World Heritage for the Nation   
Information for applicants for the new United Kingdom tentative list   
March 2010   

Our aim is to improve the quality of life for all      through cultural and sporting activities, support the pursuit of excellence, and champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.
Introduction 

The UK Government is preparing a new Tentative List of natural, cultural and mixed sites for potential nomination for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.   The new UK Tentative List will be submitted to UNESCO in 2011 with a view to nominations from the new list going forward from 2012.  The Government will not necessarily make a nomination every year.

Government is therefore seeking nominations from Local Authorities and others throughout the UK, the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies using the application form.  The closing date for applications is 11th June 2010.

Inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is an acknowledgement of the truly global significance of such places.  It is an honour and a privilege and can bring social and economic benefits.  Because all World Heritage Sites have to be of truly global importance, the World Heritage List is inevitably very selective and many places of national, or even of international, significance will not make it on to the list.

Inscription also carries responsibilities for the protection, preservation and transmission to future generations of the site’s Outstanding Universal Value. These are commitments which should not be underestimated.  Both preparing a nomination for World Heritage inscription, and managing sites for the long term are costly and involve a range of people.  It is important that resources are well-deployed, and these commitments are considered carefully before any application is made.  

Applications will be assessed by a panel of independent experts appointed by Government and the List will be submitted to Ministers for approval before going forward to UNESCO in 2011.

Information 

The application pack includes background information sheets on World Heritage and its context with the application form and guidance notes on its completion, and how to get further general guidance. Information sheet 10 is a list of further sources of information and useful websites. Applicants are strongly advised to read the whole pack carefully before completing the application form.

Further advice 

General advice on the application process is available in the first instance from the UK National Commission (UKNC).  
Contact: Harry Reeves, Secretary General, UKNC, Suite 98, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL
Telephone:  0207 766 3490
Email: h.reeves@unesco.org.uk.  

Information Sheets

1	   UNESCO

2	The Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural (1972) - The World Heritage Convention 
        
3 	Who does what:  National Governments, World Heritage Committee and its advisers.

4 	What is a World Heritage Site?

5	What is the Tentative List?

6	Requirements for inclusion on the World Heritage List:
•	Outstanding Universal Value
•	Integrity
•	Authenticity
•	Legal Protection
•	Management 

7	   UNESCO Criteria for assessment of Outstanding Universal Value.

8	UNESCO policy and priorities for future World Heritage Sites.

9 	UK Policy on World Heritage Sites.

10	Information Sources (websites and publications).

Application Form 

Guidance Note on completion of the Application Form

Information Sheet 1

UNESCO 

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations, founded in 1948, 

“to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.”

UNESCO’s headquarters are in Paris and it has a network of regional offices around the world.  Each member state also has a UNESCO National Commission, which is not part of UNESCO, but is formed from civil society to be a focal point and link between Government, society and UNESCO. The UK National Commission also advises Government on UNESCO matters. 

UNESCO aims to:
•	help relieve extreme poverty
•	help achieve universal primary education for all 
•	help countries implement national strategies for sustainable development
•	help reverse current trends in loss of biodiversity, natural resources and environmental security
•	eliminate gender disparity

UNESCO carries out policy research and development, sets standards, and monitors outcomes at a global, regional and country level and acts as a catalyst for international cooperation.  Worldwide, it is the lead international inter-governmental body dealing with heritage, both cultural and natural.

The overarching aims of UNESCO current Medium Term Strategy (2008 – 2013) are:

1.	Attaining quality education for all and life long learning
2.	Mobilising science knowledge and policy for sustainable development
3.	Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges
4.	Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace
5.	Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication

In order to support its standard setting activities in the heritage field, UNESCO has in the last 56 years adopted six Conventions dealing with cultural and natural heritage.  Conventions, which are treaties binding on the states which join them, are tools through which UNESCO aims to meet its goals and aspirations.  These are:
•	Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954)
•	Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Cultural Property* (1970) 
•	Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage *(1972) – the “World Heritage Convention”
•	Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001) 
•	Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)
•	Framework Convention on Cultural Diversity * (2005)
[* = Convention ratified by the UK]

UNESCO has adopted one Convention on natural heritage:
•	Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially on Waterfowl Habitats (the Ramsar Convention) (1971)

Currently, the UK has 167 Ramsar sites (146 in the UK and 21 in Overseas Territories), 28 World Heritage Sites (25 in the UK and 3 in Overseas Territories), 9 Biosphere Reserves, and 8 Geoparks.  It also has 3 cities in the Creative Cities Network.

The main objectives of the UK Government for UNESCO are:
•	To develop UK input to UNESCO policy-making and debate, from all parts of the UK and all sections of society
•	To build a more effective UNESCO which achieves positive outcomes in areas over which it has competence
•	To encourage support in the UK for UNESCO ideals and work

The lead government department on UNESCO is the Department for International Development (DFID), while the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) leads on cultural issues and World Heritage policy. In UNESCO terms, DCMS acts as the ‘State Party’, representing the UK Government on the implementation of the Convention. 

Information Sheet 2

The Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural (1972) and its
Operational Guidelines

The World Heritage Convention is the most successful of the UNESCO Conventions covering cultural and natural heritage. By July 2009 there were:

•	186 member states  
•	148 member states have at least one World Heritage Sites 
•	38 member states still have no World Heritage Site 

The World Heritage List includes: 

•	890 World Heritage Sites in total, of which:  
•	689 cultural sites, 
•	176 natural sites, and 
•	25 mixed sites inscribed under both natural and cultural criteria.  

The UK has 28 World Heritage Sites, and is among the ten best-represented states on the World Heritage List.

As well as the World Heritage List, the Convention also deals with the conservation of natural and cultural and natural heritage as a whole.  The full text can be found on the UNESCO World Heritage Centre web site http://whc.unesco.org along with other useful information. 

The Convention provides for:

1.	Definition of cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value (Articles 1 and 2)
2.	Responsibility of each State Party to define cultural and natural heritage of outstanding value in their territory (Article 3)
3.	Recognition that responsibility for conservation of cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value rests with each State Party (Article 4)
4.	Each State Party to adopt policies: 

1.	to give cultural and natural heritage generally a function in the life of the community; 
2.	to integrate its protection into comprehensive planning programmes; 
3.	to set up appropriate services for the protection, conservation and presentation of that heritage; 
4.	to develop scientific and technical studies and research and to work out methods of operation to counteract dangers to the heritage; 
5.	to take appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures to identify, protect, conserve, present and rehabilitate that heritage (Article 5).

5.	Recognition of the duty of the international community to work together and establish a system of international cooperation for the protection of world Heritage (Articles 6 and 7)
6.	Establishment of a World Heritage Committee as the governing body of the Convention, elected from the member states of the Convention, and identification of the Advisory Bodies to the Convention (Articles 8, 9, 10)
7.	Creation by UNESCO of a Secretariat for the Committee, to be assisted by the Advisory Bodies (Article 14)
8.	Preparation by individual states of inventories of properties suitable for inclusion in the World Heritage List, and establishment of that List and of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Articles 11 and 12)
9.	Provision of international assistance by the Committee (Article 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
10.	Creation of the World Heritage Fund and other fund-raising activities (Articles 15, 16, 17, 18)
11.	Educational activities and information programmes to promote awareness of World Heritage and threats to it (Articles 27, 28)
12.	Reporting by States Parties on the measures taken to apply the Convention (Article 29)

The Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. (February 2008, new edition due in 2010) provide the detailed rules on all aspects of the Convention. This key document is available on the UNESCO website at http://whc.unesco.org/en/guidelines/. Throughout the guidance reference is made to the relevant paragraphs of the Operational Guidelines.

Information Sheet 3

Who does what:  National Governments, World Heritage Committee and
 Its advisers

The World Heritage Convention recognises that the primary responsibility for the care and conservation of world heritage belongs to individual states and in joining the Convention, each government recognises its duty to protect World Heritage. As signatory to the Convention the UK Government is the State Party and is committed to its implementation. 

The operation of the Convention is overseen by UNESCO’s intergovernmental World Heritage Committee, made up of 21 states elected in rotation from the 186 member states of the Convention. At its annual meeting, the World Heritage Committee decides which sites shall be inscribed on the World Heritage List.  The Committee also monitors how well World Heritage Sites are conserved and can intervene with individual governments if they consider there are problems.  

The World Heritage Committee is advised on nominations by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) on natural sites, and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) advises on cultural sites and also advise on the conservation of sites. Both bodies have national committees in the UK, but these do not have formal direct links with UNESCO.

The secretariat for the Committee is provided by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.  Their website http://whc.unesco.org is an excellent source of information.  

Information Sheet 4

What is a World Heritage Site? 

The World Heritage Convention aims at the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value and of importance to all humanity. Each year the World Heritage Committee, through which the Convention operates, judges nominations for sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. These World Heritage Sites are designated as such under the terms of the UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972). As of July 2009 there are 890 World Heritage Sites.

Sites can be either cultural or natural or mixed.  

Cultural sites can be: 

•	monuments (architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations of features 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, 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)
(See World Heritage Convention Article 1.)

Cultural landscapes are included in this category. (See Operational Guidelines 47, and Annex 3, 5-13.)

These represent ‘combined works of man and nature’ and are illustrative of the evolution of human society and settlement over time, under the influence of the physical constraints and opportunities presented by the natural environment and of successive social, economic and cultural forces.  Cultural landscapes can reflect the interaction between humankind and its natural environment.  

They can include; 

•	clearly designed landscapes such as gardens and parklands
•	organically evolved landscapes evolving from an initial social, economic, administrative and/or religious imperative which has developed in association with, and in response to, its natural environment
•	associative cultural landscapes resulting from powerful religious, artistic or cultural associations.

Natural heritage is defined in the Convention as:

•	natural features consisting of physical and biological formations or groups of such formations, which are of Outstanding Universal Value from the aesthetic or scientific 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
(see World Heritage Convention, Article 2)

Mixed sites are sites which have Outstanding Universal Value for both cultural and natural heritage.  Some cultural landscapes may also be mixed sites.

Collections of cultural heritage items, such as museums or moveable objects such as historic ships, are excluded from the Convention.

Information Sheet 5

What is the Tentative List?

A Tentative List is an inventory of properties or sites forming part of the cultural and natural heritage, judged by the national government to be suitable for nomination to the World Heritage List. All nominations submitted for decision by the World Heritage Committee must be drawn from a national Tentative List. (See Operational Guidelines 62 – 76 and Annex 2) for more details. http://whc.unesco.org/en/guidelines/ 

Countries which have ratified the Convention are invited to submit a Tentative List of sites which they consider to have the potential to meet UNESCO’s criteria for Outstanding Universal Value, have authenticity and integrity, and are managed adequately to protect those values.  The Tentative List format includes:

•	The name of the property
•	The geographical location of the property
•	A brief description of the property
•	A justification of its outstanding universal value in accordance with the criteria and with the conditions of authenticity or integrity as set out in the Operational Guidelines.

The last Tentative List of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was published in 1999. It contained 25 sites.  Ten of these have been nominated successfully. The 1999 List can be seen at:  http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/4739.aspx

Information Sheet 6

Requirements for inclusion on the World Heritage List

To be accepted for the World Heritage List, a place must have:

1.	Outstanding Universal Value
2.	Authenticity (cultural sites only)
3.	Integrity (cultural and natural sites)
4.	Protection through legislation 
5.	A management system to protect the Outstanding Universal Value. For the UK, this means a World Heritage Site Management Plan.

To determine whether a site has the required qualities, UNESCO considers sites under 10 criteria, set out in Information sheet 7. Applicants propose one or more criteria, as appropriate for their site. 

The fundamental requirement is for the place to have Outstanding Universal Value. This means it’s cultural or natural value is so exceptional as to transcend all national boundaries, and be of exceptional importance to all humanity, for present and future generations: to be of global significance. National significance is not sufficient to justify inscription.  Without this Outstanding Universal Value a site cannot succeed. (See Operational Guidelines 49, 77-78.)

Authenticity is assessed according to how far the information sources about the value of a place can be regarded as valid.  The qualities, or attributes, on which authenticity should be assessed depends on the nature of the site concerned. (See Operational Guidelines 79 – 86.)

Integrity is a measure of the wholeness and intactness of the heritage of the site concerned and its key features.  Assessment of integrity is based on whether the proposed boundaries of the site are sufficient to include all the elements which demonstrate its Outstanding Universal Value. 

Integrity for cultural sites assesses the condition of the physical fabric or significant features, and the extent of deterioration. (See Operational Guidelines 87 – 89.)

Integrity for natural sites is assessed through a range of specific tests depending on which of the natural heritage criteria the site is nominated under. (See Operational Guidelines 90 – 95.)

Protection sufficient to ensure the safeguarding of the Outstanding Universal Value is required. For some sites applying for a place on the new Tentative List, not all the required legal and planning protection will be in place at this stage. However once sites are chosen for the Tentative List, this will be a firm requirement. Applicants should understand that the level of protection required for World Heritage sites is high. 
 
Management.  At the time of inscription, a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV) is agreed. This comprises a brief description of the site, a summary of its Outstanding Universal Value, the UNESCO criteria which apply to the site, an outline of its integrity and, if a cultural site, its authenticity, and also noting its legal protection and management arrangements.  The SOUV then becomes the basis for the future management of the site, the key purpose of which should be the protection of its Outstanding Universal Value. 

All World Heritage Sites must have adequate boundaries to include the attributes that represent their Outstanding Universal Value (see Operational Guidelines 99 – 102).  At this stage applicants should consider where boundaries might be drawn, as this will help assessment of the potential impact of World Heritage inscription.

While change is possible in the vicinity of a World Heritage Site, inscription means that all proposals for development or change which may have an impact on a World Heritage Site must be assessed in relation to the effect on the SOUV. Inscription will affect the degree of change possible and will bring international scrutiny of planning decisions. It is therefore important to realise that World Heritage inscription could prevent development which may be important for other reasons.
At this stage a full management plan is not required, but one will be necessary by the time a nomination is submitted to UNESCO. The full Management Plan, which summarises the management system for the site, should set out the arrangements for a site and, in line with the Operational Guidelines, should include:

(a)	a thorough shared understanding of the property by all stakeholders
(b)	a cycle of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and feedback
(c)	the involvement of partners and stakeholders
(d)	the allocation of necessary resources
(e)	capacity building
(f)	an accountable transparent description of how the management system functions

Comparison with other sites. A World Heritage Site has to be a prime example of its type judged on a world-wide basis.  A detailed comparative analysis which evaluates the site against other similar sites is a requirement for the full nomination documentation. Applicants are advised to consider if there are other similar sites, in the UK or worldwide.

One of the tests for selection of sites for the new Tentative List will be the extent to which the site supports UNESCO’s priorities for new nominations, (see Information Sheet 8).

Information Sheet 7

UNESCO Criteria for assessment of Outstanding Universal Value 

(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;

(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.

(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;

(ix) be outstanding examples representing significant ongoing 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.

Information Sheet 8

UNESCO policy and priorities for future World Heritage Sites
In addition to the basic requirements for becoming a World Heritage Site, there are various policy decisions by the World Heritage Committee which affect both the process of nomination and also the balance of the World Heritage List.

The five strategic objectives for the implementation of the Convention are:

1	Strengthen the Credibility of the World Heritage List
2	Ensure the effective Conservation of the World Heritage Properties
3	Promote the development of effective Capacity-building in States Parties
4	Increase public awareness, involvement and support for World Heritage through Communication
5	To enhance the role of Communities in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention 

Each country may propose up to two nominations annually, and where possible one should be a natural site. Well represented countries have been asked to slow nomination further.  A maximum of 45 nominations will be considered at each annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee. 

It is a UNESCO priority to redress geographical and typological imbalances in the World Heritage List.  Europe has nearly half the 890 World Heritage Sites in the world.  Seven out of the ten best-represented countries are European.  The UK, with 28 World Heritage Sites, has the seventh largest number in the world.  Less developed countries find it hard to prepare nominations and to manage sites according to UNESCO requirements. Many types of heritage in Europe, such as Gothic Cathedrals and medieval walled towns, are very well represented.  Other types of heritage are very much under-represented.  There is also imbalance between natural and cultural heritage sites on the World Heritage List (689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed sites).

The World Heritage Committee developed a Global Strategy in 1994, focused primarily on cultural heritage in order to reflect the full spectrum of our world’s cultural and natural treasures and to provide a comprehensive framework and operational methodology for implementing the World Heritage Convention. 

Currently there are very few sites on the World Heritage List which represent living cultures.  The Global Strategy aims to recognize and protect outstanding examples of such sites, for example those which demonstrate human coexistence with the land in a variety of ways.  The Committee also commissioned Gap studies by ICOMOS (covering cultural heritage) and IUCN (covering natural heritage) to give more guidance on types of heritage that should be added to the World Heritage List. 
The ICOMOS Gap study does not identify specific cultural heritage priorities or   provide direct guidance on specific types of heritage that should be nominated. However it is a rich resource which should be studied before proposing a cultural site for the Tentative List, and is available on the ICOMOS website, (see information sheet 10). 

The IUCN study identifies specific gaps in natural heritage sites which need to be filled.  This provides clear priorities which should be taken into account by those considering natural sites and is also available on the IUCN website, (see information sheet 10). 

Information Sheet 9

UK Policy on World Heritage Sites

In the United Kingdom, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, and acts as the State Party. The Government is committed to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and to support the achievement of UNESCO’s goals and aspirations.  It works with other Government Departments and with the support of Historic Scotland, Cadw and the Department of Environment Northern Ireland, and with English Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to achieve the proper management of the UK World Heritage Sites. A range of other cultural and natural heritage bodies in all parts of the UK contribute to this work.

In addition to legislation, which is in place throughout the UK, the protection and management of the World Heritage Sites is based on the use of the spatial planning system, with Local Authorities having the required planning policies and documents in their local arrangements.  World Heritage Management Plans are required for each site to provide a holistic approach to their overall management by ensuring effective involvement of all key stakeholders.

The key elements of this approach are:

•	Designation of specific assets within World Heritage Sites (eg. listed buildings, scheduled ancient monuments, parks and gardens, conservation areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, etc.)
•	World Heritage Sites are a key material consideration in the determination of planning applications
•	Planning authorities should include policies in their local plans to protect the Outstanding Universal Value, authenticity and integrity of World Heritage Sites
•	Each World Heritage Site should have an agreed Management Plan
•	Local Authority commitment to the protection, promotion and management of World Heritage Sites in their area 
•	A stakeholder steering group and support from the key partners, including major owners, managers and communities
•	Effective coordination, normally by a dedicated Coordinator

While applicants for a place on the Tentative List may not have all these measures in place, it is important to consider at this initial stage how they can be achieved once a site is on the List. The Protection & Management of World Heritage Sites in England (English Heritage 2009) provides guidance for England. http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/circularworldheritage 

 

Information Sheet 10

Information Sources (publications and websites)

Useful Websites

International Organisations:

ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) http://www.international.icomos.org/world_heritage/index.html

IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/wcpa_worldheritage/ 

UNESCO World Heritage Centre http://whc.unesco.org/

National Organisations:

Department for Culture Media and Sport World Heritage Portal http://www.culture.gov.uk/ukwhportal/index.htm  

Northern Ireland World Heritage http://www.nenvironment.gov.uk/places_to_visit_home/whs.htm 

Historic Scotland World Heritage 
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/worldheritage.htm

Cadw World Heritage Sites
http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=66

English Heritage World Heritage Sites 
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.8673 

Joint Nature Conservation Committee:  www.jncc.gov.uk

UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC).  www.unesco.org.uk

ICOMOS UK National Committee  www.icomos-uk.org

IUCN UK National Committee www.Iucn-uk.org

HELM (Historic Environment Local Management) www.helm.org.uk

Local Authority World Heritage forum
http://www.lawhf.gov.uk/ 

Publications

International

World Heritage Convention:  http://whc.unesco.org/en/convention

Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. (February 2008, new edition due in 2010) http://whc.unesco.org/en/guidelines/.

World Heritage Global Strategy for a Balanced, Credible and Representative World Heritage List http://whc.unesco.org/en/globalstrategy/

The World Heritage List: Filling the Gaps – an analysis by ICOMOS (prepared for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and covering cultural sites) http://www.international.icomos.org/world_heritage/whlgaps.htm

The World Heritage List: Guidance and Future Priorities for Identifying Natural Heritage of Potential Outstanding Universal Value http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/wcpa_worldheritage/wheritage_pub/?2199/The-World-Heritage-List-Guidance-and-Future-Priorities-for-Identifying-Natural-Heritage-of-Potential-Outstanding-Universal-Value

Both ICOMOS and IUCN publish thematic studies on particular types of cultural and natural heritage, respectively.  ICOMOS thematic studies can be found at http://www.icomos.org/studies/ .  IUCN studies can be found at http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/wcpa_worldheritage/wheritage_pub/wcpa_whstudies/

ICOMOS have published thematic studies on:
•	The International Canal Monuments (1996) 
•	Context for World Heritage Bridges (1997) 
•	Potential Fossil Hominid Sites for Inscription on the World Heritage List (1997) 
•	The Urban Architectural Heritage of Latin America (1998) 
•	Railways as World Heritage Sites (1999) 
•	Les Théâtres et les Amphithéâtres antiques (1999) 
•	Les villages ouvriers comme éléments du patrimoine de l'industrie (2001) 
•	Southern African Rock-Art Sites (2002) 
•	L'Art rupestre (2002) 
•	The International Collieries Study (2003) 
•	Les Monastères orthodoxes dans les balkans (2003) 
•	Les paysages culturels viticoles (2004) 
•	Rock Art of Latin America and the Caribbean (2006) 
•	Rock Art of Sahara and North Africa (2007) 
•	Cultural landscapes of the Pacific Islands (2007)

For further work on Outstanding Universal Value see:

The World Heritage List: What is OUV? Defining the Outstanding Universal Value of Cultural World Heritage Properties  ICOMOS http://www.international.icomos.org/publications/monuments_and_sites/16/index.htm

Outstanding Universal Value – Standards for Natural World Heritage  IUCN http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/wcpa_worldheritage/wheritage_pub/wcpa_whstudies/

Other useful studies:

Management Guidelines for World Cultural Heritage Sites (ICCROM, UNESCO, ICOMOS), Rome 1998

Risk Preparedness: A Management Manual for Cultural World Heritage (ICCROM, UNESCO, ICOMOS), Rome 1998 http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iccrom.org%2Fpdf%2FICCROM_17_RiskPreparedness_en.pdf

World Heritage Nominations for Natural Properties: a resource manual for practitioners http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/wcpa_worldheritage/wheritage_pub/wcpa_whstudies/

Management Planning for Natural World Heritage Properties: a resource manual for practitioners http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/wcpa_worldheritage/wheritage_pub/wcpa_whstudies/

Climate Change and World Heritage (World Heritage Papers no. 22)

World Heritage and Buffer Zones (World Heritage Papers no.25)

World Heritage Cultural Landscapes: a handbook for conservation and management (World Heritage Papers no.26)

For World Heritage Papers series, see http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=162&l=en&&&index=1

Planning Guidance throughout the UK:

England:

Heritage Protection in the 21st century White Paper http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/1156.aspx 

CLG Circular 07/2009 Circular on the Protection of World Heritage Sites in England http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/circularworldheritage 

The Protection & Management of World Heritage Sites in England
English Heritage Guidance Note to Circular for England on the Protection of World Heritage Sites
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.21142 

Consultation on the proposed Panning Policy Statement 15: Planning for the Historic Environment http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/consultationhistoricpps.pdf 

Addition of World Heritage Sites to General Permitted Order Article 1(5) Land http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20082362_en.pdf 
 
Northern Ireland:

Northern Ireland Planning Policy Statement 6 http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/policy_publications/planning_statements/pps06-archaeology-built-heritage.pdf 

Scotland:

Scottish Planning Policy 
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/03132605/0

Wales:

Welsh Historic Environment Strategic Statement http://wales.gov.uk/docs/drah/publications/090921strategicstatementheadlineactionplaneng.pdf 

Planning Policy and advice in Wales http://wales.gov.uk/topics/planning/policy/ppw2002/;jsessionid=WjXPLQ8L1psQnsx5dQ22gp1yT1GJyjBnr2kp98Q96ymzr1wcyGyj!-1738898946?lang=en

World Heritage in the UK:

World Heritage Sites: The Tentative List of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (DCMS 1999) http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/4739.aspx

World Heritage for the Nation – consultation paper
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/5629.aspx

UK World Heritage Sites Costs and Benefits (a study for DCMS by PricewaterhouseCooper) http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/5629.aspx

World Heritage for the Nation: Identifying, Protecting and Promoting our World Heritage – Government response http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6608.aspx

World Heritage Status: is there opportunity for economic gain? (published by the Lake District World Heritage Project)
http://www.lakeswhs.co.uk/documents/WHSTheEconomicGainFinalReport.pdf

See also recent nominations and management plans:

Antonine Wall Nomination and Management Plan http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/policyandguidance/world_heritage_scotland/antoninewall.htm

Darwin’s Landscape Laboratory Nomination and Management Plan http://www.darwinatdowne.co.uk/?f25d5080

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal Nomination and Management Plan http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/pontcysyllte_aqueduct/becoming.htm

Stonehenge Management Plan http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.8675

Hadrian’s Wall Management Plan http://www.hadrians-wall.org/page.aspx/About-the-World-Heritage-Site/Management-Plan

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