World Heritage
The cultural heritage and the natural heritage are increasingly threatened with destruction not only by the traditional causes of decay, but also by changing social and economic conditions which aggravate the situation with even more formidable phenomena of damage or destruction.
The Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted by UNESCO in 1972 was the first official international instrument stipulating the urgent need to identify and protect cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value which is irreplaceable.
What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.