The World Heritage List, created by UNESCO in the 1960s, includes 890 natural and cultural sites in 148 countries. Sites must meet ten criteria and be assessed by multiple governing bodies. Designated sites can receive funding for restoration, but those in danger may be removed from the list. The committee’s efforts are important for preserving and promoting appreciation of history globally.
The World Heritage List is a collection of natural and cultural sites deemed vital parts of human history by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As of 2009, the list contains 890 separate sites in 148 countries around the world. Being accepted as a World Heritage Site grants certain privileges, such as the award of World Heritage Trust Funds for emergency restoration.
As humanity continued to grow and spread across the globe throughout the 20th century, it became apparent to many that urban development and population growth could lead to man-made destruction of important natural and historic areas. In the 1920s, both the US government and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (ICUN) began calling for international efforts to protect these sites from harm. Developed from these efforts and accepted by UNESCO, the World Heritage List began naming sites in the 1960s.
For a cultural site or nature reserve to become part of the World Heritage List, it must be assessed by multiple governing bodies. A country can submit a list of potential sites for World Heritage status, which is then reviewed by sub-committees. These committees make recommendations to the World Heritage Committee, which is made up of 21 elected members from different countries. Each year the World Heritage Committee votes on potential sites to add or remove them from the World Heritage List.
There are ten possible criteria for designating a place as a member of the World Heritage List. Originally, the list was strictly divided into cultural or natural sites, but since 2005, the World Heritage Committee has also started approving sites that are a combination of human history and natural wonders. The 890 sites include historic ruins such as the rock-carved city of Petra in Jordan, indescribably beautiful natural areas such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and places with significant cultural and natural value, such as the buildings and stunning rainforest surroundings of Machu Pichu , in Peru .
In addition to naming some of the most important sites in Earth’s and human history, the committee can also designate sites on the World Heritage List as “in danger”. Granting this status to a site allows the committee to provide financial assistance from the World Heritage Fund, as well as create a plan to save and restore the site. If a site cannot or does not respond to restoration efforts or the committee determines that alterations to the site have destroyed its cultural value, it may be removed from the list after a certain period of careful monitoring. In 2009, Germany’s Elbe Valley was removed from the World Heritage List after a four-lane road bridge was built across the area.
The efforts of the World Heritage Committee are considered by many to be at the forefront of preserving and promoting an appreciation of history. By maintaining the list, UNESCO keeps the focus on the importance of the Earth’s treasures, both natural and man-made. By rotating Committee members across participating nations, the World Heritage List also prevents cultural bias and ensures the appreciation of sites that have contributed to humanity globally.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
