World Heritage Review - Volume 2022, Issue 103, 2022

Over the past five decades, the World Heritage Convention has protected and promoted humanity’s treasures and transformed the way we value and safeguard heritage. In this issue we look at a few key sites that have marked turning points for the Convention, such as the introduction of cultural landscapes with Tongariro in New Zealand, the inspiring collaboration among communities that helped save the Belize’s Barrier Reef Reserve System, and the story of the historic conviction for intentional destruction of heritage in Timbuktu, Mali. We are also privileged to have a message from Mr Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture. This year is a celebration, but also an occasion to look to the future and at the issues that we must tackle together, such as climate change, better regional representation of sites and sustainable tourism. These topics were discussed during the 50 Minds dialogues. You will find the summary of rich interdisciplinary discussions in this issue.