Tool 1: Heritage/Conservation Values and Attributes

The purpose of this tool is to present a step-by-step approach to using the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value as a basis for the World Heritage component within a broader Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), or as a stand-alone Heritage Impact Assessment A Heritage Impact Assessment is an activity-specific or project-level assessment that is focused on identifying and assessing the potential effect of a proposed activity or project on the heritage/conservation values of a natural and/or cultural heritage place. In the context of World Heritage properties, a Heritage Impact Assessment should be particularly focused on identifying and assessing negative and positive impacts on the attributes which convey the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List.   . The Statement of Outstanding Universal Value is a short narrative text that describes why a World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. was considered so exceptional that it was inscribed on the World Heritage List. However, in order to be able to use the Statement, it is useful to analyse the content and break it down into values and attributes. The following pages illustrate how this might be done. The tool is provided as a general template to suggest one of many possible approaches, and it may be further adapted and improved as appropriate.