U N E S O C ulture Unit

UNESCO-ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management (AAHM) 3rd Field School: Impact Assessment & Maritime Archaeology Galle, Sri Lanka • 1-10 April 2007 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) An Introduction Richard A. Engelhardt UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in Asia and the Pacific

1954: Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention 1970: Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property 1972: Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1982: United Nations convention on the law of the sea (UNCLOS) 1996: ICOMOS charter on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage 2001: Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2003: Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2005: Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

“1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage”

Purpose of the World Heritage Convention … ensuring the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. II Article 4, Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972

? What is heritage and why protect it

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. I Article 1, Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972

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 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. I Article 1, Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972

Soltaniyeh (2005) Bisotun (2006) Japan Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (1993) Himeji-jo (1993) Shirakami-Sanchi (1993) Yakushima (1993) Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (1994) Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (1995) Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (1996) Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (1996) Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (1998) Shrines and Temples of Nikko (1999) Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (2000) Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (2004) Shiretoko (2005) Kazakhstan Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (2003) Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly (2004) Lao People's Democratic Republic Town of Luang Prabang (1995) Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape (2001) Malaysia Gunung Mulu National Park (2000) Kinabalu Park (2000) The World Heritage List is a means of acknowledging sites that are of sufficient importance to be recognized by the international community as a whole.

Criteria for Inscription on the World Heritage List “Outstanding Universal Value” meeting at least one of ten criteria II.D. Operational Guidelines

(i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius Taj Mahal, India (i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius

The Old Town of Lijiang, China (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

Town of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR (iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared

Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications , Sri Lanka (iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history

Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement or land-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change

Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Japan (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

Purnululu National Park , Australia (vii) be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of land forms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; or

Kinabalu Park, Malaysia (viii) 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; or

Nanda Devi National Park, India (ix) contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; or

Komodo National Park, Indonesia (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;

How do these criteria help us think about the underwater heritage?

States Parties to the World Heritage Convention have the responsibility for: Identification, inventory, nomination, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage found in their territory Adoption of general policies to give heritage a function in the community life Integration of heritage protection into comprehensive planning programmes Adoption of legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures to protect their heritage Establishment of national/regional centres for training in the conservation of heritage

While fully respecting the sovereignty of the States on whose territory the heritage is situated, States Parties to the World Heritage Convention recognize the collective interest of the international community to cooperate in the protection of this heritage.

The Convention does not replace national legislation or the primary responsibility of the national authority. The Convention is a supplementary authority.

The World Heritage List 830 sites in 138 States Parties 644 cultural 162 natural 24 mixed 830 sites are listed: 644 cultural, 162 natural, and 24 mixed properties, in 138 States Parties The World Heritage List includes 812 properties in 137 States Parties, including     - 628 natural,     - 160 natural, and     -  24 mixed properties   To date, there are 50 properties on World Heritage List have been included as cultural landscapes (as of 1 June 2006)

Asia-Pacific Regional Perspective 43 121 11 175 Out of 830 World Heritage sites 175 are situated in the Asia-Pacific Region.

? What about the underwater heritage

Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001 UNESCO 1972

Preconditions for enlistment in the World Heritage List  Authenticity  Integrity  Adequate protection and management system

 Authenticity of cultural heritage is expressed through the following attributes: 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 Other internal and external factors II.E.82. Operational Guidelines

Maintenance and preservation are considered to be the least invasive measures, while adaptation is considered to be the most invasive. Described another way, maintenance and preservation represent the lowest level of intervention, while adaptation represents a higher level of intervention. Source: SS Imon, IFT

The “value” of a place is determined by the authenticity and cultural significance of the story told by that place. The more that significance is cross-cultural, the more it is “universal”.

 Integrity is a measure of intactness or wholeness of the natural and/or cultural heritage and its attributes II.E.87. Operational Guidelines

 Adequate protection and management system Legislative, regulatory and contractual measures for protection at the national and local levels should assure the survival of the property and its protection against development and change that might negatively impact the outstanding universal value, or the integrity and/or authenticity of the property. II.F.98. Operational Guidelines

 Adequate protection and management system Buffer Zones area surrounding the nominated property which has complementary legal and/or customary restrictions placed on its use and development to give an added layer of protection to the property II.F.103. Operational Guidelines

 Adequate protection and management system Management Systems To ensure the effective protection of the property for present and future generations II.F.108. Operational Guidelines

 Adequate protection and management system Common elements of management systems a thorough and shared understanding of the property by all stakeholders a cycle of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and feedback the involvement of partners and stakeholders the allocation of necessary resources capacity-building an accountable, transparent description of how the management system functions II.F.111. Operational Guidelines

 Adequate protection and management system Sustainable use Any ongoing and proposed use of a World Heritage Property should be ecologically and culturally sustainable. However, such sustainable use should not adversely impact the outstanding universal value, integrity and/or authenticity of the property II.F.119. Operational Guidelines

Conservation is Managing Change to Preserve Significance

Office of the UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in Asia and the Pacific, UNESCO Bangkok P.O.Box 967 Sukhumvit Road, Prakanong, Bangkok 10110 Thailand Phone: +66 (0)2391-0577 ext. 509 Fax: +66 (0)2391-0866 E-mail: culture@unescobkk.org Web: www.unescobkk.org/culture