UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Where Culture and Nature Unite

A UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of special significance for the world and for that region. These sites may be a historical place or a building. It may also be a famous spot, a natural area or may be important in some other way. The United Nations group called UNESCO picks these places because they are really special. The reason they call these places World Heritage Sites is to keep them safe for the future. Furthermore, they also want people all over the world to know about them.

Key characteristics of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Outstanding Universal Value

A site must possess outstanding cultural, historical, scientific, or natural significance that transcends national boundaries and represents a heritage of all humanity.

Cultural and Natural Sites

World Heritage Sites are categorized into two main categories i.e., cultural and natural. Cultural sites are places like old buildings, cities from the past. Additionally, it also includes places where they find ancient thing, and places that look special because of their history. Natural sites are places that have extraordinary scenic beauty. Moreover, there may be a unique geological activity taking place at that particular location.

Preservation and Protection

The designation as a World Heritage Site comes with a commitment to protect and preserve the site’s values. It involves some specific programs and plan that are necessary to preserve, conserve and manage these sites.

International Recognition

If a place is designated as a World Heritage Site, it is a matter of prestigious and internationally recognized honor for the place. As mentioned above it aims to increase awareness about these sites among people all over the world. This in turn increases tourism and revenue which can be used to maintain these sites.

Inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List

To become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a location or area must go through a rigorous nomination and evaluation process. Countries that agree to the World Heritage Convention can suggest places to be on the World Heritage List. A group of experts who are not part of any country looks at these suggestions and decides if they should be on the list.

Monitoring and Reporting

After a place becomes a World Heritage Site, people check on it from time to time. Inspectors regularly carry out an inspection to ensure whether the site still satisfies the criteria laid down by UNESCO. And is capable of securing its place on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Heritage Sites in Danger

Sometimes, due to the events like war, natural disasters or simple negligence towards the maintenance of the site have brought them in danger. Therefore, UNESCO emphasize that they are sites that are in danger and needs protection. Finally, it can be done by the help of people and government.

UNESCO’s World Heritage program is all about saving important things from the past and the natural world all over the world. Thus, UNESCO want countries to work together to protect these special things. Till date, there are 1,188 World Heritage Sites which include 45 trans-boundary cites.

List of World Heritage Sites