CC-77/CONF.001/8 Rev.
PARIS, 20 October 1977
Original: English/French
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL,
SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION
OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
First Session
Unesco, Paris, 27 June - 1 July 1977
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE
CONVENTION (1)
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 of
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, presentation
and rehabilitation of the world's unique and irreplaceable heritage, the Member
States of Unesco adopted in 1972 the Convention concerning the Protection of the
World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This Convention, which complements and in
no way competes with heritage conservation programmes at the national level,
provides for the establishment of a World Heritage Committee and a World Heritage
Fund. Both the Committee and the Fund are now in existence.
3. The World Heritage Committee has four critical functions:
to draw up a World Heritage List, comprising those properties, cultural
and natural, which the Committee considers to be of outstanding universal
value in accordance with criteria adopted by it;
to prepare a List of World Heritage in Danger consisting of those properties
on the World Heritage List which, for their protection, require major
conservation measures and for which assistance has been requested by the
States Parties concerned;
to determine in what way and under what conditions the World Heritage
Fund resources can most advantageously be used; and
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(1) The Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage
Convention were adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its first session
(Paris, 27 June to 1 July 1977). These guidelines, which will need adjusting
or expanding to reflect later decisions of the Committee, are of crucial
importance, in that they provide a clear and comprehensive statement of the
principles which are to guide the Committee in its future work.
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to assist Member States, as far as possible, in the protection of their
properties of outstanding universal value.
4. The responsibilities of the World Heritage Committee`are immense. But
there can be no more important challenge and no more worthwhile task than
an endeavour, on behalf of the peoples of the world, to assist States in
protecting for future generations those cultural and natural properties, which
are of outstanding universal value,
I. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
A. General Principles
5. The Committee agreed that the following general principles would guide its
work in establishing the World Heritage List:
(i) The World Heritage List, in view of its importance not only for the
work related to the Convention, but also for educational and public
information purposes, shall be considered as a separate entity.
The criteria for the inclusion of properties in the List, therefore,
shall enable the World Heritage Committee to act with full
independence in evaluating solely the intrinsic merit of a property
and not its suitability for assistance by the World Heritage Fund.
(ii) The Convention provides a vehicle for the protection of those
cultural or natural properties or areas deemed to be of outstanding
universal value. It is not intended to provide for the protection
of all properties and areas of great interest, importance, or value,
but only for a select list of the most outstanding of these from
an international viewpoint.
(iii) The outstanding universal value of cultural and natural properties
shall be determined according to two sets of criteria:
one set of criteria for cultural property;
one set of criteria for natural property.
(iv) Cultural and natural properties shall be included in the World
Heritage List according to a gradual process and no formal limit
shall be 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 states for inclusion therein.
(v) When a property included in the World Heritage List has deteriorated
to such an extent that lt has lost those characteristics for which
it was inscribed thereon or when further research has shown that the
property is not, in fact, of outstanding universal value, that
property shall be deleted from the List. In this connection, it is
hoped that the reports to be submitted by States Parties under the
terms of Article 29 of the Convention will provide sufficient
information for the Committee to decide on the continuing eligibility
of the properties for inclusion in the List.
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(vi) The property included in the World Heritage List should be marRed
with a World Heritage Emblem. However, this emblem should be placed
in such a way that it does not visually impair the property in
question.
6. The definition of "universal" in the phrase "outstanding universal value"
requires comment, Some properties may not be recognized by all people,
everywhere, to be of great importance and significance. Opinions may vary
from one culture or period to another. As far as cultural property is concerned,
the term "universal" must be interpreted as referring to a property which is
highly representative of the culture of which it forms part.
B. Criteria for the inclusion of cultural properties in the World Heritage
List
7. Outstanding universal value will be recognized when a monument, group of
buildings or site - as defined in Article 2 of the Convention - submitted
for inclusion in the World Heritage List is found to meet one or more of the
following criteria. Therefore, each property nominated should:
(i) represent a unique artistic or aesthetic achievement, a masterpiece
of the creative genius; or
(ii) have exerted considerable influence, over a span of time or within
a cultural area of the world, on subsequent developments in
architecture, monumental sculpture, garden and landscape design,
related arts, or human settlements; or
(iii) be unique, extremely rare, or of great antiquity; or
(iv) be among the most characteristic examples of a type of structure,
the type representing an important cultural, social, artistic,
scientific, technological or industrial development; or
(v) be a characteristic example of a significant, traditional style
of architecture, method of construction, or human settlement, that
is fragile by nature or has become vulnerable under the impact
of irreversible socio-cultural or economic change; or
(vi) be most importantly associated with ideas or beliefs, with events
or with persons, of outstanding historical importance or
significance.
8. In every case, consideration must be given to the state of preservation
of the property (which should be evaluated relatively, in comparison to
the state of preservation of other property dating from the same- period and of
the same type and category).
9. In addition. the property should meet the test of authenticity in design,
materials, workmanship and setting; authenticity does not limit consideration
to original form and structure but includes all subsequent modifications and
additions, over the course of time, which in themselves possess artistic or
historical values.
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C. Criteria for the inclusion of natural properties in the World Heritage List
10. Outstanding universal value will be recognized when a natural heritage
property - as defined in Article 2 of the Convention - submitted for
inclusion in the World Heritage List, is found to meet one or more of the
following criteria, Therefore, properties nominated should:
(i) be outstanding examples representing the major stages of the
earth's evolutionary history. This category would include sites
which represent the major eras" of geological history such as
"the age of reptiles" where the development of the planet's natural
diversity can-well be demonstrated and such as the "ice age"
where early man and his environment underwent major changes; or
(ii) be outstanding examples representing significant ongoing geological
processes, biological evolution and man's interaction with his
natural environment. As distinct from the periods of the earth's
development, this focuses upon ongoing processes in the development
of communities of plants and animals, land forms and marine and fresh
water bodies. This category would include for example (a) as
geological processes, glaciation and volcanism, (b) as biological
evolution, examples of biomes such as tropical rainforests, deserts
and tundra (c) as interaction between man and his natural environment,
terraced agricultural landscapes; or
(iii) contain unique, rare or superlative natural phenomena. formations or
features Or areas of exceptional natural beauty. such as superlative
examples of the most important ecosystems to man, natural features,
(for instance, rivers, mountains, waterfalls), spectacles presented
by great concentrations of animals, sweeping vistas covered by
natural vegetation and exceptional combinations of natural and
cultural elements; or
(iv) be habitats where populations of rare or endangered species of plants
and animals still survive. This category would include those
ecosystems in which concentrations of plants and animals of
universal interest and significance are found.
It should be realized that individual sites may not possess the most spectacular
or outstanding single example of the above, but when the sites are viewed in a
broader perspective with a complex of many surrounding features of significance,
the entire area may qualify to demonstrate an array of features of global
significance.
11. In addition to the above criteria, the sites should also meet the
conditions of integrity.
(i) The areas described in 10(i) should contain all or most of the
key interrelated and interdependent elements in their natural
relationships; for example, an "ice age" area would be expected to
include the snow field, the glacier itself and samples of cutting
patterns; deposition and colonization (striations, moraines,
pioneer stages of plant succession, etc.).
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(ii) The areas described in 10(ii) should have sufficient size and
contain the necessary elements to demonstrate the key aspects of
the process and to be self-perpetuating. For example, an area
of "tropical rain forest" may be expected to include some variation
in elevation above sea level, changes in topography and soil types,
river banks or oxbow lakes, to demonstrate the diversity and
complexity of the system.
(iii) The areas described in 10(iii) should contain those ecosystem
components required for the continuity of the species or of the
objects to be conserved. This will vary according to individual
cases; for example, the protected area for a waterfall would include
all, or as much as possible, of the supporting upstream watershed;
or a coral reef area would be provided with control over siltation
or pollution through the stream flow or ocean currents which provide
its nutrients.
(iv) The areas described in 10(iv) should be of sufficient size and
contain the necessary habitat requirements for the survival of
the species.
D. Format and content of the nominations for inclusion in the World Heritage
List
12. The nominations to be submitted by the States Parties to the Convention
must include all the necessary information and supporting documentation to
enable the Committee to decide on the eligibility of property for inclusion in
the World Heritage List.
13. Nominations by States for inclusion of cultural and natural properties in
the World Heritage List must be presented in the form of a closely argued
case, supported by full documentation and bibliography. The same printed form
shall be used for the cultural and natural heritage. Such a form shall
request the following type of information and documentation:
(i) Specific Location
Country.
State, Province or Region.
Name of property (local and eventually other names).
Exact location on map and indication of geographical co-ordinates.
(ii) Juridical Status
Owner.
Legal status
Responsible administration.
(iii) Identification
Description and inventory.
Maps and/or plans.
Photographic and/or cinematographic documentation.
History.
Bibliography.
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(iv) State of preservation/conservation
Diagnosis.
Agent responsible for preservation and conservation.
History of preservation/conservation.
Proposed projects for preservation/conservation.
Means for preservation/conservation (legal, technical,
administrative and financial ones, etc.).
Management plans.
(v) Justification for inclusion in the World Heritage List
For cultural property the justification should be based on the
criteria listed in paragraph 7. For natural property the
justification should be based on the criteria listed in paragraphs
10 and 11.
14. A nomination form shall be prepared and furnished to States Parties
accompanied by explanatory instructions. The initial form shall be used
until changes become necessary. States Parties will also be provided with a
model nomination file.
E. Procedure and calendar
15. Until a standard calendar has been adopted by the Committee at its
second session, the following temporary schedule will prevail:
(a) November 1977
All States Parties to the Convention will be invited by the Director-
General of Unesco on behalf of the Committee to submit nominations
to the World Heritage List in conformity with the decisions taken
by the Committee with respect to the form and content of nominations
to the World Heritage List and to the criteria in terms of which
the inclusion of properties in the World Heritage List will be
determined. States Parties will be informed that all nominations
to be considered by the World Heritage Committee at its second
session should reach the Secretariat by 1 April 1978. Copies of
the nomination form will be attached to the letter.
(b) April-May 1978
The Secretariat on behalf of the Committee will be responsible for:
registering each nomination:
transmitting nominations to the appropriate international
organizations who will (i) review and advise the Secretariat
on the completeness of the documentation and (ii) transmit direct
to States members of the Committee and to the Secretariat their
evaluation of the nominations against the agreed criteria;
contacting, if necessary, the States Parties concerned with a
view to completing the information and documentation requested
by the World Heritage Committee;
translating and reproducing the nominations and supporting
documentation into the working languages of the World Heritage
Committee;
submitting the nominations to the Bureau of the Committee which
will meet early in June 1978.
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II. GRANTING OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE WORLD HERITAGE FUND
A. Format and content of the requests for international assistance
16. International assistance shall be requested in accordance with a standard
format which shall include the following information:
(a) country;
(b) date of submission;
(c) name of property;
(d) date of inscription on World Heritage List (if applicable);
(e) date of inscription on list of World Heritage in Danger (if
applicable);
(f) brief description of property;
(g) detailed description of danger to property (if possible supported
by documentary evidence, drawings, maps, etc.);
(h) legal status of the property including the protective, legal
and administrative measures already taken for the conservation
of the property;
(i) objectives of proposed project (in terms of scientific or cultural
interest, educational value, social and economic benefits, etc.);
(j) proposed activities to be undertaken
with national financing
with assistance under the Convention (breakdown according
to categories listed in Article 22 of the Convention);
(k) approximate cost of these activities
paid nationally
requested under the Convention
(l) national body responsible for the project and details of project
administration.
17. For the large-scale projects referred to in Article 24 of the Convention,
the Committee considers it necessary to have, in addition, a more detailed
project document prepared, which shall include the following information:
(a) detailed scientific and technical data concerning the work
to be undertaken;
(b) a detailed analysis of the requirements in equipment, expendable and
non-expendable supplies, specialist services, skilled and unskilled
labour as well as administrative personnel, etc.;
(c) the training component (in-service training as well as fellowships
for training abroad);
(d) a presentation of the cost of all items required broken down to
reflect local inputs and those which must come from external sources;
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(e) schedule showing the desirable starting date; flow of funds,
equipment supplies and personnel; and, the overall flow of
activities of the programme;
(f) a statement and supporting analysis where appropriate of the
social and environmental impact of the project.
B. Procedure for consideration of requests for international assistance
18. The Committee agreed to adopt the following procedure:
(a) The Director-General, on behalf of the Committee, shall inform
States Parties that they may submit requests for international
assistance which, according to the terms of Article 21(1) of the
Convention' "should define the operation contemplated, the work
that is necessary, the expected cost thereof, the degree of urgency
and the reasons why the resources of the State requesting
assistance do not allow it to meet all the expenses" concerning:
(i) properties included in the World Heritage List or
nominated for inclusion therein;
(ii) the identification of property which, according to Article 13(2)
may be financed "when preliminary investigations have shown
that further inquiries would be Justified";
(iii) the training of staff and specialists at all levels in the
field of identification, protection, conservation,
presentation and rehabilitation of the cultural and natural
heritage; and
(iv) support for national or regional centres for the training of
staff and specialists referred to in Article 23 of the Convention;
States Parties shall also be informed that requests to be considered by
the Committee at its second session should reach the Secretariat by
1 April 1978.
(b) The Secretariat on behalf of the Committee, shall be responsible for:
registering each request;
assisting in completing the requests (if necessary);
translating and reproducing the requests; and
submitting the requests to the States members of the
Committee before its 1978 session.
C. Order of priorities for the granting of international assistance
19. 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:
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emergency measures to save property which is in immediate danger of total
destruction or disappearance;
preparatory assistance, i.e. preparation of projects to safeguard property
which is in danger;
preparation of inventories for the World Heritage List;
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.
20. The Committee also agreed that the following factors would in principle
govern its decisions with respect to 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 preserve and manage 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 economic 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 consequences from the social and economic points of view.
21. Properties included in the World Heritage List shall be considered as being
of equal value. For this reason, the criteria proposed above make no
reference to the relative value of properties. The criteria related to scientific
interest covers inter alia, the proposed use on the project of new methods
and techniques in conservation, i.e. "pilot projects" carried out with the
most economical means which would have an exemplary value. By "educational value"
is meant the training opportunities that would arise for local staff and the
impact which the project would have on the awareness and appreciation of the
general public, not only in the country in which the property is located, but on a
world-wide scale.
D. Standard agreement to be concluded with States receiving international
assistance
22. An agreement will be concluded between the Committee and the State Party
receiving assistance under the Convention. Under this agreement, the
recipient State will undertake to continue to protect, conserve and present the
property safeguarded with the assistance provided under the Convention. The
Secretariat will prepare a draft standard agreement and transmit it as soon as
possible to the members of the Committee for examination at its second session.
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E. Financial regulations for the World Heritage Fund
23. The Committee took note of the financial regulations of the World
Heritage Fund, as set out in document CC-77/CONF.001/3.
III. INVITATIONS TO SESSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
24. The Committee decided that the following organizations would be invited
to send observers to future sessions of the Committee:
United Nations;
United Nations Development Programme;
United Nations Environment Programme;
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;
World Food Programme;
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
Interamerican Development Bank;
Afro-Malagasy and Mauritian Cultural Institute;
Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization;
Council of Europe;
Organization of African Unity;
Organization of American States;
Organization for Museums, Monuments and Sites in Africa;
South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organization;
International Council of Museums;
International Federation of Landscape Architects;
International Organization for the Protection of Works of Art;
International Union of Architects.
Any other international organization which may develop programmes of heritage
conservation may also be invited in an observer capacity.
The Chairman of the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture may
also be invited to attend as an observer,
IV. RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATES PARTIES
25. When setting the boundary of a property to be nominated to the List, the
concept of a buffer zone around the property may be applied where
appropriate and feasible. In such instances the nominations would include:
(a) a precise definition of the surface area of the property itself,
including the sub-surface area where necessarY; and
(b) an indication of the buffer zone around the property itself (i.e.
the natural or man-made surroundings that influence the physical
state of the property or the way in which the property is perceived).
Such buffer zones would be determined in each case through technical studies and
provided with adequate protection.
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26. As far as possible, States Parties should include, in their submissions,
properties which combine in a significant way cultural and natural features
of outstanding universal value.
27. In order to ensure efficient execution of projects, for which assistance
has been granted from the World Heritage Fund, 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.
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