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How does UNESCO select world cultural and natural heritage sites? Do you know the secrets of the selection?
World Cultural and Natural Heritage are important landmarks and areas that are legally protected under international treaties administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These sites are evaluated for their cultural, historical or scientific significance and possess "a cultural and natural heritage of outstanding value for all humanity." To become a World Heritage Site, it must be nominated by the country where it is located and evaluated by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee as a unique landmark with special cultural or natural significance.
“World Heritage is about protecting resources for future generations and providing an opportunity for people to reflect on the past and on nature.”
As of July 2024, there are 1,223 World Heritage Sites (952 cultural heritage sites, 231 natural sites, and 40 mixed cultural and natural sites) in 168 countries around the world. Italy tops the list with 60 heritage sites, China ranks second with 59, and Germany has 54 heritage sites. The existence of these heritages is not only the crystallization of human wisdom, but also a symbol of natural beauty.
Historical BackgroundThe origin of the World Heritage can be traced back to 1954, when the Egyptian government requested assistance from the United Nations because the construction of the Aswan Dam might flood the Nile River basin, including the cultural treasures of ancient Egypt. This move attracted the attention of the international community and the action to save cultural heritage began. In 1960, UNESCO launched an international campaign to save Nubian monuments.
“Our heritage is what is left of the past and what is fundamental to contemporary life and culture.”
The success of the movement spawned more campaigns to protect cultural heritage, culminating in the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the Cultural and Natural Heritage. With 196 countries having signed the Convention, the mechanism has become one of the most widely recognized international agreements in the world.
Nomination and Selection Process
Nominating countries must first create a tentative list, from which they then select suitable properties to include in their nomination dossier. The nomination will be assessed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union.
“To be recognized as a World Heritage Site, a property must meet at least one criterion of outstanding universal value.”
The World Heritage Committee meets annually to decide which new nominations are inscribed on the World Heritage List, assessing them against ten criteria.
Selection Criteria
Since 2004, UNESCO has set ten selection criteria, requiring that the nominated heritage sites must demonstrate "outstanding universal value." Cultural heritage includes, but is not limited to, masterpieces that demonstrate human creative genius, important cultural exchanges, and witnesses to the uniqueness of a particular culture or civilization; while natural heritage includes spectacular natural phenomena or areas, important biodiversity shelters, etc.
Challenges and criticisms
While the UNESCO project has been widely praised, it has also attracted some criticism. These include the belief that the heritage of only a few regions, especially Europe, is over-represented, while other regions are neglected. Furthermore, problems associated with mass tourism may also pose a threat to the preservation of heritage sites.
“Critics argue that many listed sites have lost their uniqueness and have been made to cater to tourists.”
Cities such as Hoi An in Vietnam and Casco Viejo in Panama, for example, have been torn between coping with increased numbers of tourists and maintaining local culture and communities. This situation makes us wonder whether the protection of world heritage can strike a balance between development and preservation?
