World Heritage Preservation in China
2 min readWith changes taking place in social and economic conditions,a growing number of ancient ethnic traditions, cultures, customs, modesof living and environments are suffering from increasing serious threats of destruction. It is detrimental not only to unique and precious cultural heritage but also to the historical, social and psychological dignity of local nationalities.
On November6,1972, the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 17th session adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Watural Heritage. In 1976, UWESco set up the World Heritage Committee, an inter-governmental cooperative body, under the Convention. The committee is responsible for including cultural and natural treasures of outstanding niversal value on the World Heritage List.
World heritage is divided into three types:natural，cultural（including cultural sites）and the combination of naturaland cultural heritage.All sites on the World Heritage List receive financial and technical aid.In the meantime，they become better known worldwide and are protected by pressure from the international commnity.
China ratified the convention in 15，becoming a contracting party，and became a member state of the World Heritage Comittee on October 29，1999.In 1986，China began to identify and nominate sites within its national territory to be considered for inscription on the World Heritage list.So far，the number of its sites on the list has reached 41.
Nomination and inclusion of natural and cultural properties on the World Heritage List is nonetheless the final goalof world heritage work.World Heritage conservation is a continuous process.Listing a site does little good if it subsequently falls into a state of disrepair or if a development project risks destroying the qualities that make the site suitable for World Heritage status in the first place.The final goal of highlighting those most valuable representatives and carriers of information and beauty throughout history and in our natural environment is to arouse mankind’s attention to protect and preserve them for future generations.
