Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
The Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972, was based on the premise that certain places are of outstanding universal value and as such form part of the common heritage of humanity. While fully respecting national sovereignty, and without prejudice to property rights provided by national legislation, the States Parties to the Convention recognize that protecting World Heritage is the duty of the international community as a whole.
The World Heritage List currently includes 890 natural and cultural sites which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.
These include 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed properties in 145 States Parties. As of April 2009, 186 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.
The World Heritage Centre is the permanent secretariat of the Convention.
