Defining and understanding the property
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Threats to or pressures on the potential outstanding universal value of the nominated property are an important consideration in the assessment process. The Operational Guidelines mention four such factors – development, environmental, natural disasters and visitors / tourism. Accordingly, the information provided about the state of conservation of the nominated property should be realistic, supported by evidence, and not overstated on the one hand or understated on the other. For example, claims that a property is in good condition must reflect reality, and substantial threats should not be ignored or downplayed. In addition, trends are vital to understand the situation – good and improving is dramatically different to good and deteriorating. A key task of the evaluation mission which visits the nominated property is to check and report on threats, including looking for evidence of threats which have not been reported. ➤
Information on threats should only include those which are reasonable to predict or expect for a particular property, or which have been previously raised. For example, highly unlikely threats do not need to be addressed.
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Present state of conservation – threats or pressures
Nonetheless, accurate and frank information about such threats must be provided. A growing problem is the inscription of properties which are shortly afterwards reporting threats which were not documented in the nomination. For this reason, it is desirable to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of any new development projects or other changes that arise during the evaluation process.
Protection Nominated properties should have good legal and/or traditional protection. Ideally the property should have the best available protection in a given jurisdiction and context, and sometimes this will include layers of legislative and other protection. Legal and traditional protection are not mutually exclusive mechanisms and they can often work successfully together to achieve a layered approach to protection. In many cases legal protection is necessary to provide a suitable and supported context for traditional protection, particularly where threats are present.
A clear definition of the tangible and intangible attributes which convey the potential outstanding universal value is essential in achieving good protection, conservation and management of the property, as these are what need to be protected in order to sustain potential outstanding universal value. Useful questions include: • Will the potential outstanding universal value be maintained or enhanced by the protection? • Is protection long term? • In the case of traditional protection, are the community mechanisms underpinning the protection robust? • Is protection provided at all necessary levels (e.g. traditional, local, regional, national)? • Is the property protected from development or change that might have negative impacts on values, integrity or authenticity? • Is protection effectively implemented? • Is protection periodically audited / monitored to assess effectiveness? • Is the approach to protection fully integrated with overall conservation and management?
KEY
MESSAGE
Protection must be effective.
Preparing World Heritage Nominations • First Edition, 2010
A nomination for a property which does not have satisfactory protection will fail to achieve World Heritage inscription.
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