The World Heritage Convention

Conserving Humanity’s Common Heritage ONIO MU IM N Kudu, iSimangaliso Wetland Imagine a world without the pyramids of Egypt, Conserving them helps the world connect continuously R D The World Heritage emblem symbolizes T IA

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A © EVI VERVUEREN O the Serengeti, or the Great Barrier Reef. What about through humanity’s common heritage. These sites— I the interdependence of cultural and

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O H the Grand Canyon, Everglades, or Statue of Liberty? and our care for them—represent our human legacies, M natural properties. The square is a E R E I T IN AG O World Heritage sites like these are as diverse and our present lives, and what we pass on to future E • PATRIM form created by humankind and the unique as the lands and peoples of our planet. Yet generations. Working together, the people and nations circle represents nature, the two being many of the world’s irreplaceable properties come of the world can protect the places that tell our shared intimately linked. The emblem is round under threat from deterioration, natural disasters, human story. like the world, and at the same time it is civil strife, or insufficient resources for their care. a symbol of protection.

Temple of Angkor Wat, Sea lion, Galápagos Victoria Falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya, Moai, Rapa Nui Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands Angkor, Cambodia Islands, Ecuador Zambia / Zimbabwe National Park, Chile (Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto), Italy PIXABAY © THOMAS POROSTOCKY PIXABAY/ FIETZFOTOS © DR. ALBAN MIRABAUD © IAN WITHNALL

A Shared Promise to Protect the World’s Heritage Safeguarding World Heritage Sites After the United States established Yellowstone as the US national park idea throughout the world. The United Cooperation is vital to conserving World Heritage sites. The National Park Service administers several World world’s first national park in 1872, a movement progressed States was the first country to ratify the Convention, which Nations identify and nominate their properties to be Heritage sites in the United States; others are managed by to conserve more natural and cultural heritage across the today has over 190 signatory states. Yellowstone and Mesa considered for the World Heritage List—a global collection states, tribes, local governments, or private owners. The United States. This movement, in a variety of forms, Verde national parks were in the first group of sites selected of properties whose preservation is enhanced through United States and Canada jointly nominated bordering eventually spread across the globe. One century later, in for the World Heritage List in 1978. Now, more than 1,000 international cooperation. The World Heritage Committee parks to be two World Heritage sites: Waterton-Glacier 1972, the United States played a key role in developing an World Heritage sites in over 160 countries are recognized. reviews the properties for their “outstanding universal and Wrangell-St.Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek/ international treaty called the Convention Concerning the The Convention has become one of history’s largest value” to humanity, and selected sites are inscribed on the Kluane. These designations underscore the nations’ Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Aiming collective conservation efforts, fostering international World Heritage List. Nations pledge to protect their sites mutually beneficial interaction in long-term resource to enhance understanding and appreciation of heritage cooperation and making strides across the globe to protect while retaining sovereignty and control over them. management and day-to-day activities. conservation, many see the Convention as applying the humanity’s shared heritage.

AGE JUN IT IO Selection Criteria Global Partnerships ER R H R A To be included on the World Heritage List, a site must be of “outstanding universal value” and meet at least one of The National Park Service (NPS) Office of International D More Information L N

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ten selection criteria. A site must also meet standards for integrity (must be complete) and authenticity (must be Affairs works to promote the NPS mission to extend the O E

R Office of International Affairs W credible and truthful) and have good management and strong legal protection. benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and 1849 C Street, NW Mail Stop 2415 outdoor recreation throughout the United States and the Washington, DC 20240 CULTURAL CRITERIA vi • Be directly or tangibly associated with events or living 202-354-1800 world. NPS works with World Heritage site managers to help i • Represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and www.nps.gov/orgs/1955 them better protect their own natural and cultural heritage, literary works of outstanding universal significance. Visit us on social media. EXPLORE, LEARN, ii • Exhibit an important interchange of human values on providing technical assistance and promoting exchanges of www.facebook.com/ AND PROTECT! NPSInternationalAffairs developments in architecture, technology, monumental arts, NATURAL CRITERIA best practices in site conservation and management. town planning, or landscape design. vii • Contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of The National Park Service Junior National Park Service World exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. Heritage in the United States Zebras, Ngorongoro Ranger program provides learning iii • Bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a www.nps.gov/subjects/ Conservation Area, opportunities for people of all ages. cultural tradition or to a civilization that is living or has viii • Be outstanding examples representing major stages Tanzania internationalcooperation/ © PHILIPPE CLAIRO worldheritage.htm disappeared. of Earth’s history. To earn your official World Heritage Junior Ranger badge and certificate, United Nations Educational, iv • Be an outstanding example of a type of building, ix • Be outstanding examples representing significant complete a series of fun activities, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape that ongoing ecological and biological processes. then share your answers with World Heritage List illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. National Park Service staff. Learn whc.unesco.org/en/list/ x • Contain the most important and significant natural more at www.nps.gov/subjects/ IGPO:2019—407-308/82436 New in 2019 v • Be an outstanding example of a traditional human habitats for in-place conservation of biological diversity. Printed on recycled paper. internationalcooperation/ settlement, land use, or sea use representative of a culture. world-heritage-junior-rangers.htm.