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Latin America and the Caribbean

The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Region possesses 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 143 properties from 28 countries inscribed on the World Heritage List as follows:

97

Cultural properties

38

Natural properties

8

Mixed properties

From archaeological pre-Hispanic sites, exceptionally well preserved historical centres, breath-taking natural sites with exquisite, biodiverse 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.

Action Plans

At its 38th session (Doha, 2014), the Committee congratulated the LAC State Parties for their efforts and adopted the Action Plan for World Heritage in Latin America and the Caribbean 2014-2024. The Committee further encouraged State 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)

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Regional Action Plan


Questionnaire
on the follow-up of the PARALC
(2014-2024) currently underway

 As follow up of Decision 37 COM 10A adopted by the World Heritage Committee 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 the Regional Action Plan (PARALC, 2014-2024) to address the key challenges and priorities regarding World Heritage across the region.


PARALC 2014-2024
Action plan for World Heritage in the LAC Region
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Sub-regional Action Plans

By Decision 38COM 10B.4, the Committee further encouraged the State Parties to continue working, in close cooperation with the World Heritage Centre, Advisory Bodies and the Region’s Category 2 Centres, to develop sub-regional action plans, based on the Action Plan for World Heritage (PARALC 2014-2024) and building upon the achievements of the previous plan with a focus on the specific needs of each sub-region.

Periodic Reporting

The Periodic Reporting process
in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region

© UNESCO / Final meeting in Santiago de Chile, 2012 on the Periodic Reporting for LAC

Second Cycle (2013)

The objective of the Second Cycle was to the strengthen State Parties' capacities in order to contribute to the completion of the Retrospective Inventory exercise and the Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties in the LAC Region. Its official launch took place during the 35th Session of the Committee in 2011.

First Cycle (2004)

The First cycle was implemented in accordance with the World Heritage reporting mechanisms (1998) and the strategic objectives of the Convention (2002). This report constitutes the first periodic report on the state of World Heritage in the LAC Region and was examined by the World Heritage Committee at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004).


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 State Parties, in close cooperation with the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and Category 2 Centres started working on the development of regional and sub-regional Action Plans.

Capacity Building

Strategic Objective for the implementation of the Convention

© Category 2 Centre, Lucio Costa Centre / Rio de Janeiro, 2016

The Second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise identified the lack of management capacity and expertise 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. In this context, the Regional Action Plan (PARALC 2015-2024) outlines a Capacity Building Strategy (EFCAS) in order to support the Category 2 Centres in the Region in elaborating Capacity Building strategies and programmes tailored to the specific needs of the 3 LAC sub-regions (Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean, South America) aiming to address their most urgent requirements.to support the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

Extra-budgetary Projects

The projects financed with extra-budgetary resources form an essential part of the Action Plan of World Heritage for the Region. They support several conservation and management activities, which cannot be supported only with regular budget funds. Thanks to these donors and partners, WHC-LAC is able to enhance its action regarding conservation, management, technical assistance, seminars, workshops, training courses, database creation and others.

Cuenca project
Qhapaq Ñan project
Tikal project
Tiwanaku project

LAC UNESCO field partners

Field offices

Conservation, protection and capacity building activities in the region are carried out through reinforced cooperation among the State 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 Centres

Created in order to assist and support the State 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.

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
News (16)
Events (18)
See Also (1)
Decisions (4)
Show 40COM 10B.4 Follow-up to the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting Exercise for the Latin America and the Caribbean region
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