The World Heritage Convention

One of the most successful projects ever undertaken by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is the international cooperation launched under the World Heritage Convention adopted in 1972. The Convention aims to promote international cooperation to identify and protect cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value. Finland acceded to the Convention in 1987.

The purpose of the World Heritage Convention is to highlight the shared responsibility of member states concerning the cultural and natural heritage of the world. The sites included on the World Heritage List are, in a way, examples which help demonstrate and develop appropriate ways to preserve cultural and natural heritage. Each member state, in submitting a valuable site for inclusion on the List, pledges to preserve and maintain that site. The List is a diverse collection of some of the most interesting and most impressive examples of architecture, ancient culture and natural formations in the world.

The World Heritage Fund, set up as specified in the Convention, assists member states as required.

New submissions for World Heritage Sites are discussed by the World Heritage Committee, to which representatives from member states are elected for a six-year term of office.

Day-to-day affairs under the World Heritage Convention are run by the World Heritage Centre in Paris. The Centre also organizes the annual meetings of the Committee.