Our History
Discover the journey of UNESCO World Heritage and its mission to protect and preserve humanity's most precious treasures.
Our Mission
Identification
Identifying cultural and natural heritage sites of outstanding universal value
Protection
Ensuring the protection and conservation of world heritage for future generations
Preservation
Supporting preservation efforts through international cooperation and assistance
Our Journey
Explore the key milestones in UNESCO's mission to protect and preserve the world's cultural and natural heritage.
Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage
UNESCO adopts the Convention linking together the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties, establishing the framework for protecting our worlds most precious places.
First Sites Inscribed
The first sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List, including the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) and Yellowstone National Park (USA), marking the beginning of a global commitment to preservation.
Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention
UNESCO adopts the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognizing the importance of living traditions and cultural expressions.
Growing Legacy
The World Heritage List now includes over 1,000 properties of outstanding universal value across more than 160 countries, representing humanities shared cultural and natural heritage.