Definition of World Heritage Source: Operational Guidelines for the
Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, II.A Cultural and Natural
Heritage Cultural and natural heritage are defined in Articles 1 and 2 of the
World Heritage Convention.
Article 1
For the purposes of this Convention, the following shall be considered as
"cultural heritage"; - monuments: architectural works, works of monumental
sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature,
inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations of features, which are of
outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;
- groups of buildings: groups of separate or connected buildings which,
because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the
landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of
history, art or science;
- sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and of man, and areas
including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value from
the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological points of view.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Convention, the following shall be considered as
"natural heritage": - natural features consisting of physical and biological
formations or groups of such formations, which are of outstanding universal
value from the aesthetic or scientific point of view;
geological and physiographical formations and precisely delineated areas which
constitute the habitat of threatened species of animals and plants of
outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation;
- natural sites or precisely delineated natural areas of outstanding
universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural
beauty.
Mixed Cultural and Natural Heritage
Properties shall be considered as "mixed cultural and natural heritage" if
they satisfy a part or the whole of the definitions of both cultural and
natural heritage laid out in Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention.
Cultural Landscapes
Cultural landscapes are cultural properties and represent the "combined
works of nature and of man" designated in Article 1 of the Convention. They
are illustrative of the evolution of human society and settlement over time,
under the influence of the physical constraints and/or opportunities presented
by their natural environment and of successive social, economic and cultural
forces, both external and internal.
Movable Heritage
Nominations of immovable heritage which are likely to become movable will
not be considered.
Outstanding Universal Value
Outstanding universal value means cultural and/or natural significance
which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of
common importance for present and future generations of all humanity. As such,
the permanent protection of this heritage is of the highest importance to
theinternational community as a whole.
The Committee defines the criteria for the inscription of properties on the
World Heritage List. States Parties are invited to submit nominations of
properties of cultural and/or natural value considered to be of "outstanding
universal value" for inscription on the World Heritage List.
At the time of inscription of a property on the World Heritage List, the
Committee adopts a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (see paragraph
154) which will be the key reference for the future effective protection and
management of the property. The Convention is not intended to ensure the
protection of all properties of great interest, importance or value, but only
for a select list of the most outstanding of these from an international
viewpoint. It is not to be assumed that a property of national and/or regional
importance will automatically be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Nominations presented to the Committee shall demonstrate the full
commitment of the State Party to preserve the heritage concerned, within its
means. Such commitment shall take the Operational Guidelines for the form of
appropriate policy, legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial
measures adopted and proposed to protect the property and its outstanding
universal value. |
