UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Introduction
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites are landmarks or areas with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance. The sites are judged to contain "outstanding universal value," according to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
Criteria for Selection
To be selected as a World Heritage Site, a site must 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 World Heritage Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.
Types of Heritage Sites
There are three types of sites: cultural, natural, and mixed. Cultural heritage sites include hundreds of historic buildings and town sites, important archaeological sites, and works of monumental sculpture or painting. Natural heritage sites are restricted to those natural areas that are of sufficient size and integrity to show significant ecological processes. Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both natural and cultural significance.
Cultural Heritage Sites
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that is inherited from past generations. Not all legacies of past generations are "heritage", rather heritage is a product of selection by society. Cultural heritage includes tangible culture (such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, books, works of art, and artifacts), intangible culture (such as folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge), and natural heritage (including culturally significant landscapes, and biodiversity).
Natural Heritage Sites
Natural heritage refers to the sum total of the elements of biodiversity, including flora and fauna, ecosystems and geological structures. Heritage is that which is inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and bestowed to future generations. The term "natural heritage", derived from "natural inheritance", pre-dates the term "biodiversity." It is a less scientific term and more easily comprehended in some ways by the wider audience.
Mixed Heritage Sites
Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both natural and cultural significance. This could include a historical building complex situated in an important bio-geographical setting or a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty.
Conservation and Management
The conservation and management of World Heritage Sites are of critical importance in ensuring that the sites' outstanding universal values are protected over the long term. The States Parties to the Convention are expected to undertake necessary actions to ensure the conservation, and to regularly report 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 at the sites and, where necessary, to decide on appropriate measures to resolve recurrent problems.
Challenges and Threats
World Heritage Sites face many challenges due to both natural events and human activities. Climate change, urbanization, uncontrolled tourism, war, and terrorism are some of the major threats to these sites. The World Heritage Committee has a specific procedure to deal with the sites that are under threat, called the List of World Heritage in Danger.