This study tries to examine the developmental aspects and operational progress of the World Heritage Convention(the “Convention”) which was adopted by UNESCO in 1972 to facilitate the implementation of the operational guidelines. This study search...
This study tries to examine the developmental aspects and operational progress of the World Heritage Convention(the “Convention”) which was adopted by UNESCO in 1972 to facilitate the implementation of the operational guidelines. This study searches how the guidelines have changed over time and analyzed main topics discussed during the World Heritage Committee to understand the Outstanding Universal Value(“OUV”) of world heritage and clarify the issues of the selection process. Finally some points for the better management of world heritage scheme will be suggested.
Before the adoption of the “Convention”, protection of cultural heritage was mainly focused on reconstructing cities which had been destroyed and damaged by war. Upon the foundation of UNESCO, as preservation movements in the heritage sites began and public awareness was raised to prevent damage and safeguard heritage beforehand. Then UNESCO adopted the “Convention” in 1972, established the World Heritage Committee(the “Committee”) in 1975 and put forward the operational guidelines in 1977, respectively.
The “Convention” is of great significance in that it tried to find ways not at the national level but with international recognition through concerted efforts by emphasizing the importance of the OUV anew. Expansion of the implementation of the World Heritage Scheme came to further contribute to the protection of the national and local community’s heritage as well.
After the adoption of the World Heritage Convention, protection of world heritage covered only tangible elements until the late 1980s, but as the “cultural landscape” was introduced in the 1990s, stress was also put on the intangible values and now the world heritage includes both tangible and intangible assets. After the ‘Nara Document on Authenticity’(“Nara Document”) in 1992, meaning of authenticity was reinterpreted and the term “cultural diversity” has been widely recognized. Since the year 2000 the definition of world heritage has diversified to the extent of human thoughts, religion and lately it has expanded to industrial, military and modern heritage.
The “Committee” has dealt with topics regarding understanding and recognition of world heritage reflecting changes of times. One representative example is the ‘criteria of inscription for the world heritage’. They have been continuously modified and supplemented ever since.
The ‘Inscription Criteria’ had been applied individually to the natural and cultural heritage until 2002, but they were integrated into a revised standard in 2005. It came with various reasons such as the introduction of the ‘cultural landscape’ as part of an diversity effort by the “Committee” in 1992, followed by the setup of the ‘Global Strategy’ for the improvement of balance, representativeness and credibility of world heritage in 1994, and finally the adoption of the ‘Strategic Objectives’ for the effective implementation of the Convention in 2002 and 2005, respectively.
The agenda raised in the “Committee” have been reflected on the guidelines of the “Convention” and have been updated. Among them are the Inscription Criteria, Authenticity and Integrity and Protection and Management Plan in the guidelines which are fundamental requirements for the inscription and understanding of the world heritage. It can be said that these guidelines have been changed to meet the conditions of maintaining its OUV to be world heritage.
Simply put, the protection of world heritage is to maintain its OUV and to do so close cooperation is necessary for the parties concerned such as site managers, regional and central government officials, local communities, NGOs etc through active participation and consensus along with systematic preparedness and procedures.
After the adoption of the “Convention”, the “Committee” started designating 12 (cultural 8, natural 4) heritages in 1978 and since then in 157 countries among 190 member countries, 962 (cultural 745, natural 188, complex 29) heritages have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list to date. 28 world heritages are being added on average every year and if it continues, by the year 2014 there will be over 1000 heritages on the List. This visible achievements, for sure, resulted from the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
However, there are some adverse effect considering the fact that the present designation is focused on the western countries and that politicking, inscription competition between countries, are getting intense at an international and a regional level, and that the heritage sites become tourist destination as commercial resources after the designation. In addition, incompatibility between economic development and preserving heritage is a constant concern. Imbalances among regions, countries and various heritages behind the “visible achievements” are other problems.
The “Committee” adopted a global strategy and strategic objectives to solve the imbalances mentioned above. But comparing the effect before and after the adoption, there are not as much improvements as expected in terms of regional (cultural) diversification the “Committee” has been aiming at. Therefore, related research and study for the improvement of the World Heritage Scheme seems to be necessary to yield substantial results. Followings are some recommendations.
First, consider the cultural differences and uniqueness of East and West. Clarify definition and criteria comprehensively and specifically so that the adequate understanding and awareness of world heritage could be reached before OUV criteria are applied. Second, different local culture has to be understood taking into consideration the economic gaps between advanced and developing countries so the scheme could be amended and administrative procedures should be simplified. Finally, acknowledge the uniqueness of regional culture and related institutions corresponding with the aim “to protect heritage of mankind”. And a comprehensive World Heritage Scheme should be proposed covering international and local principles.
The purpose of the World Heritage Convention is to preserve and conserve irreplaceable heritage of mankind with close cooperation between the state party and international society evaluating it. It is essential to revise the World Heritage Scheme in a timely manner and operate according to it. More importantly, the designation of the UNESCO World Heritage should be thought of as a means to protect the heritage not as something else.
Key words : World Heritage Convention, Operational Guideline, World Heritage Committee, World Heritage, World Cultural Heritage, Outstanding Universal Value(OUV), Inscription Criteria, Authenticity, Integrity, Protection and Management Plan, Designation tendency.