World heritage

The World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee decides which new areas are to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. It is also responsible for following up on the convention work.

Photo of the Tomb of Khajeh Rabie. The Tomb of Khajeh Rabie World Heritage site dates back to the 1500s and is located in Mashad, in the Khorasan Razavi province in north-eastern Iran. The tomb is decorated with stunning mosaics and has remarkable interior decorations as well. Photo: Alireza Khorsandi (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons
The Tomb of Khajeh Rabie World Heritage site dates back to the 1500s and is located in Mashad, in the Khorasan Razavi province in north-eastern Iran. The tomb is decorated with stunning mosaics and has remarkable interior decorations as well. Foto: Alireza Khorsandi (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

The World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee consists of 21 states parties/national representatives responsible for:

  • implementing the World Heritage Convention
  • defining the use of the World Heritage Fund
  • allocating financial support based on requests from states parties
  • making final decisions on which new areas are to be inscribed on, or removed from, the World Heritage List
  • reviewing State of Conservation Reports for the conservation of areas already inscribed and asking states parties to initiate measures in cases where areas are not being managed properly
  • assessing the status of World Heritage sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Half of the members of the World Heritage Committee are replaced every two years.

Photo of the ruins of Fort San Lorenzo. The fort in Portobelo-San Lorenzo on Panama’s Caribbean coast is a World Heritage site facing major conservation and maintenance issues relating to its masonry work. Photo by Ivo Kruusamägi (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Fort San Lorenzo. The fort in Portobelo-San Lorenzo on Panama’s Caribbean coast is a World Heritage site facing major conservation and maintenance issues relating to its masonry work. Foto: Ivo Kruusamägi (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

New sites on the World Heritage List?

All states parties on the World Heritage Committee may submit nominations to the World Heritage List. However, many members choose not to submit their own nominations for the duration of their time on the committee.

Photo of the Virunga National Park World Heritage site. Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has no less than seven volcanoes, two of which are the most active in Africa. The Nyiragongo volcano features a liquid, alkaline lava lake that fills its entire crater. The volcano’s periodic eruptions have catastrophic consequences for the surrounding areas. Photo: Cai Tjeenk Willink (CC BY-SA.3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Virunga National Park World Heritage site. Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has no less than seven volcanoes, two of which are the most active in Africa. The Nyiragongo volcano features a liquid, alkaline lava lake that fills its entire crater. The volcano’s periodic eruptions have catastrophic consequences for the surrounding areas. Foto: Cai Tjeenk Willink (CC BY-SA.3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

You can read more about the World Heritage Committee here

UNESCO: The World Heritage Committee

Publisert: 17. February 2020 | Endret: 26. November 2024