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Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean Region

Latin America and the Caribbean Region possess a rich cultural and natural heritage. The 33 countries have ratified the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The Region counts with 131 properties inscribed on the World Heritage List of which 91 cultural properties, 36 natural properties and 4 mixed properties recognized by their Outstanding Universal Value.

From archeological pre-Hispanic sites, exceptionally well preserved historical centres, breathtaking natural sites with exquisite, bio diverse landscapes, the Region’s World Heritage serves as a basis for further strengthening sustainable development and the role of local communities which is vital for heritage protection and management. A well Protected World Heritage site contributes directly to environmental, social and economic development and helps better the life of the local community. This process constitutes a great challenge for the years to come, both for the State Parties to the Convention and for UNESCO.

Regional and subregional Action Plans

As follow up of Decision 37 COM 10A adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session (Phnom Penh–2013) and based on the results of the 2nd cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise,  the LAC States Parties, in close cooperation with the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and Category 2 Centres developed an Action Plan 2014-2024.

At its 38th session (Doha, 2014), the Committee congratulated the LAC States Parties for their efforts and adopted the Action Plan for World Heritage in Latin America and the Caribbean 2014-2024 and encouraged States Parties to continue working with the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and the Category II Centres to develop sub-regional action plans (Decision 38 COM 10B.4):

  • Sub-regional Action Plan for South America (PAAS 2015-2020)
  • Sub-regional Action Plan for Central America and Mexico (in process)
  • Sub-regional Action Plan for the Caribbea (PAC 2015-2019)

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Capacity Building

Capacity Building is one of the key issues in the Region.

The lack of management capacity and expertise has been identified as one of the pressing needs in some countries from the region preventing them from ensuring better protection for the World Heritage sites within their territory.

Extra-budgetary Projects

A number of specific conservation projects within the Region have been undertaken mostly through funding provided by extra-budgetary resources. The current projects under implementation are:

Tiwanaku Tikal  Cuenca 

Regional Ongoing Activites

Field offices

Conservation, protection and capacity building activities in the region are carried out through reinforced cooperation among the States Parties, the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and UNESCO Offices in the field. The network of field offices plays an essential role in the implementation of specific activities.

Category II Centers

Created in order to assist and support the States Parties of the three LAC sub-regions to implement the 1972 World Heritage Convention. Two centres have been created: the Rio de Janeiro Centre for the South American sub-region and the Zacatecas Centre for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Periodic Reporting
in Latin America and the Caribbean

Second Cycle (2013)

The Second Cycle was implemented with the objective of strengthening capacities of States Parties in LAC. The purpose was to contribute to the completion of the Retrospective Inventory exercise and the Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties for LAC Region. Its official launch took place during the 35th Session of the Committee (Manama, 2011).

First Cycle (2004)

The World Heritage Committee decided to examine the Report on the state of the World Heritage in Latin America and the Caribbean at its 28th session in 2004. The World Heritage Centre, through its adviser for World Heritage in Latin America and the Caribbean based at the UNESCO Office in Montevideo, provided assistance to States Parties to ensure the preparation of their regional synthesis report.     

Partners

Many of the activities developed in Latin America and the Caribbean Region are funded by
Japanese Funds-in Trust PanasonicNetherlands Funds-in Trust  

Spanish Funds-in-Trust
See Also (1)
Decisions (3)
Show 39COM 10B.4 Follow-up of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise for the other regions and general reflection on Periodic Reporting
Show 38COM 8E Adoption of Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value
Show 38COM 10B.4 Progress Report on Periodic Reporting in the Latin America and the Caribbean region