Management system

"Management systems are described and defined in paragraphs 108-118 of the Operational Guidelines.

Specifically, paragraph 108 states that “Each nominated property should have an appropriate management plan or other documented management system which must specify how the Outstanding Universal Value of a property should be preserved, preferably through participatory means”.

Further, paragraph 109 describes that the “purpose of a management system is to ensure the effective protection of the nominated property for present and future generations”.  Paragraph 110 provides a broad definition of management systems: "An effective management system depends on the type, characteristics and needs of the nominated property and its cultural and natural context. Management systems may vary according to different cultural perspectives, the resources available and other factors. They may incorporate traditional practices, existing urban or regional planning instruments, and other planning control mechanisms, both formal and informal. Impact assessments for proposed interventions are essential for all World Heritage properties”.

Management plans can be developed over a range of formats and templates, and there is no formal specification for the ‘ideal’ management plan. Paragraph 111 of the Operational Guidelines contains certain elements of an effective management system.

A thorough approach to management planning can be found in the World Heritage resource manuals:

• Managing Cultural World Heritage (UNESCO 2013) (Appendix A, p122).
• Managing Natural World Heritage (UNESCO 2012, p.37)

According to Managing Cultural World Heritage,  a management system is a framework made up of three elements: “a legal framework, which defines the reasons for its existence, an institution which gives form to its organizational needs and decision-making, and resources (human, financial and intellectual) which are used to make it operative” (Managing Cultural World Heritage, p. 54).