. The conditions for and types of international
assistance are established by Articles 19 to 26 of the
World Heritage Convention. Establishing a parallel
between the conditions of eligibility for the World
Heritage Committee set out in Article 16 of the
Convention, the Committee decided, at its thirteenth
session (1989), that States who were in arrears of
payment of their contributions to the World Heritage
Fund would not be able to receive a grant of
international assistance in the following calendar
year, it being understood that this provision would
not apply in case of emergency assistance and
training as defined in these Guidelines. In making
this decision, the Committee wished to emphasize the
importance which it accorded to States Parties paying
their entire contribution within the periods set out
in Article 16 of the Convention.
V. WORLD HERITAGE FUND
118. The Committee decided that contributions offered
to the World Heritage Fund for international
assistance campaigns and other UNESCO projects for any
property inscribed on the World Heritage List shall be
accepted and used as international assistance pursuant
to Section V of the Convention, and in conformity with
the modalities established for carrying out the
campaign or project.
119. States Parties to the Convention who anticipate
making contributions towards international assistance
campaigns or other UNESCO projects for any property
inscribed on the List are encouraged to make their
contributions through the World Heritage Fund.
120. The financial regulations for the Fund are set out
in document WHC/7.
VI. BALANCE BETWEEN THE CULTURAL AND THE NATURAL
HERITAGE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION
121. In order to improve the balance between the
cultural and natural heritage in the implementation of
the Convention, the Committee has recommended that the
following measures be taken:
(a) Preparatory assistance to States Parties
should be granted on a priority basis for:
(i) the establishment of tentative lists of
cultural and natural properties situated
in their territories and suitable for
inclusion in the World Heritage List;
(ii) the preparation of nominations of types
of properties underrepresented in the
World Heritage List.
(b) States Parties to the Convention should
provide the Secretariat with the name and
address of the governmental organization(s)
primarily responsible for cultural and natural
properties, so that copies of all official
correspondence and documents can be sent by
the Secretariat to these focal points as
appropriate.
(c) States Parties to the Convention should
convene at regular intervals at the national
level a joint meeting of those persons
responsible for natural and cultural heritage
in order that they may discuss matters
pertaining to the implementation of the
Convention. This does not apply to States
Parties where one single organization is
dealing with both cultural and natural
heritage.
(d) States Parties to the Convention should choose
as their representatives persons qualified in
the field of natural and cultural heritage,
thus complying with Article 9, paragraph 3, of
the Convention. States members of the
Committee should communicate in advance to the
Secretariat the names and status of their
representatives.
(e) The Committee, deeply concerned with
maintaining a balance in the number of experts
from the natural and cultural fields
represented on the Bureau, urges that every
effort be made in future elections in order to
ensure that:
(i) the chair is not held by persons with
expertise in the same field, either
cultural or natural, for more than two
successive years;
(ii) at least two "cultural" and at least two
"natural" experts are present at Bureau
meetings to ensure balance and
credibility in reviewing nominations to
the World Heritage List.
(f) In accordance with Article 10.2 of the
Convention and with Rule 7 of the Rules of
Procedure, the Committee shall, at any time,
invite to its meetings public or private
bodies or individuals who would attend as
observers and augment the expertise available
to it. These observers shall be chosen with a
view to a balanced participation between the
natural and cultural heritage.
VII. OTHER MATTERS
A. Use of the World Heritage Emblem and the name,
symbol or depiction of World Heritage sites
122. At its second session, the Committee adopted the
World Heritage Emblem which had been designed by Mr.
Michel Olyff. This emblem symbolizes the
interdependence of cultural and natural properties:
the central square is a form created by man and the
circle represents nature, the two being intimately
linked. The emblem is round, like the world, but at
the same time it is a symbol of protection. The
Committee decided that the two versions proposed by
the artist (see Annex 2) could be used, in any colour,
depending on the use, the technical possibilities and
considerations of an artistic nature. The emblem
should always carry the text "World Heritage .
Patrimoine Mondial". The space occupied by "Patrimonio
Mundial" can be used for its translation into the
national language of the country where the logo is to
be used.
123. Properties included in the World Heritage List
should be marked with the World Heritage emblem
jointly with the UNESCO logo, which should, however,
be placed in such a way that they do not visually
impair the property in question.
124. States Parties to the Convention should take all
possible measures to prevent the use of the emblem of
the Convention and the use of the name of the
Committee and the Convention in their respective
countries by any group or for any purpose not
explicitly recognized and approved by the Committee.
The World Heritage emblem should, in particular, not
be used for any commercial purposes unless specific
authorization is obtained from the Committee.
125. The name, symbol or depiction of a World Heritage
site, or of any element thereof, should not be used
for commercial purposes unless written authorization
has been obtained from the State concerned on the
principles of using the said name, symbol or
depiction, and unless the exact text or display has
been approved by that State and, as far as possible,
by the national authority specifically concerned with
the protection of the site. Any such utilization
should be in conformity with the reasons for which the
property has been placed on the World Heritage List.
B. Production of plaques to commemorate the inclusion
of properties in the World Heritage List
126. These plaques are designed to inform the public of
the country concerned and foreign visitors, that the
site visited has a particular value which has been
recognized by the international community. In other
words, the site is exceptional, of interest not only
to one nation, but also to the whole world. However,
these plaques have an additional function which is to
inform the general public about the World Heritage
Convention or at least about the World Heritage
concept and the World Heritage List.
127. The Committee has adopted the following Guidelines
for the production of these plaques:
- the plaque should be so placed that it can
easily be seen by visitors, without
disfiguring the site;
- the World Heritage symbol should appear on the
plaque together with the UNESCO logo;
- the text should mention the site's exceptional
universal value; in this regard it might be
useful to give a short description of the
site's outstanding characteristics. States
may, if they wish, use the descriptions
appearing in the various World Heritage
publications or in the World Heritage exhibit,
and which may be obtained from the
Secretariat;
- the text should make reference to the World
Heritage Convention and particularly to the
World Heritage List and to the international
recognition conferred by inscription on this
List (however, it is not necessary to mention
at which session of the Committee the site was
inscribed);
- it may be appropriate to produce the text in
several languages for sites which receive many
foreign visitors.
128. The Committee proposed the following text as an
example:
"(Name of site) has been inscribed upon the World
Heritage List of the Convention concerning the
Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage. Inscription on this List confirms the
exceptional universal value of a cultural or
natural site which deserves protection for the
benefit of all humanity."
This text could be then followed by a brief
description of the site concerned.
C. Rules of Procedure of the Committee
129. The Rules of Procedure of the Committee, adopted
by the Committee at its first session and amended at
its second and third sessions, are to be found in
document WHC/1.
D. Meetings of the World Heritage Committee
130. In years when the General Assembly of States
Parties is held, the ordinary session of the World
Heritage Committee will take place as soon as possible
after the Assembly.
131. As provided for in Article 10.3 of the Convention
and in accordance with Rules 20-21 of the Rules of
Procedure, the Committee shall constitute
sub-committees during its regular sessions to examine
selected items of business referred to them with the
object of reporting and making recommendations to the
full Committee for action.
E. Meetings of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee
132. The Bureau shall meet twice a year, once in
June/July and a second time immediately preceding the
Committee's regular session. The newly elected Bureau
shall meet as necessary during the Committee's regular
session.
F. Participation of experts from developing countries
133. In order to ensure a fair representation within
the Committee of the various geographical and cultural
areas, the Committee decided to include in its budget
a sum intended to cover the cost of participation, in
its sessions and sessions of its Bureau, of
representatives of States members of the Committee
which are on the list of least developed countries
issued by the United Nations but only for persons who
are experts in conservation of the cultural or natural
heritage.
134. Requests for assistance to participate in the
Bureau and Committee meetings should reach the
Secretariat at least four weeks before the session
concerned. These requests will be considered in the
limit of resources available as decided by the
Committee, in decreasing order of NGP of each State
member of the Committee, and primarily for one
representative from each State. In no event may the
Fund finance more than two representatives by State,
who must in this case be one expert in the natural and
one in the cultural heritage field.
G. Publication of the World Heritage List
135. An up-to-date version of the World Heritage List
and the List of the World Heritage in Danger will be
published every year.
136. The name of the States having nominated the
properties inscribed on the World Heritage List will
be presented in the published form of the List under
the following heading:
"Contracting State having submitted the nomination of
the property in accordance with the Convention".
H. Action at the national level to promote a greater
awareness of the activities undertaken under the Convention
137. States Parties should promote the establishment
and activities of associations concerned with the
safeguarding of cultural and natural sites.
138. States Parties are reminded of Articles 17 and 27
of the Convention concerning the establishment of
national, public and private foundations or
associations whose purpose is to invite donations for
the protection of the world heritage and the
organization of educational and information programmes
to strengthen appreciation and respect by their
peoples of this heritage.
I. Links with other Conventions and Recommendations
139. The World Heritage Committee has recognized the
collective interest that would be advanced by closer
coordination of its work with other international
conservation instruments. These include the 1949
Geneva Convention, the 1954 Hague Convention, the 1970
UNESCO Convention, the Ramsar Convention, and CITES,
as well as other regional conventions and future
conventions that will pursue conservation objectives,
as appropriate. The Committee will invite
representatives of the intergovernmental bodies under
related conventions to attend its meetings as
observers. Similarly, the Secretariat will appoint a
representative to observe meetings of the other
intergovernmental bodies upon receipt of an
invitation. The Secretariat will ensure through the
World Heritage Centre appropriate coordination and
information-sharing between the Committee and other
conventions, programmes and international
organizations related to the conservation of cultural
and natural heritage.
NOTES
Note 1
Cf. definitions of « cultural heritage » and « natural
heritage » in Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention are
set out in paragraphs 23 and 43 below.
Note 2
This format was adopted by the Committee at its twentieth
session in December 1996. The Committee decided to
introduce this format for all nominations which shall
be examined from 1st July 1998. For nominations that
will be examined from 1st July 1997, use should be made
of the existing form (which is available from the
Secretariat as form Nº WHC.95/WS.1).
Annex 1
MODEL FOR PRESENTING A TENTATIVE LIST
Name of country________________
List drawn up by_______________
Date________________
_____________________________________________________________________
NAME OF PROPERTY (*) GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
_____________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION
_____________________________________________________________________
JUSTIFICATION OF "OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE"
- Criteria met:
- Assurances of authenticity or integrity:
- Comparison with other similar properties:
_____________________________________________________________________
* Please present, if possible, in the order to be nominated.
Annex 2 / Annexe 2
EMBLEM
The Operational Guidelines (in English and French),
the text of the World Heritage Convention (in five
languages), and other documents and information
concerning World Heritage are available from the
Secretariat :
UNESCO World Heritage Centre
7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France
Tel : (33) 1 45 68 18 76
Fax: (33) 1 45 68 55 70
and on INTERNET: http://www.unesco.org/whc/
*[EOF]