UNESCO World Heritage Convention Research Articles

Nudging to glory: the World Heritage Convention’s influence in conflict-prone Global South natural sites

The paper explores the role of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in safeguarding natural and cultural heritage, with a specific focus on sites facing armed conflict. The Convention acts as a global mechanism for the protection and conservation of sites with Outstanding Universal Value. The study investigates the use of ‘soft power’ and ‘nudging’ strategies by the World Heritage Committee to facilitate the restoration of World Heritage Sites facing threats, particularly in the Global South. The analysis is based on the examination of 32 natural sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 1984, nine of which are in the Global South and faced with armed conflict. Case studies illustrate how armed conflicts impact biodiversity and the steps taken to recover these sites. The study emphasises the soft power of the World Heritage Convention, backed by diplomatic ties and financial aid, as instrumental in achieving restoration. Nudging is observed in the strategic alignment of choices to encourage conservation efforts. The findings suggest that the World Heritage Committee’s influence extends beyond conservation, contributing to regional development, especially in the Global South. However, challenges persist, and the paper calls for a continuous evolution of the World Heritage Convention’s role in addressing conflicts, development, and climate change to ensure effective global heritage conservation.

UNESCO World Heritage Convention – mission and commitment in times of challenges: lessons learnt from World Heritage Cities in Northwest-Europe and North-America

This article is based on a presentation given at the International Conference “50 years UNESCO World Heritage Convention in Europe: Achievements and Challenges” in Krakow/Poland in June 2022. The purpose is to showcase current challenges for UNESCO World Heritage Cities, how they are connected and how cities can respond to the challenges by installing heritage site managers. The described challenges are based on reports and work within the Organisation of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), the analysis and elaboration of the roles and skills of site managers of previous published work.

Smart tourism and cultural heritage in the Baltic states: exploring strategies and tools for sustainable development

PurposeThis study aims to examine and analyse data relating to cultural heritage, smart tourism and smart tourism tools for preserving cultural heritage in the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a qualitative review of data from National tourism board web sites, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, and the European Heritage Label sites. The paper analyses various sources in terms of cultural heritage and smart tourism and examines different ways of applying smart tourism tools to cultural heritage.FindingsThe findings show that smart tourism, and especially the preservation of cultural heritage in the Baltic states, is not a new thing, and it is rapidly progressing by inventing new technological tools for tourists to use and as well by digitising cultural heritage. Comprehensive examination of three countries shows that there is significant potential already and that there is a way to grow further for each of the countries by applying new technological tools for preservation of a cultural heritage.Originality/valueThe paper reviews data on cultural heritage and smart tourism tools in the Baltic states where it already plays a steady and significant role. Specifically, it contributes to recognition of each of the states on a global level in terms of variety of cultural heritage that is being preserved and digitalised. The originality of the paper is determined by the assessment of the smart tools used for cultural tourism.

Cultural Landscapes as Potential Tools for the Conservation of Rural Landscape Heritage Values. Using the Example of the Passau Abbey Cultural Site

Heritage values are receiving more attention today than they have ever before. Many international and local conventions, as well as legislations, deal with the conservation and valorization of heritage values. Among these, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (UNESCO, 1972) and the International List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003) are particularly important. This subject is also becoming more meaningful in the field of tourism. Ambitious tourists put an authentic environment first, and cultural tourism based on intellectual interest is one of the most dynamically developing types of tourism products (Gonda, 2016). One of the fundamental characteristics of a cultural landscape is change, which is reflected in the natural landscape and also in the features that fill the spaces. However, the changes that have taken place in recent decades have not only led to the loss of diversity of cultural and historical habitats. These have also resulted in a blurring of the images that characterize a region, with the consequent loss of aesthetic values and identity. The Bavarian example examined in my study is an attempt to map and record the current state of the Bavarian cultural landscape and to define recommendations for the various sectors as a guide for future generations.

ICOMOS Charters on cultural tourism throughout the 50 years of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention

This paper outlines the contribution of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Cultural Tourism (ICTC) to tourism management throughout the history of the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Natural and Cultural Heritage (1972) and traces the evolution of international standard-setting texts on tourism brought forward by ICOMOS. It presents the draft International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism - Reinforcing cultural heritage protection and community resilience through responsible and sustainable tourism management (2021). Its new principles are formulated to address challenges of our time, instigate change, improve practice, guide future cultural tourism development and support adaptive and responsive visitor management supporting a more resilient future.

New Perspectives for Living Traditions: Intangible Cultural Heritage in North-East Hungary

AbstractThe UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972) was originally focused on nature conservation and built heritage. The immaterial aspect of the worldwide heritage discourse arrived at a turning point in 2003, when the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted. The definition of the intangible cultural heritage provides essential frames for a wide range of interpretations. The UNESCO concept focuses on inclusive, representative and community-based traditions which are contemporary and living at the same time. In this sense, the intangible cultural heritage conception is based on the fundamental dichotomy of tradition and modernity. For the communities concerned, a new perspective for living traditions is the process from tradition to heritage. There are four essential features of this process: participation, consciousness, organization and valorization. They can make a difference between tradition and heritage. The Hungarian model for the implementation of the UNESCO Convention is based on a bottom-up system, where the heritage bearers themselves initiate the nomination process for the National Inventory. It is based on their strong commitment to their heritage and it relies on their involvement and participation. In this paper, three case studies from North-East Hungary (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County) represent different ways of “creating a heritage.” The various patterns are closely related to the ideas of identity, community cohesion, tourism, local economy and the preservation of living traditions.

When the Cemetery Becomes Political: Dealing with the Religious Heritage in Multi-Ethnic Regions

When the Cemetery Becomes Political: Dealing with the Religious Heritage in Multi-Ethnic Regions

Periodic Reporting under the World Heritage Convention: Futures and Possible Responses to Loss

ABSTRACT Periodic reporting begins with an information gathering exercise about the application of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention at national and property levels. A State Party fills a questionnaire, consisting of two sections, to complete this exercise. The questionnaire does not deal with loss despite its attention to current and potential negative factors, such as climate change. However, it can be revised during a ‘reflection period’ before a new cycle of periodic reporting starts. This article proposes adding future-oriented questions to the next (fourth) cycle questionnaire in order for actors in the World Heritage system to have constructive discussions on futures and possible responses to loss. This proposal may improve links with reactive monitoring to optimise the use of financial and technical resources, and help the World Heritage Committee resolve policy issues raised by climate change. The article engages with scholarly literature on future-thinking, climate change, and heritage loss nonetheless and suggests that dealing with loss may be facilitated if World Heritage requirements are rethought, notably if integrity is understood as a dynamic manifestation of changes and continuities over time, and if Outstanding Universal Value is understood as an evolving value that can be renewed or redefined.

Urban heritage as a key DRM for safer city: Comparing practical and policy focusing on ‘Denkenchiku’ ideology to enhance CBDRM in historic city

Abstract This research focused on document review, field survey, and mapping methodology to compare the critical issues on disaster-related historic urban landscape management. The study emphasizes the ‘Denkenchiku’ which is the guideline and regulation of historic preservation of urban landscape derive from the Japan Preservation procedure. The historic areas, mostly, using vulnerable material as the main structure or decorative elements. In this study, it used the UNESCO world heritage convention as discussion topics, especially in term of Factors affecting the properties and urban present/future challenge such post-pandemic historic city. The study compared the spatial aspect, the regulation, community participation of disaster prevention practice between Chiang Mai’s historic area (Thailand) and Hizen-Hama (Japan). The results show the best practice of Hizen-Hama which allows Chiang Mai historic city to adopt the idea and pragmatic issues in disaster-related management. As Chiang Mai initiated the living historic area, it was able to integrate the Denkenchiku practice to enhance the living heritage with Disaster Risk Management. Along with the participation of community residents in the historic area who concern about local risk. As implied in the policy recommendation, the local initiative will act as a focal agent when combines heritage preservation with disaster risk management.

Integrity: Enabling a Future-Oriented Approach to Cultural Heritage

ABSTRACT Armed conflicts, climate change, natural hazard-related disasters such as earthquakes, and other threats, can have deleterious effects on the integrity of cultural and natural heritage; yet, the notion of integrity, as applied to cultural heritage in particular, has received little attention, not least in the World Heritage system, which is the principal disseminator of heritage discourses, policies, and practices. Curiously, concern for loss of integrity is obvious in the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, notably through the ‘d’ words of ‘decay,’ ‘deterioration,’ ‘damage,’ ‘destruction,’ and ‘disappearance’ caused by ‘dangers.’ This article draws on the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of this Convention and on Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to offer a closer look at integrity and its relation to the future in policy and practice. Can the notion of integrity maintain continuity whilst accommodating change over time? Can it deal with potential threats and risks? Can it create potential benefits for people? The article explores these questions and argues for ‘picking up’ integrity in global heritage discourses because its dynamic nature can enable a future-oriented approach to cultural heritage, not only to consider different future scenarios and responses to loss, but also to achieve sustainable development goals and reconcile conservation with the needs of an evolving world.

The development of legal framework for the management of World Heritage Sites in Oman: a case study on Bahla Oasis

PurposeThe study aims to analyze the development of Omani heritage legislation against the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (WHC), 1972 and WHC Operational Guidelines (WHC-OGs) to predict the possible effects of the recent developments on the management of the World Heritage Site in Oman.Design/methodology/approachThis study discusses the development of the heritage protection legislation in Sultanate of Oman since 1970; it analyses the Omani Cultural Heritage Law 35/2019 against the recommendations of the UNESCO WHC as well as the requirements of the World Heritage Operational Guidelines. Moreover, the research investigates the possible effects of the recent heritage legislation developments on the management of Bahla Fort and Oasis in Oman, which is the first Omani World Heritage Site and the only site with special management regulations.FindingsThe paper outlines the effects of both the Omani Cultural Heritage Law 35/2019 and the Special Management Regulations 81/2019 on the implementation of the Bahla Management Plan. Additionally, the research establishes how the customization of heritage legislation as a special heritage management regulation facilitates the implementation of national legislation to solve specific local problems.Originality/valueThe study establishes the significance of developing comprehensive legislation to protect and manage the rich Omani cultural heritage and World Heritage Sites in alignment with the WHC and the WHC-OGs.

Cultural landscapes and the UNESCO World Heritage List: perpetuating European dominance

ABSTRACT The introduction of cultural landscapes within the framework of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention is widely hailed as a landmark achievement. While it is often described as a boon for the recognition of non-European cultural heritage, we show that this is largely a myth. In the drawn-out gestation process, European countries’ listing ambitions were crucial, and topics such as Indigenous sites were brought up by the Global North while a concern for, as well as representatives from, the Global South were largely absent. Introducing the category in 1992 significantly broadened the types of acceptable sites, but European countries continued to dominate just like for other cultural heritage, filling the World Heritage List with vineyard landscapes rather than the sacred mountains that were first inscribed. European states also eagerly used extra nomination slots for cultural landscapes while non-European List leaders prioritised natural heritage and the conventional cultural heritage they had not yet exhausted instead. Moreover, non-European cultural landscapes have struggled to gain expert approval, as is demonstrated for African nominations. The mere introduction of a new heritage category thus does not suffice to alter a dynamic more than ever determined by national self-interests.

Emergency-Proof Tourism: The Heritage of Industrial Archaeology in Internal Areas as a Potential for a Sustainable Tourism

Instead of narrowly protecting the heritage, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention promotes a holistic development approach to respond to new societal challenges [...]

Возрастающая роль и ответственность ЮНЕСКО в сохранении памятников культурно-исторического наследия

UNESCO is the world's largest intergovernmental forum on humanitarian cooperation and offers an alternative way of maintaining bonds among nations. The article examines its growing role and responsibility in the protection and preservation of cultural and historic monuments. The research objective was to determine the role of UNESCO in preserving such monuments, developing measures for their protection, and sustaining historical truth. The research methods included a system-based analysis with its functional and empiric methods. The system-based analysis made it possible to consider interrelated aspects of UNESCO's functioning, approach the matter as a range of problems within a single process, and identify the basic characteristics of UNESCO's policy evolution in the sphere of world heritage conservation. The research also used achievements of political science, diplomacy, history, and international relations. The approach also allowed the author to examine the main tools used by UNESCO, as well as to highlight its current priorities and directions. To analyze the political reality, the author employed such empirical methods as monitoring and study of documents. The author focused on the matters of international cooperation and mutual responsibility of the members the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The research attempted to identify the most important tasks of Russia in this direction. In the current challenging context, UNESCO has to find a conceptual niche and respond without compromise to any attempts to destroy its basic principles or to politicize its work.

Indigenous Cultural Heritage: Developing New Approaches and Best Practices for World Heritage Based on Indigenous Perspectives and Values

In support of advancing the recognition and inclusion of Indigenous Cultural Heritage in all its diverse forms within the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and World Heritage Site designations, this paper documents and discusses the presentations, Indigenous-led Forum, and recommendations and outcomes of the International Conference on Indigenous Cultural Heritage organized by the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Theory and Philosophy of Restoration and Conservation in partnership with the First Nations House of Learning, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, in November 2019.

FASHION SHOWS IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITES

This article has the aim to investigate the relationship between fashion and archaeological heritage sites. This paper start from the analysis of the International Laws regulating the protection both of cultural heritage as well as archaeological heritage such as the UNESCO World Heritage Convention of 1972 or article 167 of the Treaty on the Functioning of Europe. After, it will be devoted to outline the international recommendations on the preservation of cultural heritage. Soon after, the paragraph 5 traces the relationship between archaeological heritage sites and fashion shows made by the most important fashion brands in the world. For instance, paragraph 5 of the paper analyzes a concrete case of a show, the show of Greek designer Mary Katrantzou who showed her collection at the Temple of Poseidon on top the Cliff of Cape Sounion. Thanks to this, it will be analyzed Greek’s law on the protection of antique and cultural heritage. The main achievement of this research, achieved trough the reading and in-depth analysis of international laws, international conventions and the Greek Law 3028/2002 “On the Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in General”, is the outlining of the discipline concerning private events in archaeological heritage spaces in Greece.

The Implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Continuity and Compatibility as Qualifying Conditions of Integrity

This article explores the nexus between integrity, continuity, and compatibility (compatible change) in the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Integrity is a measure by which the Advisory Bodies, namely the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), evaluate nominations of cultural and/or natural properties to determine whether they qualify for inscription on the World Heritage List. Yet, its application remains unclear as presently worded in the Operational Guidelines. This article argues that continuity and compatibility should become qualifying conditions of integrity. Together, they can maintain wholeness, maintain intactness, and prevent adverse effects of development and/or neglect (Paragraph 88(a)(b)(c)) to keep properties in a good state of conservation, to sustain their cultural-natural significance including Outstanding Universal Value, and to enable sustainable development. This is an alternative conceptual and operational framework for nomination, evaluation, protection and management that bridges the culture/nature divide. If adopted, the “system of collective protection of the cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value” established by the Convention would become more credible, practical, and effective. This article, therefore, contributes to World Heritage policy formulation and to a fruitful international exchange of ideas.

Authenticity or Continuity in the Implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention? Scrutinizing Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, 1978–2019

Continuity is a key theme in conservation and one that appears in the text of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, which requests States Parties to continue to protect, conserve and present properties situated on their territories (Article 26). Despite this fact, it is not put into effect. Instead, the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of this Convention retain authenticity as a benchmark for assessing cultural heritage. This article scrutinizes Statements of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV) to prove that continuity is the evidence presented to justify inscription. It reveals that at least 263 properties were inscribed on the World Heritage List not because their values are truthfully and credibly expressed through a variety of attributes as per the Operational Guidelines (Paragraph 82), but because their values and attributes continue to exist. It also reveals that continuity is a recurring concept in other sections of the SOUV, and this holds true for natural properties. Indeed, continuity applies to both cultural and natural heritage, and to tangible and intangible attributes, but this is never admitted in the Operational Guidelines. In terms of future research directions, the article suggests exploring how change within properties affects judgements about authenticity and how guidance on impact assessment can be improved to better achieve the goal of compatible change, concluding that “an effective system of collective protection”, which is the raison-d’être of the Convention, is not one that aims at “conserving the authentic”, but one that aims at “managing continuity and compatible change” in an ever-evolving world.

Heritage Policies in the Neoliberal Arena: Spaces of Exclusion and Gentrification in Urban World Heritage Sites

ABSTRACT Among the instruments elaborated for protecting and promoting cultural heritage, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (WHC) and related policies remain dominant, despite criticism in academia. Studies on the role and influence of WH inscription in urban areas are abundant, although they rarely engage with comparative analysis, preferring to investigate single-site dynamics. This article suggests that comparing the evolution of different WH sites reveals interesting parallels, suggesting that some recurrent patterns are identifiable. Our comparative analysis identifies (a) key ontological complexities emerging from the candidature and inscription phases, and (b) common trends of post-inscription consequences as pertains to urban areas. In particular, our results point to: the limitedness and fixity of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ statements; the selective identification of heritage resources, based on exclusive instead of inclusive values; the marginalisation of local traditional expertise by international heritage professionals; the unwillingness of local administrative actors to seek for a holistic revitalisation of historic cities. More broadly, results of this study suggest that national neoliberal agendas based on tourism-driven development treat urban heritage resources as commodities, hindering the possibility of inclusive and participatory urban practices, while policies adopting ‘rights-based’ approaches are more likely to promote local heritage awareness and to encourage identity construction.

Mapping military landscape as a cultural heritage: case study of the Austerlitz/Slavkov battlefield site

Military landscapes and battlefields are important part of cultural heritage and identity of society. As a part of common social memory, military landscape could be assessed as an associative landscape according UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Before nature and culture heritage could be treasured, it first had to be recognised. Therefore, the paper focuses on identification of historical and cultural values of military landscapes, especially battlefields. Different types of values are discussed and demonstrated on the model area of battlefield Austerlitz/Slavkov near Brno. The battle was held in 1805 and several cultural values are identified there. Identification of cultural historical values is based on detailed analysis of the old and present maps and land cover assessment, study and analysis of archival sources and grey literature and detailed terrain research. Generally, we distinguished several types of values: elements forming the setting of the battlefield; elements tied with the battle (i.e. features and objects that served for purposes of the battle during the fights and are preserved until today); elements created after the battle. Once the associative landscapes are allocated together with their associative patterns, certain values should be given to particular elements in order to secure heir protection. Then each planning activity within the site should be given a level of effect on the associative element. This simple matrix implemented in local planning development plans and policies could be a source for rational decision within the associative landscapes.