The World Heritage Convention is the most ratified international treaty for cultural and natural heritage preservation in the world. This year, on its 40th anniversary, the World Heritage Convention celebrates sustainable development and the role of local communities. Due to changing demographics, growing inequalities and diminishing resources, the relationship between heritage conservation and sustainable development is more important than ever. World Heritage has a major role to play…
Convention Timeline
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Adoption
Adoption of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, a unique international treaty linking for the first time the concepts of nature conservation and preservation of cultural properties – recognizing the way people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.
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Ratification
The World Heritage Convention formally takes effect upon ratification by the first 20 States Parties. The List of World Heritage in Danger is created to draw attention to properties needing special international consideration and priority assistance. The World Heritage Fund is established to assist States Parties identify, preserve and promote World Heritage sites through both compulsory and voluntary contributions.
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Operational guidelines
The World Heritage Committee develops selection criteria for inscribing properties on the World Heritage List, and draws up Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, setting out among other principles those of monitoring and reporting for properties on the List. Ecuador''s Galápagos Islands becomes the first of twelve sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
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Cultural landscapes
With 377 sites inscribed in the first twenty years of the Convention, the World Heritage Centre is established to oversee the day-to-day management of the Convention. A new category of sites is added, making the Convention the first legal instrument to recognize and protect cultural landscapes.
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Global Strategy
The Committee adopts the Global Strategy for a Balanced, Representative and Credible World Heritage List, aimed at addressing the imbalances on the List between regions of the world, and the types of monuments and periods represented. The Strategy marks the progression from a monumental vision of heritage to a much more people-oriented, multifunctional and global vision of World Heritage. The Nara Document on Authenticity is adopted, recognizing the specific nature of heritage values within each cultural context.
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The "4 Cs"
On the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Convention, the Committee adopts the Budapest Declaration on World Heritage, inviting all stakeholders to support World Heritage conservation through four key Strategic Objectives (the "4 Cs"): Credibility, Conservation, Capacity-building and Communication. The World Heritage Partners Initiative, known today as PACT, is launched to encourage public-private partnerships and set in place a framework through which a wide range of institutions as well as individuals can contribute to the conservation of World Heritage sites around the world.
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...and Community
The World Heritage Committee adds a fifth 'C' – Community – to its Strategic Objectives, highlighting the important role of local communities in preserving World Heritage.
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40 years of the Convention
A year of activities, including events, conferences, workshops, exhibits and a targeted communication campaign, celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the adoption of the World Heritage Convention, with a focus on World Heritage and Sustainable Development: the Role of Local Communities.
95 Events
All 40th anniversary events
Global
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IUCN World Conservation Congress in Jeju, Republic of Korea
06 Sep - 15 Sep 2012
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18 April, International Day for Monuments and Sites 2012 dedicated to World Heritage
18 Apr - 18 Apr 2012
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Ceremonial launch of the World Heritage Convention 40th anniversary year
UNESCO Headquarters, room I30 Jan - 30 Jan 2012
Algeria
Argentina
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International Seminar: Guarani Jesuit Missions
Buenos Aires, Argentina26 Sep - 28 Sep 2012
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Celebration of the 40th anniversary and adoption of the planning process: “Planning for Peninsula Valdés: Our ...
Puerto Pirámides15 Aug - 15 Aug 2012
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2012 edition of the program "Tourism, Heritage and School"
22 Mar - 23 Mar 2012
Australia
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Symposium on strategic issues for Australian World Heritage
Cairns, Australia09 Aug - 10 Aug 2012
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
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National round table to share good practices in the management of World Heritage properties
Sofia05 Jun - 05 Jun 2012
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Outdoor exhibition on World Heritage
Sofia, Bulgaria05 Jun - 19 Jun 2012
Chile
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Cultural Heritage Day of Chile dedicated to the 40th anniversary
Santiago, Chile27 May - 27 May 2012
China
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International Workshop on Space Technologies for World Heritage
Beijing, China09 Oct - 28 Oct 2012
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Forum on World Heritage Protection and Conservation
Suzhou, China01 Oct - 30 Oct 2012
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UNESCO-MHURD (Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China) Joint Forum on the ...
Libo, Guizhou30 May - 03 Jun 2012
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International Workshop on the Monitoring and Management of Cultural Routes
Xi'an21 Apr - 24 Apr 2012
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“World Heritage: Sustainable Development” Annual Forum
Wuxi, China10 Apr - 12 Apr 2012
Colombia
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Gold Museum: a look into archaeological heritage
Bogota, Colombia01 Jul - 01 Dec 2012
Cuba
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Workshop -UNESCO and Heritage: What, How, When and Why should be disseminated?
Havana, Cuba28 Jun - 28 Jun 2012
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Management of Historic Centres: "Economic Sustainability of the Historic Centre, a Shared Responsibility"
Havana, Cuba15 May - 18 May 2012
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Travelling exhibition "Cuba and its World Heritage Sites" for the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention
Cuba01 Apr - 31 Dec 2012
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Capacity Building Workshop on the international cooperation mechanisms in the Culture Sector
Havana19 Mar - 23 Mar 2012
Cyprus
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Presentation of the Management Plan of Choirokitia
Choirokoitia, Cyprus18 Apr - 18 Apr 2012
Czechia
Denmark
Ecuador
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Conference on extreme poverty and World Heritage
Quito, Ecuador01 Oct - 01 Oct 2012
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Photographic exhibition on World Heritage sites
Mindalae Museum, Quito, Ecuador09 May - 14 May 2012
Estonia
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Conference: "Tallin Old Town- Our World Heritage"
Tallinn, Estonia29 May - 29 May 2012
Finland
France
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[in French only] Colloque sur les Biens en série organisé par ICOMOS France, dans le cadre du 40ème anniversaire
Poitiers17 Dec - 18 Dec 2012
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[in French only] 10èmes rencontres de l'Association des biens français du patrimoine mondial, 8-9 mars, Albi, ...
08 Mar - 09 Mar 2012
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[in French only] 40e anniversaire : 10 activités en France
01 Jan - 31 Dec 2012
Germany
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Annual Conference of German World Heritage Sites
Würzburg, Germany24 Oct - 26 Oct 2012
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International Summer Academy: Constructing Heritage in the Light of Sustainable Development
Cottbus, Germany09 Jul - 21 Jul 2012
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40th anniversary Exhibition: the Hessian World Heritage sites
Biebrich Castle, Wiesbaden, Germany24 Jun - 17 Aug 2012
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40th anniversary ceremonial event at Stralsund
Stralsund, Germany21 Jun - 21 Jun 2012
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2012 World Heritage Day in Germany (Potsdam)
Potsdam, Germany03 Jun - 03 Jun 2012
Guatemala
Hungary
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Exhibition on Hungarian World Heritage sites
Budapest, Forster Centre17 Dec - 31 Dec 2012
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40th anniversary celebration in Hungary
16 Nov - 16 Nov 2012
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Conference on Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape
Budapest21 Jun - 21 Jun 2012
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Conference celebrating 25 years of Budapest World Heritage
Budapest, Hungarian Academy of Sciences20 Apr - 20 Apr 2012
India
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International Youth Forum Go4BioDiv at Sundarbans National Park
Hyderabad08 Oct - 19 Oct 2012
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3-month trip to India's 28 World Heritage sites
05 Mar - 14 Mar 2012
Italy
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The International Protection of Landscapes
Florence, Italy19 Sep - 21 Sep 2012
Japan
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Symposium “World Heritage for Peace and Sustainability”
Tokyo, Japan10 Nov - 10 Nov 2012
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Symposium “World Heritage, conservation and succession to the next generation”
Wakayama, Japan09 Nov - 11 Nov 2012
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World Heritage Convention 40th anniversary celebrations: Closing event
Kyoto, Japan06 Nov - 08 Nov 2012
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Expert Meeting "Heritage and Societies: toward the 20th anniversary of the Nara Document on Authenticity, and ...
Himeji, Hyogo (Japan)03 Nov - 05 Nov 2012
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Expert meeting “Conservation and Sustainability-from principle to practice”
Toyama, Japan03 Nov - 05 Nov 2012
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Symposium “The Role of Community for Sustainable Cultural Development”
Kyoto, Japan03 Nov - 05 Nov 2012
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Youth Programme “World Heritage: the roles of local communities and youth for the next decade”
Kyoto, Japan03 Nov - 05 Nov 2012
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Forum on World Heritage Protection and Conservation
Kyoto, Japan29 Oct - 29 Oct 2012
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Symposium on the World Natural Heritage of Japan
Kagoshima (Japan)02 Oct - 02 Oct 2012
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Expert Meeting on the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan16 Feb - 16 Feb 2012
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Launching Ceremony for the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in Japan
Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan13 Feb - 13 Feb 2012
Lithuania
Mexico
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Training program for integrated Lake Ecosystem Conservation and sustainable use of Xochimilco’s "chinampa" ...
Xochimilco, Mexico01 Sep - 02 Sep 2012
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International meeting on "Apiculture and Development in the Old Maya City of Calakmul"
Calakmul, Campeche01 Aug - 01 Aug 2012
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International meeting on the 40th anniversary of the convention: World Heritage, Culture and Development in Latin ...
Querétaro (Mexico)17 Jul - 20 Jul 2012
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
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Regional Conference of the OWHC Region of North Western Europe
Beemster (The Netherlands)12 Sep - 14 Sep 2012
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40th anniversary events in the Netherlands
15 Jun - 17 Jun 2012
Norway
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“Living with World Heritage”, Interregional conference
Røros, Norway14 May - 16 May 2012
Portugal
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From World Heritage to Local Heritage: protecting and managing change
Portugal18 Apr - 18 Apr 2012
Republic of Korea
Russian Federation
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International Youth Model of the World Heritage Committee
Kazan01 Jul - 09 Jul 2012
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Gala event dedicated to the 40th anniversary at the Saint Peter and Paul Fortress
Saint Petersburg30 Jun - 30 Jun 2012
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International Youth Forum: Water and World Heritage
Orlyonok, Krasnodar30 May - 20 Jun 2012
San Marino
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Philatelic issue of special World Heritage stamps
01 Jan - 31 Dec 2012
Solomon Islands
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“Celebrating World Heritage in the Pacific”
Solomon Islands01 Jul - 14 Jul 2012
South Africa
Spain
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40th anniversary - 20 activities in Spain
Spain01 Jun - 30 Jun 2012
Sweden
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Conference “40 years of World Heritage Convention”
Kvarken Archipelago25 Oct - 25 Oct 2012
Switzerland
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World Heritage Convention's 40th anniversary ceremony in Berne, Switzerland
Berne13 Nov - 13 Nov 2012
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Conference "World Heritage for tomorrow” - ICOMOS/UK
London01 Dec - 01 Dec 2012
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Meeting on the Historic Urban Landscape Action Plan for Durham World Heritage site, UK
Durham (UK)26 Oct - 27 Oct 2012
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Lecture “World Heritage and Economic Development”
Edinburgh, United Kingdom17 Apr - 17 Apr 2012
United States of America
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Cultural Landscapes: Preservation Challenges in the 21st Century
Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA12 Oct - 14 Oct 2012
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15th Annual US/ICOMOS International Symposium
San Antonio, Texas, USA31 May - 02 Jun 2012
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40th anniversary U.S. Video Challenge
05 Apr - 15 Oct 2012
News
Documents
The Convention
Closing celebration
More videos Programme General Information World Heritage Convention: Looking Ahead (Kishore Rao)