Definition of the Cultural and Natural Heritage Mixed Cultural and Natural Heritage

Compiled:- Zerihun Abebe MSc ca. in Conservation of Urban and Architectural Heritage EiAbc
Article 1
For the purpose of this Convention, the following shall be considered as
“cultural heritage”:
– monuments: architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and
painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions,
cave dwellings and combinations of features, which are of outstanding
universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;
– groups of buildings: groups of separate or connected buildings which,
because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the
landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of
history, art or science;
– sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and man, and
areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal
value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological point
of view.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Convention, the following shall be considered
as “natural heritage”:
– natural features consisting of physical and biological formations or
groups of such formations, which are of outstanding universal value
from the aesthetic or scientific c point of view;
– geological and physiographical formations and precisely delineated
areas which constitute the habitat of threatened species of animals
and plants of outstanding universal value from the point of view of
science or conservation;
– natural sites or precisely delineated natural areas of outstanding
universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or
natural beauty.
 Mixed Cultural and Natural Heritage

• Properties shall be considered as “mixed

cultural and natural heritage”
if they satisfy a part or the whole of the
definitions of both cultural and natural
heritage laid out in Articles 1 and 2 of the
Convention.
 Cultural landscapes

• Cultural landscapes are cultural properties and

represent the “combined works of nature and of
man” designated in Article 1 of the Convention.
They are illustrative of the evolution of human
society and settlement over time, under the
influence of the physical constraints and/or
opportunities presented by their natural
environment and of successive social, economic
and cultural forces, both external and internal.
• Movable Heritage
Nominations of immovable heritage which are likely to
become movable will not be considered.
• Outstanding universal value
Outstanding universal value means cultural and/or
natural significance which is so exceptional as to
transcend national boundaries and to be of common
importance for present and future generations of all
humanity. As such, the permanent protection of this
heritage is of the highest importance to the international
community as a whole.
The Committee defines the criteria for the inscription of
properties on the World Heritage List.
 The World Heritage Convention
• The cultural and natural heritage is among the
priceless and irreplaceable assets, not only of each
nation, but of humanity as a whole. The loss, through
deterioration or disappearance, of any of these most
prized assets constitutes an impoverishment of the
heritage of all the peoples of the world. Parts of that
heritage, because of their exceptional qualities, can
be considered to be of “outstanding universal value”
and as such worthy of special protection against the
dangers which increasingly threaten them.
 CONT…
• To ensure, as far as possible, the proper
identification, protection, conservation and
presentation of the world’s heritage, the
Member States of UNESCO adopted the World
Heritage Convention in 1972. The Convention
foresees the establishment of a “World
Heritage Committee” and a “World Heritage
Fund”. Both the Committee and the Fund have
been in operation since 1976.
 CONT….
• Since the adoption of the Convention in 1972,
the international community has embraced
the concept of “sustainable development”.
The protection and conservation of the
natural and cultural heritage are a significant
contribution to sustainable development.
 The World Heritage Committee
• The World Heritage Committee is composed
of 21 members and meets at least once a year
(June/July). It establishes its Bureau, which
meets during the sessions of the Committee
as frequently as deemed necessary
 CONT……
• Committee decisions are based on objective and
scientific considerations, and any appraisal made
on its behalf must be thoroughly and responsibly
carried out. The Committee recognizes that such
decisions depend upon:
(a) carefully prepared documentation;
(b) thorough and consistent procedures;
(c) evaluation by qualified experts; and
(d) if necessary, the use of expert referees.
 Advisory Bodies to the World
Heritage Committee
• The Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage
Committee are ICCROM (the International
Centre for the Study of the Preservation and
Restoration of Cultural Property), ICOMOS
(the International Council on Monuments and
Sites), and IUCN - the World Conservation
Union.
 The roles of the Advisory Bodies are to:
(a) advise on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the field of their
expertise;
(b) assist the Secretariat, in the preparation of the Committee’s documentation, the agenda
of its meetings and the implementation of the Committee’s decisions;
(c) assist with the development and implementation of the Global Strategy for a
Representative, Balanced and Credible World Heritage List, the Global Training Strategy,
Periodic Reporting, and the strengthening of the effective use of the World Heritage Fund;
(d) monitor the state of conservation of World Heritage properties and review requests for
International Assistance;
(e) in the case of ICOMOS and IUCN evaluate properties nominated
for inscription on the World Heritage List and present evaluation reports to the Committee;
and
(f) attend meetings of the World Heritage Committee and the Bureau in an advisory capacity.
 ICCROM

• ICCROM (the International Centre for the Study of

the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural
Property) is an international intergovernmental
organization with headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Established by UNESCO in 1956, ICCROM’s statutory
functions are to carry out research, documentation,
technical assistance, training and public awareness
programs to strengthen conservation of immovable
and moveable cultural heritage.
 ICOMOS
• ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments
and Sites) is a non-governmental organization with
headquarters in Paris, France.
Founded in 1965, its role is to promote the
application of theory, methodology and scientific
techniques to the conservation of the architectural
and archaeological heritage. Its work is based on the
principles of the 1964 International Charter on the
Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and
Sites (the Venice Charter).
 IUCN
• IUCN – The World Conservation Union (formerly the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources) was founded in 1948 and
brings together national governments, NGOs, and
scientists in a worldwide partnership. Its mission is to
influence, encourage and assist societies throughout
the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of
nature and to ensure that any use of natural
resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
IUCN has its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland.
 Criteria for the assessment
of outstanding universal value
• The Committee considers a property as having outstanding universal value, if
the property meets one or more of the following criteria. Nominated
properties shall therefore:
(i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
(ii) exhibit 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;
(iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to
a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
(iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or
technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in
human history;
 CONT….
(v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement,
land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or
cultures),
or human interaction with the environment especially when it has
become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
(vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living
traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary
works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee
considers that this criterion should preferably be used in
conjunction with other criteria) ;
 CONT…..
(vii) contain superlative natural phenomena or
areas of exceptional natural beauty and
aesthetic importance;
(viii) be outstanding examples representing
major stages of earth’s history, including the
record of life, significant on-going geological
processes in the development of landforms, or
significant geomorphic or physiographic
features;
 CONT….
(ix) be outstanding examples representing significant on-
going ecological and biological processes in the
evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water,
coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of
plants and animals;
(x) contain 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.
 CONT…..
• To be deemed of outstanding universal value,
a property must also meet the conditions of
integrity and/or authenticity and must have an
adequate protection and management system
to ensure its safeguarding.
 Integrity and/or authenticity
• Authenticity
Properties nominated under criteria (i) to (vi) must meet the conditions
of authenticity. Annex 4 which includes the Nara Document on
Authenticity, provides a practical basis for examining the authenticity
of such properties and is summarized below.
The ability to understand the value attributed to the heritage depends
on the degree to which information sources about this value may be
understood as credible or truthful. Knowledge and understanding of
these sources of information, in relation to original and subsequent
characteristics of the cultural heritage, and their meaning, are the
requisite bases for assessing all aspects of authenticity.
 CONT……
• Depending on the type of cultural heritage,
and its cultural context, properties may be
understood to meet the conditions of
authenticity if their cultural value (as
recognized in the nomination criteria
proposed) are truthfully and credibly
expressed through a variety of attributes
including:
 CONT…
• form and design;
• materials and substance;
• use and function;
• traditions, techniques and management systems;
• location and setting;
• language, and other forms of intangible heritage;
• spirit and feeling; and
• other internal and external factors.
 CONT….
• Attributes such as spirit and feeling do not
lend themselves easily to practical
applications of the conditions of authenticity,
but nevertheless are important indicators of
character and sense of place, for example, in
communities maintaining tradition and
cultural continuity.
 Integrity
• All properties nominated for inscription on the
World Heritage List shall satisfy the conditions
of integrity.
Integrity is a measure of the wholeness and
intactness of the natural and/or cultural
heritage and its attributes. Examining the
conditions of integrity, therefore requires
assessing the extent to which the property:
 CONT…
(a) includes all elements necessary to express its
outstanding universal value;
(b) is of adequate size to ensure the complete
representation of the features and processes
which convey the property’s significance;
(c) suffers from adverse effects of development
and/or neglect.
This should be presented in a statement of
integrity.
 CONT…
For properties nominated under criteria (i) to (vi), the
physical fabric of the property and/or its significant
features should be in good condition, and the impact of
deterioration processes controlled. A significant
proportion of the elements necessary to convey the
totality of the value conveyed by the property should be
included.
Relationships and dynamic functions present in cultural
landscapes, historic towns or other living properties
essential to their distinctive character should also be
maintained.
 CONT….
• For all properties nominated under criteria (vii) - (x), bio-
physical processes and landform features should be
relatively intact. However, it is recognized that no area is
totally pristine and that all natural areas are in a dynamic
state, and to some extent involve contact with people.
Human activities, including those of traditional societies
and local communities, often occur in natural areas.
These activities may be consistent with the outstanding
universal value of the area where they are ecologically
sustainable.
 CONT….
• In addition, for properties nominated under criteria (vii)
to (x), a corresponding condition of integrity has been
defined for each criterion.

Protection and management

Protection and management of World Heritage properties
should ensure that the outstanding universal value, the
conditions of integrity and/or authenticity at the time of
inscription are maintained or enhanced in the future.