• Significance of World Natural Heritage

  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

UNESCO World Natural Heritage →

• Selection Criteria for World Natural Heritage

  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)i)

  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 →

• Currently, there are a total of 231 UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites around 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 →

• 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 →

• - Korea

  • Jeju World Natural Heritage Center

    

    Go to site

  • Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats World Heritage

    

    Go to site

  
  

• -Overseas

  • UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    

    Go to site