Climate & Environment

World Heritage Site

Meaning statusEstablishedSource recordDirect source requestedWhy these are different

Definition

A World Heritage Site is a cultural or natural property inscribed by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as having outstanding universal value to humanity. Natural sites qualify through exceptional biodiversity, ecosystems, geological features or natural beauty, and state parties commit to their protection under the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

References

whc.unesco.orgBulk import source

Source imported for editorial provenance.

Source organisationSupporting reference

This reference provides supporting context for how “World Heritage Site” is defined and used.

Overview

How it is used

Governments nominate and manage sites; UNESCO and IUCN monitor conservation status; businesses apply no-go commitments for extractives in and around sites; sustainable tourism frameworks manage visitor pressure.

Why it matters

The list represents the highest level of international recognition for natural and cultural heritage, anchoring conservation finance, planning protection and corporate no-go policies.