The "Policy document on the impacts of climate change on World Heritage properties" was adopted by the 16th General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention. It touches on synergies between conventions on the issue; identification of future research needs in this area, legal questions on the role of the World Heritage Convention with regard to suitable responses to Climate Change, and linkages to other UN and international bodies dealing with the issues of climate change.
Read the World Heritage Sustainable Development Policy.
Source(s): https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/441/
Refers to a decision taken by the World Heritage Committee on whether a site should be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Once a site has been nominated and evaluated, it is up to the intergovernmental World Heritage Committee to make the final decision on its inscription. Once a year, the Committee meets to decide which sites will be inscribed on the World Heritage List. It can also defer its decision and request further information on sites from the States Parties.
Read more about World Heritage nominations.
Source(s): https://whc.unesco.org/en/nominations/
Refers to a decision taken by the World Heritage Committee on the State of Conservation of a property. Committee decisions can recommend a number of courses of action. These can include:
Source(s): World Heritage Resource Manual, Managing Cultural World Heritage
‘Communities’ should be understood in the meaning of Article 5 (a) of the World Heritage Convention, which asks each State Party to the Convention "to adopt a general policy which aims to give the cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community and to integrate the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning programmes".
One of the central objectives of the World Heritage Convention is to encourage the participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage, as outlined in the five Strategic Objectives of the World Heritage Convention, also referred to as the ‘5 Cs’: Credibility, Conservation, Capacity building, Communication and Communities.
According to the Committee working document WHC-07/31.COM/13B, “[communities] involves all forms of non-State actors. That is, from the smallest groups of citizens, in whichever form they manifest themselves. They may range from groupings of peoples as indigenous, traditional and/or local peoples. They may be presented as, inter alia, community groups, tribes, nongovernmental organizations, private enterprise and/or local authorities. The defining characteristic of communities, in this setting, is what they possess. They all possess a direct connection, with relevant interests, to individual sites and often they have a connection that has endured over time. Typically, these communities share a close proximity with the sites in question. These peoples and/or entities are not necessarily directly representing official state positions, and may actually be in dissent from official positions.”
Source(s):
Communities is one of the five strategic objectives for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention (Credibility, Conservation, Capacity Building, Communication and Communities). These 5 ‘Cs’ were adopted in 2002 at the World Heritage Committee session held in Budapest, Hungary, and were enlarged to encompass ‘communities’ in 2007 (Christchurch, New Zealand, 2007).
With regards to conflict prevention, the Policy Document for the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the Processes of the World Heritage Convention states that:
"States Parties have a critically important role to play in ensuring that the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, including the establishment of the World Heritage List and management of inscribed properties, are used to prevent conflicts between and within States Parties and to promote respect for cultural diversity within and around World Heritage properties. To this end, States Parties should:
ii. Develop an inclusive approach to identifying, conserving and managing their own World Heritage properties that promote consensus and celebrate cultural diversity, as well as understanding of and respect for heritage belonging to others, particularly neighbouring States Parties;
iii. Consider Tentative List additions and nominations for World Heritage listing that have potential to generate fruitful dialogue between States Parties and different cultural communities, for example through sites that "exhibit an important interchange of human values…" (Criterion ii);
iv. Adopt cross-culturally sensitive approaches to the interpretation of World Heritage properties that are of significance to various local communities and other stakeholders, particularly when nominating or managing heritage places associated with conflicts;
v. Consider, where appropriate, identifying, nominating and managing transboundary/transnational heritage properties and supporting mentoring arrangements in order to foster dialogue between neighboring States Parties or non-contiguous States Parties sharing a common heritage.
Source(s): World Heritage Sustainable Development Policy
The World Heritage Convention does not specifically define conservation. Throughout the Convention reference is made to the "identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage".
Article 5 of the Convention makes reference to a number of "effective and active measures" that can be taken by States Parties in ensuring this "identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission" (UNESCO 1972).
While the Operational Guidelines do not include a definition of conservation, they state that one of the four essential functions of the World Heritage Committee is to "monitor the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List" (Paragraph 3 (ii)).
One definition offered by the Nara Document on Authenticity defines conservation, specifically with reference to the cultural heritage, as:
“All operations designed to understand a property, know its history and meaning, ensure its material safeguard, and, if required, its restoration and enhancement”.
The definition of nature conservation offered by IUCN reads:
The protection, care, management and maintenance of ecosystems, habitats, wildlife species and populations, within or outside of their natural environments, in order to safeguard the natural conditions for their long-term permanence.
Source(s):
Glossary of World Heritage Terms related to the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (1996)
The World Heritage Convention, adopted in 1972, is a legally binding instrument providing an intergovernmental framework for international cooperation for the identification and conservation of the world's most outstanding natural and cultural properties. The document developed from the merging of two separate movements: the first focusing on the preservation of cultural sites, and the other dealing with the conservation of nature and defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List.
It sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them. Under the Convention, States Parties are obliged to report regularly to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties. These reports are crucial to the work of the Committee as they enable it to assess the conditions of the sites, decide on specific programme needs and resolve recurrent problems.
Source(s): http://whc.unesco.org/en/convention/
In 2010 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, a ten-year framework for action by all countries and stakeholders to safeguard biodiversity and the benefits it provides to people. As part of the Strategic Plan, 20 ambitious but realistic targets, known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, were adopted. Governments have committed to establishing national targets in support of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The development of national targets and their incorporation into updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) is a key process in fulfilling the commitments set out in the Strategic Plan. National Biodiversity Strategies Action Plans reflect how a country intends to fulfill the objectives of the CBD and the concrete actions it intends to take.
All 20 Biodiversity targets can be consulted here: https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/.
Source(s): https://www.cbd.int/undb/media/factsheets/undb-factsheets-en-web.pdf
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December 1993. It has 3 main objectives:
- The conservation of biological diversity;
- The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity;
- The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
The Convention on Biological Diversity was inspired by the world community's growing commitment to sustainable development. It represents a dramatic step forward in the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
The full text of the convention can be found here.
Source(s): https://www.cbd.int/history/
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), entered in force on 1 July 1975, is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering that licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species.
The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.
For more information visit the CITES website.
Source(s): https://www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.php
The Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals, also known as the Bonn Convention, was adopted on 23 June 1979. As of 1 December 2017 the Convention on Migratory Species had 126 Parties. The CMS is a framework convention and encompasses a range of agreements, memoranda of understanding, and special species initiatives. As an environmental treaty under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme, CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range.
For more information, visit the CMS website.
Source(s): https://www.cms.int/en/legalinstrument/cms
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) was adopted in 1971 and entered into force in 1975. It is a legally binding framework instrument embodying the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all wetlands in their territories. The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”.
For more information, visit the Ramsar website.
Source(s): https://www.ramsar.org/
To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of Outstanding Universal Value and meet at least one of ten criteria, as well as the relevant conditions of integrity and authenticity and requirements for protection and management. The World Heritage criteria are explained in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention which, besides the text of the Convention, is the main working tool on World Heritage. The criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.
Criteria for assessment of World Heritage properties:
(i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
(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;
(iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
(iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
(v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
(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 preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
(vii) contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
(viii) be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
(ix) 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;
(x) contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of OUV from the point of view of science or conservation.
Source(s):
World Heritage Resource Manual 'Preparing World Heritage Nominations'
Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention
To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. These criteria are explained in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention which, besides the text of the Convention, is the main working tool on World Heritage. The criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.