Dictionary of Geotourism

2020 Edition

Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

Reference work entry

This is also called the ‘World Heritage Convention’ and was adopted by the 17th Session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris in 1972. The convention went into force in 1975 with the establishment of the ‘World Heritage List’. Its governing body is the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Natural heritage is defined as the natural features on Earth, including non-biological and biological elements that have prominent universal aesthetic or scientific values. These may include geological and geomorphological features, endangered animal and plant habitat areas, well-defined natural sites and exceptional or well-defined natural areas of outstanding beauty or with universal scientific and conservation values. Cultural heritage is defined as cultural relics, monuments and inscriptions of the highest universal value from a historical, artistic or scientific point of view. These include archaeological compositions or structures, inscriptions, caves, consortia, and monolithic or connected...


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