What Does it Mean if an Area is Classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

 

Tourists, travellers and adventurers alike have all heard of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They’re normally considered gorgeous “must-visit” places, especially if you are looking to get to know a different country. But what is a UNESCO world heritage site, really? How do they earn that status, and why should they be protected?

Believe it or not, this idea has not been around for long. Declaring structures and land masses world heritage sites began in 1959 when Egypt requested assistance from The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, to protect and rescue endangered monuments and sites. Since then, countries all over the world have added significant sites to the ongoing list of recognized world heritage sites. To date there, are 878 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the world.

Designating World Heritage sites

There are three types of sites: cultural, natural, and mixed.

1.       Cultural heritage sites include hundreds of historic buildings and town sites, important archaeological sites, and works of monumental sculpture or painting.

2.       Natural heritage sites are restricted to those natural areas that (1) furnish outstanding examples of Earth’s record of life or its geologic processes, (2) provide excellent examples of ongoing ecological and biological evolutionary processes, (3) contain natural phenomena that are rare, unique, superlative, or of outstanding beauty, or (4) furnish habitats for rare or endangered animals or plants or are sites of exceptional biodiversity.

3.       Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both natural and cultural significance. The ratio of cultural to natural sites on the World Heritage List is roughly 3 to 1. Several new sites are added to the list at the middle of each year (until 2002, sites were added in December).

How are Sites Added to the List?

UNESCO administers a World Heritage Program, which maintains a list of sites worldwide with cultural or natural significance. Countries can submit their own sites to the program which are then added to a tentative list for review and approval. In order to have cultural or natural significance, UNESCO has developed the following ten criteria for determining what constitutes a world heritage site:

1.   Represents a masterpiece of human creative genius and cultural significance.

2.   Exhibits an important interchange of human values, over a span of time, or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning, or landscape design.

3.    To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared.

4.    Is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history.

5.    Is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture, or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.

6.    Is directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

7.    Contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance.

8.    Is an outstanding example representing major stages of Earth’s history, including the record of life, significant ongoing geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.

9.   Is an outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals.

10.   Contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

The Benefits of Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The benefits to being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site are:

1.       Press and Popularity. The first benefit, however, is all about tourism. Once a site has been recognized, it becomes more attractive to travellers and therefore travel writers and other news organizations will help spread the word. The site suddenly has a certain status that it didn’t have before, and for many countries, this could help bring new economic benefits.

2.     Funding. The site is eligible to receive funds for its protection and conservation. Since it is declared something of historical significance, it is understood worldwide that it needs to be preserved. The site will also have access to global project management resources if a repair is needed or if more options for tourism is needed to ensure the site’s protection.

3.     Protection during a war. Once declared, the site becomes protected under Geneva convention against destruction during a war. Visit the vast plains of Kruger National Park on our South Africa: Wildlife Conservation Experience here

Today, some of the most recognized UNESCO world heritage sites including Serengeti National Park, Machu Picchu, and the Taj Mahal. Again, each world heritage site receives not only recognition, but protection from encroaching industrialization, mistreatment, or misuse. World heritage sites are not permitted to be used in support of military efforts and are to be an inspiring example of how recognizing the importance of art, cultural heritage, and natural beauty can transcend borders and political differences.

Have you ever considered visiting any of the World Heritage Sites.  My ‘bucket list’ included visiting as many of the sites as I could.  Ideally I would like to travel and visit one on each continent and I am still trying to do that.  How about doing the same.  Learn about more your favourite sites and plan your future holidays around those areas.

Click here on Booking.com to find accommodation near one of the many World Heritage Sites.

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