United Nations and the Press Celebrate 40 Years of the World Heritage Convention

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in association with Cambridge University Press is celebrating 40 years of the World Heritage Convention with the launch of a new book.

UNESCO is a special agency of the United Nations and has 195 Member States. Its unique aim is to contribute to the building of peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the UN Charter.

In November 1972, UNESCO adopted the World Heritage Convention. The treaty was a giant step forward in helping to protect and conserve those places around the planet that “through their natural beauty or cultural resonance have left an indelible mark on humanity’s collective imagination.” Since 1978, more than 188 countries have ratified the convention and more than 936 separate sites have been placed on the list.

Now, a new book has been published to mark the 40th anniversary of this historic milestone. 'World Heritage: Benefits Beyond Borders' (CUP, £24.99) provides a thorough understanding of World Heritage sites and their outstanding universal value in the context of sustainable development. Introduced by UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova and beautifully illustrated throughout, the book highlights the benefits of World Heritage sites to local communities and ecosystems and is designed to promote cultural and natural heritage conservation as a key component of sustainable development and social cohesion.

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