« The full flowering of heritage will only come about through a collective recognition of its importance and through a wide-scale mobilization based on heritage values »

Koïchiro Matsuura
Director-general of UNESCO

UNESCO and its World Heritage Centre are working for the conservation and promotion of the sites inscribed on the World Heritage List. These diverse places represent the outstanding universal value of humanity's heritage, a compelling testimony to the biodiversity of our planet and to centuries of major cultural accomplishments.

This heritage is everyone's legacy. All are invited to help in its conservation. State members, international and national organizations as well the civil society commit daily to this

World Heritage's partners are a keystone for the preservation of numerous sites. These partnerships are as varied as the sites themselves in their endeavors: mobilizing resources, sharing know-how, reinforcing administrative and technical experience and expertise.

The development of responsible long-term partnerships, based on ethical work standards and practices, provides an essential support system for the World Heritage, strengthening and diversifying various levels of action.

This is an unique opportunity to join a global effort to preserve what has been recognized as one of the cultural and identity pillars of importance for past, present and future generations.

• Meet our public and private partners
• Find out about the World Heritage PACT