World Heritage and US/ICOMOS


US/ICOMOS

ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is a nongovernmental organization of professionals dedicated to the conservation of the world's historic monuments and sites. Founded in 1965, ICOMOS is UNESCO's principal advisor in matters concerning the protection of monuments and sites.  With  IUCN/World Conservation Union, ICOMOS counsels the World Heritage Committee and UNESCO on the nomination of sites to the World Heritage List.


Developing an Updated Tentative List of US Sites for Inscription in the World Heritage List
(Experts Briefing and Seminar, September 12, 2006 in Washington, DC)


The United States has announced a process and schedule for nominations to a US Tentative List, which will serve as a basis for the new list. This Tentative List is intended to meet the World Heritage Centre guidance of a ten-year list with up to 20 properties for potential listing in an even mix of cultural and natural sites.  >>READ MORE HERE>>

 

World Heritage in the United States

Matters concerning World Heritage in the United States fall under the auspices of the National Park Service, Office of International Affairs, which maintains the World Heritage List of sites in the United States, nominations (by the Secretary of the Interior through the Office of International Affairs) of U.S. sites to the World Heritage List, and the "Tentative" or "Indicative" List of sites that may be nominated by the U.S. to the World Heritage List.

US/ICOMOS also works with other entities, including individuals, groups, non-profit organizations, or local and state agencies, who are considering preparing a nomination of a cultural site to the World Heritage List.  Currently, US/ICOMOS is providing advice and guidance to groups interested in nomination a series of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, Annapolis, Maryland, Newport, Rhode Island, Charleston, South Carolina, and New Harmony, Indiana, among others.

New "Friends of World Heritage" website
From the World Heritage Newsletter No. 51 (November-December 2005/January 2006)

"Within the context of an agreement between the online tour operator, Expedia, Inc., and UNESCO’s longstanding partner, the United Nations Foundation (UNF), a web-based FRIENDS OF WORLD HERITAGE website was launched in November 2005.  The website, whith complements the World Heritage website, is intended to raise awareness about World Heritge and to raise funds in support of World Heritage projects, both directly and by booking a World Herige Trip through Expedia.  All the profits from such trips will be directed to a FRIENDS OF WORLD HERITAGE FUND, held at UNF.  Such donations will be matched, up to a limit of US$50,000 per year, by both Expedia and UNF.  The monies donated to this fund will be used exclusively to support community development and conservation projects around World Heritage sites in developing countries.  The World Heritage Centre will be involved in developing the criteria and deciding on the projects to be supported.  Visit the site at http://www.friendsofworldheritage.org."

 

Links to Websites with Charters, Declarations, Articles,
and Other Documents relating to World Heritage

National Park Service Office of International Affairs: World Heritage Sites
http://www.cr.nps.gov/worldheritage/index.htm

UNESCO World Heritage Centre
http://whc.unesco.org/

George Wright Society World Heritage Tentative List Page
http://www.georgewright.org/tentativelist.html

International Council on Monuments & Sites (ICOMOS)
http://www.international.icomos.org/home.htm

ICOMOS World Heritage
http://www.international.icomos.org/world_heritage/index.html

US/ICOMOS
http://www.icomos.org/usicomos/

US/ICOMOS and World Heritage
http://www.icomos.org/usicomos/World_Heritage/World_Heritage.htm

IUCN Resources for Developing a Tentative List of U.S. Sites for Inscription in the World Heritage List
http://www.iucn.org/places/usa/webdocs2006/programs/programsWH.htm

IUCN World Heritage
http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/wheritage/wheritageindex.htm

National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable/


Select a link to learn more about US/ICOMOS

What is ICOMOS? US/ICOMOS Home Membership
World Heritage US/ICOMOS Staff and Board Scientific Committees
Special Initiatives Intern Exchange Program International Symposium
US/ICOMOS ListServ Publications Contact US/ICOMOS