The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve.
| Title | Sites | State Parties | Description | Category | Date updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promoting traditional environmental knowledge in the M’Zab Valley (Algeria) | M'Zab Valley | Algeria | The traditional settlements of the M’Zab valley were adapted to their environment and climate. Floodable areas were occupied only by temporary structures and not by dwellings. Water infrastructure was a core ... | Climate Change Knowledge & Skills |
2024-07-12 |
| Testing the role of digital technologies in recording values of human settlements in Asia and the Pacific | Australia · China · India | A research project tests tools such as photogrammetry, laser scanning and community mapping, to record the interaction between tangible and intangible layers of traditional settlements in China and India. | Inclusion & Participation Knowledge & Skills |
2024-07-12 | |
| Reintroduction of hydropower in the mills district of the Town of Bamberg (Germany) | Town of Bamberg | Germany | The installation of a new water turbine at the site of the former water mills in the Town of Bamberg follows traditional water practices while respecting the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. The new ... | Climate Change Environment & Resilience Prosperity & Livelihood |
2024-07-12 |
| From port city to World Heritage site: case study of George Town (Malaysia) | Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca | Malaysia | The multi-cultural historic city of George Town developed a strategy to build on its rich and diverse cultural heritage as a resource for local development and livelihoods after its free trade port status was ... | Inclusion & Participation | 2024-03-18 |
| Heritage-based city branding in Trogir (Croatia) | Historic City of Trogir | Croatia | A new city branding strategy based on cultural values and community participation aims to enhance Trogir’s attractiveness as a destination for cultural tourism. | Prosperity & Livelihood | 2023-12-28 |
| Reconstruction of the destroyed mausoleums of Timbuktu (Mali) | Timbuktu | Mali | After armed conflict resulted in the destruction of several historical mausoleums, these were reconstructed using traditional knowledge systems as part of an international cooperation campaign. The reconstruction of ... | Peace & Security | 2023-07-12 |
| Balancing development and conservation in Grand-Bassam (Côte d’Ivoire) | Historic Town of Grand-Bassam | Côte d'Ivoire | The inscription of the Historic Town of Grand-Bassam on the World Heritage List has provided new opportunities to promote sustainable development in the city. From the creation of a local World Heritage management ... | Climate Change Environment & Resilience Prosperity & Livelihood |
2023-05-18 |
| Developing a new methodology for urban regeneration: the ROCK project in Bologna (Italy) | The Porticoes of Bologna | Italy | A pilot project to enhance public spaces using participatory processes helped to identify key lessons which can be later applied to other areas and cities. | Knowledge & Skills | 2023-02-16 |
| Conservation as a driver for development: the case of Vigan (Philippines) | Historic City of Vigan | Philippines | Along with the nomination process of the Historic City of Vigan as a World Heritage site in 1999, the local government developed an ambitious conservation and management plan for the site. By implementing this ... | Prosperity & Livelihood | 2023-02-16 |
| Conservation and revitalisation programme of Ancient City of Ping Yao (China) | Ancient City of Ping Yao | China | Through innovative management and financing models and a combination of conservation actions aimed at both tangible and intangible heritage, the programme aims to make a contribution to the long-term sustainability ... | Environment & Resilience Inclusion & Participation |
2023-02-16 |
| Cultural entrepreneurship in Cidade Velha, Ribeira Grande (Cabo Verde) | Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande | Cabo Verde | A wide-ranging programme aims to build capacity amongst local residents to understand the potentials offered by cultural heritage, by supporting and enhancing local cultural entrepreneurship. The initiative includes ... | Gender Equality Prosperity & Livelihood |
2023-02-16 |
| Developing sustainable rural tourism in San Gimignano (Italy) | Historic Centre of San Gimignano | Italy | In reaction to the sharp increase in incoming visitors over the last decades, San Gimignano has developed several initiatives to support jobs and local livelihoods while respecting the town’s cultural heritage, ... | Prosperity & Livelihood | 2023-02-16 |
| Establishing a dialogue between site management and residents in the Historic Centre of Salzburg (Austria) | Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg | Austria | A community engagement programme has provided key data and inputs for the sustainable development of the World Heritage site. | Inclusion & Participation | 2023-02-16 |
| Consulting with community to understand heritage values during the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne (Australia) | Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens | Australia | In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Heritage site “Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens” began a process to review its World Heritage Management Plan. The review process began with a community ... | Inclusion & Participation | 2023-02-16 |
| Bridging a spatial and social divide through inclusive planning in Zanzibar Town (United Republic of Tanzania) | Stone Town of Zanzibar | United Republic of Tanzania | The multi-level, heritage-based development and spatial plan aims to link the World Heritage site and buffer zone with the wider city context by using town planning as a tool to bridge spatial and social divides. | Environment & Resilience Knowledge & Skills |
2023-02-16 |
| Washing of the Valongo Wharf, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site | Brazil | The symbolic ritual of cleaning and purification pays tribute to the spirits of the African ancestors who reached this entry port in captivity. The ritual started shortly after the discovery of the remains in 2011, ... | Inclusion & Participation | 2023-02-16 |
| Bolstering community identity through cultural programmes in Cusco (Peru) | City of Cuzco | Peru | A variety of projects aim to protect Cusco’s cultural heritage, promote social development through crafts and strengthen traditional knowledge for sustainable development. | Inclusion & Participation Knowledge & Skills Prosperity & Livelihood |
2023-02-16 |
| Local management system of the Historic Town of Guanajuato (Mexico) | Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines | Mexico | The system includes a new local coordination office dedicated to the conservation and sustainable development of the historic centre. | Environment & Resilience | 2023-02-16 |
| Improving the environmental, cultural and social sustainability of the Historic Centre of Urbino (Italy) | Historic Centre of Urbino | Italy | Through a series of strategic actions, Urbino has sought to improve its environmental sustainability and promote climate change mitigation and adaptation. An update of the management plan is currently under way in ... | Climate Change Environment & Resilience Prosperity & Livelihood |
2023-02-16 |
| Strengthening residents’ connection with their gardening heritage in Bamberg (Germany) | Town of Bamberg | Germany | In the city of Bamberg, traditional gardening practices are part of the city’s strategy to promote urban sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic helped to strengthen the local community’s connection with its gardening ... | Climate Change Environment & Resilience Prosperity & Livelihood |
2023-02-16 |
| Promoting local development through heritage conservation and enhancement and tourism in the Island of Saint-Louis ... | Island of Saint-Louis | Senegal | After the World Heritage Committee warned in 2016 that the poor state of conservation of the property could lead to its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger, a number of local, national and ... | Environment & Resilience Prosperity & Livelihood |
2023-02-16 |
| Cash for work: promoting local employment through heritage conservation in historic cities (Yemen) | Historic Town of Zabid Old City of Sana'a Old Walled City of Shibam |
Yemen | In the context of long-standing conflict, a cash-for-work scheme provides young people with employment opportunities while contributing to the conservation of urban heritage in four historic cities. | Gender Equality Peace & Security Prosperity & Livelihood |
2023-02-16 |
| Community-centred revitalisation of Souq al-Silah in Cairo (Egypt) | Historic Cairo | Egypt | A long-standing project has been working to revitalise a commercial street in the historic district of Darb al-Ahmar and reconnect the local community with their cultural heritage. The project, developed with help ... | Gender Equality Inclusion & Participation Knowledge & Skills Prosperity & Livelihood |
2023-02-16 |
| Celebrating community and heritage through the George Town Heritage Celebrations (Malaysia) | Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca | Malaysia | The annual celebration features an interactive and educational programme that includes workshops and performances in the streets of the historic city of George Town. Through the Celebrations, the local communities ... | Gender Equality Inclusion & Participation |
2022-06-27 |
| Transmitting the cultural heritage of the region of Missions through an itinerant exhibition (Brazil) | Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) | Argentina · Brazil · Uruguay | The initiative aims to educate and share the history, culture and heritage of the Brazilian territory of Missions. The exhibition is part of an ongoing project developed by the National Institute for Historic and ... | Knowledge & Skills | 2022-06-27 |
| Creative youth at Indonesian heritage sites | Borobudur Temple Compounds Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy Prambanan Temple Compounds |
Indonesia | A programme by UNESCO Jakarta and Citi Foundation aims to promote youth entrepreneurship and raise awareness about cultural and natural heritage by linking local communities’ livelihoods with the heritage sites. | Prosperity & Livelihood | 2022-06-27 |
| Challenges and opportunities of historic urban centres: case study of the Medina of Tunis (Tunisia) | Medina of Tunis | Tunisia | To protect this historic site at the centre of a bustling metropolis and promote its sustainable development, several actions are addressing the preservation and promotion of its cultural heritage. | Environment & Resilience | 2022-06-27 |
| Avebury Residents’ Pack: bringing together diverse stakeholders in Avebury (United Kingdom) | Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | The Avebury Residents' Pack, developed between 2006 and 2008 by the local world heritage management office, aimed to reconnect the local communities with the archaeological sites in the village, bringing together ... | Inclusion & Participation | 2022-06-27 |