A photograph of a red brick chimney stack, and a brown brick engine house with a red balcony and red wooden trim, underneath a cloudy blue sky
East Pool Mine, Cornwall. Exterior view of the Engine House and Chimney from the north-west. © Crown Copyright. Historic England Archive View image record AA98/09004
East Pool Mine, Cornwall. Exterior view of the Engine House and Chimney from the north-west. © Crown Copyright. Historic England Archive View image record AA98/09004

Roles and Responsibilities Under the World Heritage Convention

An outline of the key areas of responsibility relating to World Heritage internationally and in the UK.

On this page

International roles and responsibilities

The World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. It consists of 21 elected States Parties and meets once a year, usually in June or July, to discuss various matters including the state of conservation of properties on the World Heritage List. 

The Committee adopts formal decisions regarding inscription to the World Heritage List and to the List of World Heritage in Danger. It allocates financial support from the World Heritage Fund and requests action from State Parties when properties are not being managed effectively.

The World Heritage Centre

The World Heritage Committee is supported by a Secretariat appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO. The World Heritage Centre was created in 1992 and is the focal point and coordinator within UNESCO for all matters related to World Heritage.

The Centre assists and collaborates with the States Parties and Advisory Bodies, following the Decisions and Strategic Objectives of the Committee and the resolutions of the General Assembly. It is the main hub of communication in UNESCO with the State Party regarding proposals for change that may affect a property’s OUV.

Advisory Bodies

The World Heritage Committee has 3 Advisory Bodies:

  • ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)
  • ICOMOS (International Committee on Monuments and Sites)
  • IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Their role is to provide advice to the Committee on the implementation of its programmes and projects, to assist in the preparation of the Committee’s documentation, and to attend Committee meetings in an advisory capacity.

The Advisory Bodies provide advice (either collaboratively or in isolation) in their respective areas of expertise about the conservation of individual properties and the impact of proposals affecting their OUV.

Roles and responsibilities in the UK

UK State Party

The 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention sets out the duties of States Parties that have signed the Convention: to identify, protect, conserve, present, and transmit cultural and natural heritage in its territory.

The UK ratified the Convention in 1984, and within the UK Government, the responsibilities of the State Party are undertaken by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), with the Minister for Heritage ultimately responsible.

The State Party can be represented at World Heritage meetings by:

  • DCMS officials (internationally widely known as a representative from the 'capital')
  • The UK Delegation to UNESCO (the Permanent Representative-Ambassador and Deputy)
  • Historic England's International Team (technical experts)

Government (Political): Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is the lead department for UK-wide policy relating to World Heritage and, by extension, to the World Heritage Convention.

UK-wide policy includes overall World Heritage strategy, managing the UK Tentative List (including the 2022/3 UK Tentative List Review), managing Periodic Reporting and setting the overall approach for engaging with the Convention via the World Heritage Centre and World Heritage Committee. 

As heritage is a devolved policy area/matter, DCMS engages with the Devolved Governments across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as the governments of the UK Overseas Territories. Each government is responsible for setting policy and making decisions on the strategy, funding and management of World Heritage Sites situated within their respective territories.

DCMS also engages across UK Government departments in relation to World Heritage, notably including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Technical Advice: Historic England (International Team)

As the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, Historic England (via their International Team) provides technical advice to DCMS on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

DCMS and Historic England (International Team) are the joint national focal points for all administration and correspondence with UNESCO and its Advisory Bodies (ICCROM, ICOMOS and IUCN) relating to the UK's 35 World Heritage Sites and UK-wide World Heritage policy.

DCMS and Historic England (International Team) liaise with the appropriate government agencies and responsible bodies in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the UK Overseas Territories, advising on obligations relating to World Heritage properties in their respective territories.

Diplomacy: UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO

The UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO represents the UK on all issues across UNESCO's mandate, including heritage and culture. The delegation is led by an Ambassador and Permanent Delegate based in Paris.

Technical Advice (Natural): Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)

Additional expertise specific to natural World Heritage Sites is delivered by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the public body that advises the UK Government and Devolved Governments on UK-wide and international nature conservation. JNCC is a forum through which the national nature conservation bodies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland discharge their statutory responsibilities across the UK and internationally. It advises on issues concerning natural World Heritage Sites across the UK, including in the Devolved Governments and UK Overseas Territories.

Contacts

National Heritage Bodies

Please note that while the remit of UK State Party includes the UK and UK Overseas Territories, the list below only lists the relevant bodies for the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

England

Cultural Heritage: Historic England

Historic England is the government's advisor on heritage and a statutory part of England's planning process. Historic England engages with UNESCO and the World Heritage Centre on new or revised policies, guidance, and reporting and monitoring processes, and provides the UK State Party technical advice both nationally and internationally.

In England, Historic England, through its regional offices, provides advice to owners, decision-makers and communities about proposed changes that relate to World Heritage Sites.

Natural Heritage: Natural England

Natural England is the government's adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect and restore the natural world.

Established by an Act of Parliament in 2006, Natural England's purpose is to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Natural England provides advice on the conservation and management of Protected Sites and Areas in England, including those that overlap with UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Scotland

Cultural Heritage: Historic Environment Scotland

Historic Environment Scotland provides advice to owners, decision-makers and communities in relation to cultural World Heritage Sites in Scotland.

Natural Heritage: NatureScot

NatureScot provides advice to owners, decision-makers and communities in relation to natural World Heritage Sites in Scotland.

Wales

Cultural Heritage: Cadw

Cadw provides advice to owners, decision-makers and communities in relation to World Heritage Sites in Wales.

Natural Heritage: Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales is a Welsh Government-sponsored body responsible for tackling climate, nature, and pollution emergencies, working to protect and enhance Wales' environment through the sustainable management of natural resources.

Please note that there are no natural World Heritage Sites in Wales.

Northern Ireland

Cultural Heritage: Department for Communities, Historic Environment Division

The Historic Environment Division within the Department for Communities is the government lead on the historic environment of Northern Ireland. Its activities include recording, protecting, conserving, enhancing and promoting the historic environment as well as influencing decision-making and providing access to skills and knowledge.

Natural Heritage: Northern Ireland Environment Agency

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency provides advice to owners, decision-makers and communities in relation to natural World Heritage Sites in Northern Ireland.

UK representation at UNESCO

UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO

Refer to the State Party section for further information on the Permanent Delegation.

UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC)

The United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO is the official focal point for all UNESCO-related matters in the UK. It is a constitutional part of the UK's membership of UNESCO.

The Commission works to support the UK Government in achieving its objectives through UNESCO and also supports UK society and communities in maximising the benefits of UNESCO's mission and programmes.

The Commission oversees the network of UNESCO-designated sites in the UK and UK Overseas Territories, which includes multiple land-based designations, the UNESCO Chairs and the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme. Through the management of strategic programmes and projects, UKNC supports and develops the UNESCO sites (including WHS) in the UK network, supporting site coordinators to build capacity, share best practice and connect with stakeholders.

UK Non-Governmental Organisations

ICOMOS-UK

ICOMOS-UK is a national committee. It is a UK-based Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with more than 500 members and 8 scientific committees that disseminate ICOMOS (International)'s charters, policies and practice through a range of targeted activities in the UK, in a voluntary capacity.

The organisation is maintained by volunteer trustees and a small part-time Secretariat.

ICOMOS-UK promotes and provides independent advice, appreciation and understanding of cultural heritage conservation, policy and practice in the UK and worldwide, and has a special focus on World Heritage Sites.

IUCN National Committee UK

IUCN NCUK is the International Union for Conservation of Nature's formally recognised National Committee for the UK. It is a focus for all IUCN Member organisations based in the UK, including the UK Government as a State Member, subnational governments, international and national NGOs and over a thousand individual members of the IUCN Commissions who are based in the UK and the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

IUCN NCUK acts as a convening body to draw Members together to share information and discuss approaches to influencing conservation policy and practice through its working groups. It also develops projects linked to the IUCN global programme as a manner of adding value to UK conservation work.

World Heritage UK (WHUK)

WHUK is an independent national organisation representing the 35 UK World Heritage Sites, the majority of which are its members.

WHUK works closely with others in the sector and undertakes advocacy and promotion to raise awareness of World Heritage nationally and locally.

Through its extensive body of technical and expert knowledge, WHUK supports those engaged in the management of UK World Heritage Sites by sharing best practice and providing forums for learning, capacity building and professional development.

WHUK is a member of the European Network of World Heritage Associations (ENWHA), participating in its promotion and providing advice and assistance to a network of parallel World Heritage site manager associations across Europe.

UK World Heritage Queries

Also of interest

World Heritage
Protection and Management of World Heritage Sites
World Heritage Glossary