UNESCO World Natural Heritage

Our planet is home to invaluable cultural and natural heritage shaped over time. To protect these treasures, UNESCO adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) in 1972 to designate cultural and natural heritage requiring global efforts to protect it.

World Heritage includes natural heritage, cultural heritage and mixed heritage.
World Natural Heritage plays a vital role in preserving areas of outstanding natural beauty and geological value, unique ecosystems and biodiversity.

For further information on
UNESCO World Heritage Convention → For further information on
UNESCO World Natural Heritage →

Significance

• Ecosystem protection

  Conserving endangered species and their habitats; maintaining biodiversity

  Climate change research

  Serving as research hubs for climate change adaptation

  International cooperation and protection

  Maintaining continuous conservation system based on the World Heritage Convention (1972)

  Sustainable tourism

  Providing an eco-friendly utilization model that does not hurt nature

For further information on
UNESCO World Heritage →

Selection Criteria

• To be included on the World Natural Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value (OUV) and meet at least one of the selection criteria.

  ① Possess exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance(Criterion vii)

  Areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance

  ② Be an example of Earth’s history or have significant geomorphic or physiographic features(Criterion viii)

  Areas with significant geomorphic or physiographic features which are critical to understanding major stages of Earth’s history

  ③ Be an outstanding example of ecological and biological processes(Criterion ix)

  Areas representing significant ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of ecosystems and communities of plants and animals

  ④ Conserve biological diversity(Criterion x)

  Areas containing natural habitats of various plants and animals including threatened species

  A site can be listed as a World Natural Heritage only when it meets at least one of the criteria above as well as the criteria of integrity, protection and management.

  For further information on the Operational Guidelines
  for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention → For further information on
  the Criteria for Selection →

Global World Natural Heritage Sites

• Currently, there are a total of 231 UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sitesaround the world. Of these, 191 are classified as natural heritage and 40 are mixed heritage sites. UNESCO applies rigorous international standards to ensure these sites are preserved and managed in a sustainable manner, serving a key role in protecting natural ecosystems and biodiversity.

  Go to UNESCO World Heritage List →

World Natural Heritage Protection Strategy *Five Strategic Objectives

• UNESCO pursues the following five strategic objectives to protect and manage World Natural Heritage in a sustainable manner

  1

  Credibility

  • Strengthen the credibility of the World Heritage List

  2

  Conservation

  • Ensure the effective conservation of World Heritage properties and sustainability

  3

  Capacity-building

  • Provide education on heritage management and technical assistance

  4

  Communication

  • Increase public awareness, involvement and support for World Heritage through communication

  5

  Communities

  • Facilitate the active participation of communities in implementation of the World Heritage Convention

For further information on
UNESCO protection strategy → For further information on
UNESCO’s World Heritage mission →

Relevant Websites

• - Korea

  • Jeju World Natural Heritage Center

    

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  • Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats World Heritage

    

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• -Overseas

  • UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    

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