UNESCO World Heritage Sites

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.Seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

Heritage is… Our legacy from the pastOur legacy from the past What we live with todayWhat we live with today What we pass on to future generationsWhat we pass on to future generations

UNESCO ’ s Mission encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their natural and cultural heritage;encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their natural and cultural heritage; encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List;encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List; encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting systems on the state of conservation of their World Heritage sites;encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting systems on the state of conservation of their World Heritage sites; help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and professional training;help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and professional training;

UNESCO ’ s Mission provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger;provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger; support States Parties' public awareness-building activities for World Heritage conservation;support States Parties' public awareness-building activities for World Heritage conservation; encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage;encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage; encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and natural heritage.encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and natural heritage.

History The idea of creating an international movement for protecting heritage emerged after World War I.The idea of creating an international movement for protecting heritage emerged after World War I. The 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage developed from the merging of two separate movements:The 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage developed from the merging of two separate movements: Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage the first focusing on the preservation of cultural sitesthe first focusing on the preservation of cultural sites the other dealing with the conservation of nature.the other dealing with the conservation of nature.

Criteria To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria.To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. The criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.The criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.

The List The World Heritage List includes 890 propertiesThe World Heritage List includes 890 properties These includeThese include 689 cultural properties689 cultural properties 176 natural properties176 natural properties 25 mixed properties25 mixed properties There are 15 sites in CanadaThere are 15 sites in Canada

Canadian Sites - Cultural CulturalCultural Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (1981) – Alberta Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (1981) – Alberta Historic District of Old Québec (1985) – Quebec Historic District of Old Québec (1985) – Quebec L ’ Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site (1978) - NFLD L ’ Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site (1978) - NFLD Old Town Lunenburg (1995) – Nova Scotia Old Town Lunenburg (1995) – Nova Scotia Rideau Canal (2007) – Ontario Rideau Canal (2007) – Ontario SGang Gwaay (1981) – British Columbia SGang Gwaay (1981) – British Columbia

Canadian Sites - Natural NaturalNatural Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (1984) – BC & AB Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (1984) – BC & AB Dinosaur Provincial Park (1979) - AB Dinosaur Provincial Park (1979) - AB Gros Morne National Park (1987) - NFLD Gros Morne National Park (1987) - NFLD Kluane / Wrangell-St Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (1979) – YK, BC, Alaska Kluane / Wrangell-St Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (1979) – YK, BC, Alaska Miguasha National Park (1999) - Quebec Miguasha National Park (1999) - Quebec Nahanni National Park (1978) - NWT Nahanni National Park (1978) - NWT Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (1995) – AB Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (1995) – AB Wood Buffalo National Park (1983) – AB & NWT Wood Buffalo National Park (1983) – AB & NWT Joggins Fossil Cliffs (2008) – NS Joggins Fossil Cliffs (2008) – NS

Sites Around the World Great Barrier Reef (1981) – AustraliaGreat Barrier Reef (1981) – Australia The Great Wall of China (1987) – ChinaThe Great Wall of China (1987) – China Pyramids (1979) – EgyptPyramids (1979) – Egypt Palace and Park of Versailles (1979,2007) – FrancePalace and Park of Versailles (1979,2007) – France Acropolis, Athens (1987) – GreeceAcropolis, Athens (1987) – Greece Vatican City (1984) – ItalyVatican City (1984) – Italy Taj Mahal (1983) – IndiaTaj Mahal (1983) – India Pompeii (1987) – ItalyPompeii (1987) – Italy Auschwitz (1979) – PolandAuschwitz (1979) – Poland Stonehenge (1986) – UKStonehenge (1986) – UK Yellowstone National Park (1978) – United StatesYellowstone National Park (1978) – United States

Sites Around the World Interactive MapInteractive Map