Introduction

Since its signature in 1972, the World Heritage Convention has proved to be the most emblematic UNESCO Convention. Promoting both natural and cultural conservation, the Convention calls for the creation of an international registry of sites of "outstanding universal value:" the World Heritage List. Today, this List contains 962 sites that range from the City of Cuzco and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to the Sumatran rainforest and the Everglades Sanctuary. Under the Convention, each State Party is required to identify the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal ...