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Selecting AmericaSelecting America’’s World Class s World Class Treasures: Revising the U.S. World Treasures: Revising the U.S. World

Heritage Tentative ListHeritage Tentative List

U.S. World Heritage Tentative List

WatertonWaterton--Glacier International Peace ParkGlacier International Peace Park

UNESCO & the United StatesUNESCO & the United States


The U.S. was among the foundingmembers of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1945.

The U.S. was the first country to ratify the World Heritage Convention, in 1973.

Although the U.S. withdrew from UNESCO in 1984, it remained a State Party to the World Heritage Convention.

The U.S. rejoined UNESCO in 2003.First Lady Laura Bush presides at the Paris ceremony marking U.S. re-entry into UNESCO, 2003


The World Heritage ConceptThe World Heritage Concept

• Promotes American Ideals on Natural and Cultural Heritage Stewardship

• Recognizes Most Important Sites of Global Significance

• Promotes International Cooperation in the Management and Conservation of Shared Global Heritage

• Leverages Protection against Threats through World Heritage in Danger List

Pyramids of Pyramids of GizaGiza, Egypt, Egypt


Core Principles of the ConventionCore Principles of the Convention

WrangellWrangell--St. Elias National Park & PreserveSt. Elias National Park & Preserve

• State Party Sovereignty

• International Community Cooperates to Help Protect Globally Significant Heritage

• Signatories Pledge Not to Harm WH Sites


World Heritage CommitteeWorld Heritage Committee

• Governing Body of the World Heritage Convention

• 21 Nations Elected to 4-6 Year Terms

• Meets Annually to Manage the WH List (add or delete sites) and to Review the “State of Conservation” of Designated Sites

• U.S. Elected in 2005 (will serve through 2009)

Great Wall of ChinaGreat Wall of China


World Heritage ListWorld Heritage List

IguazuIguazu National Park, Argentina/BrazilNational Park, Argentina/Brazil

• 851 World Heritage Sites • 660 Cultural Sites• 166 Natural Sites• 25 Mixed Nature/Culture Sites• 184 State Parties (141 with WH Sites)


Benefits of World Heritage ListingBenefits of World Heritage Listing

Grand Canyon National ParkGrand Canyon National Park

• Increased Recognition and Prestige for the Site• Potential for Increased Visitation and Related Economic Benefits• Higher Visibility Among Donors• Participation in Global Network of Protected Natural and Cultural Sites


NgorogoroNgorogoro Conservation Area, TanzaniaConservation Area, Tanzania

Criteria for World Heritage SitesCriteria for World Heritage Sites• Must Meet At Least One of 10 Specific Criteria to Demonstrate “Outstanding Universal Value”

• Criteria recognize outstanding examples of architectural masterworks, cultural traditions and events, natural beauty, geological features and biodiversity, among others

• Authenticity (e.g., substantially intact/unaltered)

• Integrity (e.g., of sufficient size to maintain natural processes)

World Heritage Sites in the U.S.World Heritage Sites in the U.S.


Natural Sites (12) Yellowstone National Park (1978)Grand Canyon National Park (1979)Everglades National Park (1979)Kluane/Wrangell-St Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-AlsekRedwood State and National Parks (1980)Mammoth Cave National Park (1981)Olympic National Park (1981)Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1983)Yosemite National Park (1984) Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (1987) Waterton/Glacier International Peace Park (1995)Carlsbad Caverns National Park (1995 – last U.S. nomination)

Great Smoky Mountains National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park



Mesa Verde National ParkMesa Verde National Park

Cultural Sites (8) Cultural Sites (8) Mesa Verde National Park (1978) Independence Hall (1979) *Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (1982) *La Fortaleza / San Juan NHS (1983) Statue of Liberty (1984) Chaco Culture (1987) *Monticello / Univ. of Virginia (1987) *Pueblo de Taos (1992)

*Non-NPS Sites



DOI Role and ObligationsDOI Role and Obligations

Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park

• Secretary of the Interior Coordinates Program

• Delegated to Asst. Secy. FWP

• NPS Directly Administers 17 of the 20 Current WH Sites in the U.S.

• NPS/OIA Provides Staff Support

U.S. Obligations: • International Assistance and Cooperation• Periodic Reporting• Reactive Monitoring and State of Conservation Reports


What is the Tentative List?What is the Tentative List?

Glacier Bay National Park and PreserveGlacier Bay National Park and Preserve

• Inventory of Properties Likely To Be Nominated by a State Party Over a Ten-Year Period (countries are limited to two nominations/year)

• Property Must be on List to Be Nominated

• Used by Advisory Bodies for Comparative Studies

• Former U.S. Tentative List Developed in 1982 (considered obsolete)


MonticelloMonticello

Owners/Applicants are required to:• prepare a nomination application• demonstrate authenticity and integrity• document adequate legal protection and management plans • certify support of all owners and at all levels of government

How Does a Property Get on How Does a Property Get on the New Tentative List?the New Tentative List?

PrePre--requisites for Considerationrequisites for Consideration


Cahokia Mounds State Historic ParkCahokia Mounds State Historic Park

• National Significance

• All Property Owners Concur in Writing

• Legal Protection (e.g. easements for non-Federal sites)

• Stakeholder Support (e.g., national and local elected officials)


Timeline for Developing the New Tentative ListTimeline for Developing the New Tentative List

Carlsbad Caverns National ParkCarlsbad Caverns National Park

• Late 2005 National Park Service Office of International Affairs develops Tentative List application, including Federal Register notice for public comments on the application, and request for OMB approval of the application.

• August 29, 2006 OMB approves application; application is widely distributed to all interested parties and the public via the Internet and other means

• April 1, 2007 Application Deadline; 35 applications received by NPS

• Summer 2007 Consultation with the applicants and review of applications by NPS subject matter experts and external World Heritage experts

• August 30, 2007 NPS staff report and recommendations issued to applicants and World Heritage Subcommittee of the US National Commission for UNESCO (a State Dept. Federal Advisory Committee)

• September 27, 2007 Meeting of the World Heritage Subcommittee of the National Commission for UNESCO to review NPS staff recommendations and make its own recommendations to the full US National Commission


Timeline for Developing the New Tentative ListTimeline for Developing the New Tentative ListOctober 4, 2007 Full National Commission for UNESCO reviews Subcommittee

recommendations. Forwards the recommendations to the AS/FWP

• Mid October, 2007 NPS publishes Federal Register Notice for 30-Day Public Comment on draft Tentative List (NPS and NATCOMM recommendations)

• Late November, 2007 Office of International Affairs prepares decision package for AS/FWP, including public comments

• Late November, 2007 AS/FWP reviews and develops recommendations for the Secretary

• Early December, 2007 AS/FWP presents recommendations to the Secretary

• Early January, 2008 Decision by Secretary and transmittal to State Department

• Early January, 2008 Publication in Federal Register of Final Tentative List

• February 1, 2008 Transmittal by State Dept. to UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Great Barrier Reef, AustraliaGreat Barrier Reef, Australia


Redwood State and National ParksRedwood State and National Parks

Tentative List RollTentative List Roll--Out OpportunitiesOut Opportunities• Submittal to World Heritage Centre in February 2008

• Quebec World Heritage Committee meeting in July 2008

• First Lady Involvement?

• Potential Partners include United Nations Foundation, National Geographic Society, others


Galapagos Islands. EcuadorGalapagos Islands. Ecuador

First U.S. First U.S. Nomination(sNomination(s))

• Secretary may wish to decide which site(s) should be nominated first when approving final Tentative List.

• First nomination(s) to World Heritage List must be ready by October 1, 2008.

• Advisory bodies evaluate nomination in 2009.

• Will be considered by World Heritage Committee in 2010.

“I see World Heritage as an opportunity to convey the idea of a common heritage among nations and peoples everywhere.

I see it as a compelling idea that can help unite people rather than divide them.

I see it as an idea whose time has truly come.”

Russell E. Train, Chairman Emeritus, World Wildlife Fund US,Former Head of EPA, and key proponent of the World Heritage Convention

Venice, 16 November 2002

Documents

Selecting America’s World Class Treasures: Revising the U ...whc.unesco.org/archive/websites/arctic2008/_res/site/file/Workshop_papers_and... · UNESCO & the United States U.S