World Heritage identification

Article 4 of the World Heritage Convention states:

"Each State Party to this Convention recognizes that the duty of ensuring the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and
transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage referred to in Articles 1 and 2 and situated on its territory, belongs primarily
to that State ...".

The World Heritage Convention does not specifically define identification.  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). Within the Operational Guidelines the identification of properties for potential inclusion in the World Heritage List is referred to as the first step in the process of World Heritage conservation.

Source(s): Glossary of World Heritage Terms related to the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (1996)