Celebrating 40 years of World Heritage 1972-2012
The World Heritage Convention is the most ratified international treaty for cultural and natural heritage preservation in the world. This year, on its 40th anniversary, the World Heritage Convention celebrates sustainable development and the role of local communities. Due to changing demographics, growing inequalities and diminishing resources, the relationship between heritage conservation and sustainable development is more important than ever. World Heritage has a major role to play… Learn more
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Adoption
Adoption of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, a unique international treaty linking for the first time the concepts of nature conservation and preservation of cultural properties – recognizing the way people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.
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Ratification
The World Heritage Convention formally takes effect upon ratification by the first 20 States Parties. The List of World Heritage in Danger is created to draw attention to properties needing special international consideration and priority assistance. The World Heritage Fund is established to assist States Parties identify, preserve and promote World Heritage sites through both compulsory and voluntary contributions.
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Operational guidelines
The World Heritage Committee develops selection criteria for inscribing properties on the World Heritage List, and draws up Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, setting out among other principles those of monitoring and reporting for properties on the List. Ecuador''s Galápagos Islands becomes the first of twelve sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
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Cultural landscapes
With 377 sites inscribed in the first twenty years of the Convention, the World Heritage Centre is established to oversee the day-to-day management of the Convention. A new category of sites is added, making the Convention the first legal instrument to recognize and protect cultural landscapes.
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Global Strategy
The Committee adopts the Global Strategy for a Balanced, Representative and Credible World Heritage List, aimed at addressing the imbalances on the List between regions of the world, and the types of monuments and periods represented. The Strategy marks the progression from a monumental vision of heritage to a much more people-oriented, multifunctional and global vision of World Heritage. The Nara Document on Authenticity is adopted, recognizing the specific nature of heritage values within each cultural context.
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The "4 Cs"
On the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Convention, the Committee adopts the Budapest Declaration on World Heritage, inviting all stakeholders to support World Heritage conservation through four key Strategic Objectives (the "4 Cs"): Credibility, Conservation, Capacity-building and Communication. The World Heritage Partners Initiative, known today as PACT, is launched to encourage public-private partnerships and set in place a framework through which a wide range of institutions as well as individuals can contribute to the conservation of World Heritage sites around the world.
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...and Community
The World Heritage Committee adds a fifth 'C' – Community – to its Strategic Objectives, highlighting the important role of local communities in preserving World Heritage.
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40 years of the Convention
A year of activities, including events, conferences, workshops, exhibits and a targeted communication campaign, celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the adoption of the World Heritage Convention, with a focus on World Heritage and Sustainable Development: the Role of Local Communities.
Events (95)
- IUCN World Conservation Congress in Jeju, Republic of Korea
06 Sep - 15 Sep 2012
- 18 April, International Day for Monuments and Sites 2012 dedicated to World ...
18 Apr - 18 Apr 2012
- Ceremonial launch of the World Heritage Convention 40th anniversary year
UNESCO Headquarters, room I
30 Jan - 30 Jan 2012
Algeria
- 20th session of the Congress on Archaeology and Cultural Heritage of the Arab ...
Algiers, Algeria
13 Mar - 15 Mar 2012
Argentina
- International Seminar: Guarani Jesuit Missions
Buenos Aires, Argentina
26 Sep - 28 Sep 2012
- Celebration of the 40th anniversary and adoption of the planning process: ...
Puerto Pirámides
15 Aug - 15 Aug 2012
- 2012 edition of the program "Tourism, Heritage and School"
22 Mar - 23 Mar 2012
Australia
- Symposium on strategic issues for Australian World Heritage
Cairns, Australia
09 Aug - 10 Aug 2012
Barbados
- Special Seminar on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage ...
Bridgetown, Barbados
31 Jul - 31 Jul 2012
Belarus
- International capacity-building workshop: "World Heritage Properties: ...
23 May - 26 May 2012
Belgium
- International colloquium on the conservation and management of World Heritage ...
Bruges, Belgium
31 May - 01 Jun 2012
Brazil
- International expert meeting on “World Heritage and Sustainable Development”
Brazil, Ouro Preto
06 Feb - 08 Feb 2012
Bulgaria
- National round table to share good practices in the management of World Heritage ...
Sofia
05 Jun - 05 Jun 2012
- Outdoor exhibition on World Heritage
Sofia, Bulgaria
05 Jun - 19 Jun 2012
Canada
- World Heritage-related topic for final school exams and awareness campaign using ...
Canada
01 Jan - 01 Jan 2012
Chile
- Cultural Heritage Day of Chile dedicated to the 40th anniversary
Santiago, Chile
27 May - 27 May 2012
China
- International Workshop on Space Technologies for World Heritage
Beijing, China
09 Oct - 28 Oct 2012
- Forum on World Heritage Protection and Conservation
Suzhou, China
01 Oct - 30 Oct 2012
- UNESCO-MHURD (Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's ...
Libo, Guizhou
30 May - 03 Jun 2012
- International Workshop on the Monitoring and Management of Cultural Routes
Xi'an
21 Apr - 24 Apr 2012
- “World Heritage: Sustainable Development” Annual Forum
Wuxi, China
10 Apr - 12 Apr 2012
Colombia
- Gold Museum: a look into archaeological heritage
Bogota, Colombia
01 Jul - 01 Dec 2012
Cuba
- Workshop -UNESCO and Heritage: What, How, When and Why should be disseminated?
Havana, Cuba
28 Jun - 28 Jun 2012
- Management of Historic Centres: "Economic Sustainability of the Historic Centre, ...
Havana, Cuba
15 May - 18 May 2012
- Travelling exhibition "Cuba and its World Heritage Sites" for the 40th ...
Cuba
01 Apr - 31 Dec 2012
- Capacity Building Workshop on the international cooperation mechanisms in the ...
Havana
19 Mar - 23 Mar 2012
Cyprus
- Presentation of the Management Plan of Choirokitia
Choirokoitia, Cyprus
18 Apr - 18 Apr 2012
Czechia
- Czech Republic exhibition for celebrating the 40th anniversary of the World ...
21 Nov - 30 Nov 2012
Denmark
- International Expert Workshop on the World Heritage Convention and Indigenous ...
Copenhagen, Denmark
20 Sep - 21 Sep 2012
Ecuador
- Conference on extreme poverty and World Heritage
Quito, Ecuador
01 Oct - 01 Oct 2012
- Photographic exhibition on World Heritage sites
Mindalae Museum, Quito, Ecuador
09 May - 14 May 2012
Estonia
- Conference: "Tallin Old Town- Our World Heritage"
29 May - 29 May 2012
Finland
- Finland’s culminating events on the 40th Anniversary of the Convention.
03 Oct - 06 Oct 2012
France
- [in French only] Colloque sur les Biens en série organisé par ICOMOS France, ...
Poitiers
17 Dec - 18 Dec 2012
- [in French only] 10èmes rencontres de l'Association des biens français du ...
08 Mar - 09 Mar 2012
- [in French only] 40e anniversaire : 10 activités en France
01 Jan - 31 Dec 2012
Germany
- Annual Conference of German World Heritage Sites
Würzburg, Germany
24 Oct - 26 Oct 2012
- International Summer Academy: Constructing Heritage in the Light of Sustainable ...
Cottbus, Germany
09 Jul - 21 Jul 2012
- 40th anniversary Exhibition: the Hessian World Heritage sites
Biebrich Castle, Wiesbaden, Germany
24 Jun - 17 Aug 2012
- 40th anniversary ceremonial event at Stralsund
Stralsund, Germany
21 Jun - 21 Jun 2012
- 2012 World Heritage Day in Germany (Potsdam)
Potsdam, Germany
03 Jun - 03 Jun 2012
Greece
- Conference “From past experience to new approaches and synergies: the Future of ...
Athens
23 May - 25 May 2012
Guatemala
- Meeting: Towards a plan for the international conservation of Maya sites ...
Mexico
29 Oct - 30 Oct 2012
Hungary
- Exhibition on Hungarian World Heritage sites
Budapest, Forster Centre
17 Dec - 31 Dec 2012
- 40th anniversary celebration in Hungary
16 Nov - 16 Nov 2012
- Conference on Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape
Budapest
21 Jun - 21 Jun 2012
- Conference celebrating 25 years of Budapest World Heritage
Budapest, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
20 Apr - 20 Apr 2012
India
- International Youth Forum Go4BioDiv at Sundarbans National Park
Hyderabad
08 Oct - 19 Oct 2012
- 3-month trip to India's 28 World Heritage sites
05 Mar - 14 Mar 2012
Italy
- The International Protection of Landscapes
Florence, Italy
19 Sep - 21 Sep 2012
Japan
- Symposium “World Heritage for Peace and Sustainability”
Tokyo, Japan
10 Nov - 10 Nov 2012
- Symposium “World Heritage, conservation and succession to the next generation”
Wakayama, Japan
09 Nov - 11 Nov 2012
- World Heritage Convention 40th anniversary celebrations: Closing event
Kyoto, Japan
06 Nov - 08 Nov 2012
- Expert Meeting "Heritage and Societies: toward the 20th anniversary of the Nara ...
Himeji, Hyogo (Japan)
03 Nov - 05 Nov 2012
- Expert meeting “Conservation and Sustainability-from principle to practice”
Toyama, Japan
03 Nov - 05 Nov 2012
- Symposium “The Role of Community for Sustainable Cultural Development”
Kyoto, Japan
03 Nov - 05 Nov 2012
- Youth Programme “World Heritage: the roles of local communities and youth for ...
Kyoto, Japan
03 Nov - 05 Nov 2012
- Forum on World Heritage Protection and Conservation
Kyoto, Japan
29 Oct - 29 Oct 2012
- Symposium on the World Natural Heritage of Japan
Kagoshima (Japan)
02 Oct - 02 Oct 2012
- Expert Meeting on the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
16 Feb - 16 Feb 2012
- Launching Ceremony for the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in ...
Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
13 Feb - 13 Feb 2012
Lithuania
- Exhibition "Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir in the Curonian Spit"
UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France
03 Dec - 07 Dec 2012
Mexico
- Training program for integrated Lake Ecosystem Conservation and sustainable use ...
Xochimilco, Mexico
01 Sep - 02 Sep 2012
- International meeting on "Apiculture and Development in the Old Maya City of ...
Calakmul, Campeche
01 Aug - 01 Aug 2012
- International meeting on the 40th anniversary of the convention: World Heritage, ...
Querétaro (Mexico)
17 Jul - 20 Jul 2012
Montenegro
- World Heritage and Sustainable Development: The Role of Local Communities in the ...
07 Jun - 08 Jun 2012
Morocco
- Lecture-discussion “World Heritage Convention at 40: what is it there for ...
Rabat, Morocco
18 Apr - 18 Apr 2012
Netherlands
- Regional Conference of the OWHC Region of North Western Europe
Beemster (The Netherlands)
12 Sep - 14 Sep 2012
- 40th anniversary events in the Netherlands
15 Jun - 17 Jun 2012
Norway
- “Living with World Heritage”, Interregional conference
Røros, Norway
14 May - 16 May 2012
Peru
- ICAHM's Annual Meeting: "The World Heritage Convention on its 40th anniversary"
Cuzco, Peru
27 Nov - 30 Nov 2012
- Terra 2012: 11th International Conference on the Study and Conservation of ...
Lima, Peru
22 Apr - 27 Apr 2012
Portugal
- From World Heritage to Local Heritage: protecting and managing change
18 Apr - 18 Apr 2012
Republic of Korea
- Joint International Symposium: Involving Communities for Better Conservation and ...
Buyeo (Republic of Korea)
10 Sep - 12 Sep 2012
- UNESCO Asia-Pacific Mayors’ Forum for World Heritage Cities
29 Aug - 30 Aug 2012
Russian Federation
- International Youth Model of the World Heritage Committee
Kazan
01 Jul - 09 Jul 2012
- Gala event dedicated to the 40th anniversary at the Saint Peter and Paul ...
Saint Petersburg
30 Jun - 30 Jun 2012
- International Youth Forum: Water and World Heritage
Orlyonok, Krasnodar
30 May - 20 Jun 2012
San Marino
- Philatelic issue of special World Heritage stamps
01 Jan - 31 Dec 2012
Serbia
- “Living together”, 40th anniversary celebratory event at Gamzigrad-Romuliana, ...
Gamzigrad-Romuliana
09 Jun - 09 Jun 2012
Slovenia
- Conference: 40th Anniversary of the Convention on the Protection of the World ...
Park of the Škocjan Caves, in Slovenia
09 Oct - 09 Oct 2012
Solomon Islands
- “Celebrating World Heritage in the Pacific”
Solomon Islands
01 Jul - 14 Jul 2012
South Africa
- International Conference "Living with World Heritage in Africa"
Johannesburg, South Africa
26 Sep - 29 Sep 2012
- World Heritage and Impacts of Developments in the Africa region
Johannesburg, South Africa
23 May - 25 May 2012
Spain
- 40th anniversary - 20 activities in Spain
Spain
01 Jun - 30 Jun 2012
Sweden
- Conference “40 years of World Heritage Convention”
Kvarken Archipelago
25 Oct - 25 Oct 2012
Switzerland
- World Heritage Convention's 40th anniversary ceremony in Berne, Switzerland
Berne
13 Nov - 13 Nov 2012
Turkey
- International Symposium: “Cultural Heritage Protection In Times of Risk – ...
15 Nov - 17 Nov 2012
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Conference "World Heritage for tomorrow” - ICOMOS/UK
London
01 Dec - 01 Dec 2012
- Meeting on the Historic Urban Landscape Action Plan for Durham World Heritage ...
Durham (UK)
26 Oct - 27 Oct 2012
- Lecture “World Heritage and Economic Development”
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
17 Apr - 17 Apr 2012
United States of America
- Cultural Landscapes: Preservation Challenges in the 21st Century
Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA
12 Oct - 14 Oct 2012
- 15th Annual US/ICOMOS International Symposium
San Antonio, Texas, USA
31 May - 02 Jun 2012
- 40th anniversary U.S. Video Challenge
05 Apr - 15 Oct 2012
Viet Nam
- ASEAN Sub-regional Conference on “The 1972 Convention and Sustainable ...
Viet Nam
31 Dec - 31 Dec 2012
News
- 40th anniversary: Proceedings of the Closing Event published Monday, 18 November 2013
- Report of the 40th Anniversary Year activities: Celebrating 40 years of the World Heritage Convention and looking forward to tomorrow Friday, 7 June 2013
- Two New Episodes of Patrimonito’s World Heritage Adventures Available Online Tuesday, 7 May 2013
- US celebrates the 40th anniversary of UNESCO's World Heritage Convention in Washington, and pays tribute to the Honourable Russell Train Sunday, 16 December 2012
- World Heritage Convention turns 40 Friday, 16 November 2012
The Convention
Closing celebration of World Heritage Convention’s 40th anniversary
More videos | Programme | General Information |
World Heritage Convention: Looking Ahead (Kishore Rao)