World Heritage - User contributions [en]

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2025-12-24T10:57:55Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

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<title>WorldHeritage.wiki — Executive Summary</title>
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<div style="font-weight:700; font-size:clamp(16px,1.6vw,18px); color:#0c4a6e;">Preserving Humanity.
Documenting Civilization. Inspiring Future Generations.</div>
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<p style="margin:0 0 12px; line-height:1.7; font-size:clamp(14px,1.2vw,16px); text-align: justify;">
<strong>WorldHeritage.wiki</strong> is a global digital initiative dedicated to documenting, preserving,
and celebrating the shared heritage of humanity. Built as a comprehensive, scholarly, and publicly
accessible knowledge repository, the platform integrates <strong>Cultural, Natural, and
Philanthropic</strong> heritage into one unified digital ecosystem.
</p>

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Through resources from international institutions such as <em>UNESCO</em>, the <em>World Heritage
Centre</em>, <em>World History</em>, <em>Wikipedia</em>, and <em>Google</em>, WorldHeritage.wiki
aims to become the world's most trusted and accessible hub for heritage documentation – bringing
together verified facts, multimedia storytelling, community participation, and research-grade content. A
key objective is to identify and showcase deserving heritage sites, ensuring their proper preservation
and presentation to the world, while adhering to international quality standards.
</p>

<blockquote style="margin:0; padding:12px 16px; border-left:4px solid #34d399; background:#f0fff4;">
<p style="margin:0; line-height:1.7; color:#047857; font-size:clamp(14px,1.2vw,16px);">
<strong>Our mission is simple yet powerful:</strong><br>
<em style="color:#065f46;">To preserve the past, empower the present, and inspire the future.</em>
</p>
</blockquote>
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Core Pillars / Categories
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<p style="margin:10px 0 0; font-size:clamp(16px,1.1vw,14px);">WorldHeritage.wiki operates on three
foundational categories, each representing a crucial dimension of global heritage</p>
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<img src="/images/homepage/Pillar-logo-1.gif" alt="Cultural logo"
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<h3 style="margin:0 0 8px; font-size:clamp(16px,1.3vw,18px); color:#b45309;">Cultural Heritage</h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 12px; color:#92400e; font-style:italic; font-size:clamp(13px,1.05vw,14px);">
“Where civilizations speak through stones, stories, and traditions.”</p>

<p style="margin:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#44403c; font-size:clamp(14px,1.05vw,15px);">
Cultural heritage covers humanity’s timeless creations — from architectural marvels to ancient
manuscripts, performing arts, and intangible traditions.
</p>

<ul style="text-align:left; margin-left:18px; line-height:1.6; font-size:clamp(13px,1.05vw,14px);">
<li>Architectural Heritage</li>
<li>Archaeological Sites</li>
<li>Traditional Arts & Crafts</li>
<li>Languages & Literature</li>
<li>Festivals & Intangible Heritage</li>
<li>Museum Collections</li>
<li>World Civilizations</li>
</ul>
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<img src="/images/homepage/pillar-logo-2.gif" alt="Natural logo"
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<h3 style="margin:0 0 8px; font-size:clamp(16px,1.3vw,18px); color:#065f46;">Natural Heritage</h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 12px; color:#064e3b; font-style:italic; font-size:clamp(13px,1.05vw,14px);">
“Protecting the Earth's most extraordinary landscapes and ecosystems.”</p>

<p style="margin:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#1f2937; font-size:clamp(14px,1.05vw,15px);">
Natural heritage focuses on the planet’s exceptional ecosystems, biodiversity hotspots,
geological formations, and conservation zones.
</p>

<ul style="text-align:left; margin-left:18px; line-height:1.6; font-size:clamp(13px,1.05vw,14px);">
<li>Forests & Wildlife Sanctuaries</li>
<li>Oceans, Rivers & Wetlands</li>
<li>Desert & Polar Regions</li>
<li>Mountain Ranges & Geological Wonders</li>
<li>Conservation Projects</li>
<li>Climate Impact Studies</li>
</ul>
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<img src="/images/homepage/pillat-logo-3.gif" alt="Philanthropist logo"
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<h3 style="margin:0 0 8px; font-size:clamp(16px,1.3vw,18px); color:#5b21b6;">Philanthropist Heritage
(Individual & Collective Projects)</h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 12px; color:#4c1d95; font-style:italic; font-size:clamp(13px,1.05vw,14px);">
“Honoring the people and missions that changed the world.”</p>

<p style="margin:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#312e81; font-size:clamp(14px,1.05vw,15px);">
This category highlights individuals, organizations, and community-driven initiatives
contributing to humanity's welfare and upliftment.
</p>

<ul style="text-align:left; margin-left:18px; line-height:1.6; font-size:clamp(13px,1.05vw,14px);">
<li>Individual Philanthropists</li>
<li>Humanitarian Organizations</li>
<li>Cultural & Educational Foundations</li>
<li>Environmental Nonprofits</li>
<li>Community Welfare Projects</li>
<li>Mixed Social Impact Initiatives</li>
</ul>
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<h3 style="margin:0 0 12px; font-size:clamp(18px,1.9vw,20px); color:black; text-align:center; background-color: #e1e1e3; padding-bottom: 5px;">Legacy</h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 12px; line-height:1.7; font-size:clamp(14px,1.1vw,16px); text-align: justify;">
<strong><a href="https://www.worldheritage.wiki"
style="text-decoration:none; color:inherit;">www.worldheritage.wiki</a> is not just a project
—</strong><br>
It is a global movement to preserve the essence of humanity. By integrating culture, nature, and
philanthropy, the platform stands as a timeless digital monument to our collective past, a guide for our
present, and an inspiration for future generations. WorldHeritage.wiki collaborates with governments,
cultural institutions, researchers, and global partners to build the world’s most comprehensive digital
heritage ecosystem.
</p>

<p style="margin:0; font-size:clamp(14px,1.05vw,15px);">
If you know of any such heritage site, please email:
<a href="mailto:secretariat@worldheritage.wiki"
style="color:#0b66c3; font-weight:700;">secretariat@worldheritage.wiki</a>
</p>
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<h3 style="padding:3px 7px; margin:8px 0; background-color:#CEDFF2; text-align:center;">Latest Update</h3>'''''BREAKING:''''' New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage List: Deepavali, #India. Congratulations! (Dec 10, 2025 )

== A Glowing Recognition: [[Deepavali]] Added to Intangible Cultural Heritage List ==
[[File:Deepavali UNESCO.jpg|center|frameless|900x900px|Deepavali UNESCO]]<blockquote>'''World Heritage Secretariat''' invites global nominations for the upcoming cycle of '''Heritage Site Recognition 2026'''</blockquote>[[File:World Heritage Nomination 2026.jpg|center|frameless|900x900px]]

== CALL FOR NOMINATIONS ==
Heritage Site Recognition – Cultural | Natural | Philanthropist******

'''World Heritage Secretariat''' invites global nominations for the upcoming cycle of '''Heritage Site Recognition 2026''', honouring places, initiatives, philanthropist and institutions that safeguard the legacy of humanity and the planet. This is an open call for governments, organizations, communities, scholars, custodians, and individuals to present exemplary heritage contributions from across the world.

=== Nomination Categories ===

==== 1. Cultural Heritage Sites ====
For landmarks, monuments, traditions, art forms, museums, historical structures, archaeological sites, indigenous cultures, and intangible cultural practices that preserve the identity and timeless wisdom of civilizations. '''e.g.- Butrint, Old Town of Lijiang, Sun Temple Konârak'''

==== 2. Natural Heritage Sites ====
For extraordinary landscapes, ecosystems, species habitats, biosphere zones, geological formations, water bodies, forests, and conservation zones that reflect nature’s irreplaceable value and global ecological importance. '''e.g.- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Dorset and East Devon Coast, Kaziranga National Park'''

==== 3. Philanthropist Heritage Initiatives ====
For individuals, trusts, foundations, and community-driven efforts that have significantly contributed to the conservation, revival, restoration, or promotion of culture, nature, or humanitarian heritage. This category recognizes people and organizations whose service itself is a legacy. '''e.g.- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Warren Buffett, Jamsetji Tata, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum'''
----

=== Who Can Nominate? ===
Governments, academic institutions, NGOs, heritage experts, community leaders, researchers, philanthropists, global citizens, and organizations working in culture, environment, or human development.
----

=== How to Apply ===
The World Heritage Secretariat undertakes independent, proactive research to identify, document, and preserve the world’s cultural, natural, and philanthropic heritage. However, we also recognize the vital role of responsible global citizens. Individuals who come across any significant heritage site or legacy are encouraged to share the information with us via email, ensuring that no treasure of humanity remains overlooked or unprotected.

'''''Submit your nomination with detailed documentation, photographs, background information, references, and supporting evidence.'''''

'''For nominations & queries:'''

'''Email:''' secretariat@worldheritage.wiki
----

=== Deadline : ===
Nominations are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submissions receive priority in evaluation.

|}
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<img src="/images/homepage/Google_2015_logo.svg-2.png" alt="World Heritage Centre logo" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; display:block;">
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<img src="/images/homepage/UNESCO-logo.png" alt="Google logo" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; display:block;">
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File:World Heritage Nomination 2026.jpg

2025-12-24T10:56:53Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

World Heritage Nomination 2026

Madara Rider

2025-12-16T19:29:01Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

{{HeritageLayout
|heading =Madara Rider
|intro =The Madara Rider, representing the figure of a knight triumphing over a lion, is carved into a 100-m-high cliff near the village of Madara in north-east Bulgaria. Madara was the principal sacred place of the First Bulgarian Empire before Bulgaria’s conversion to Christianity in the 9th century. The inscriptions beside the sculpture tell of events that occurred between AD 705 and 801.
|main =File:Madara Rider.jpg
|country =Bulgaria
|flag =File:Bulgaria.png
|date =1979
|Category =Cultural
|dossier =43bis
|index =WH102BU
|location =<html><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2904.7602094822887!2d27.116345275636334!3d43.277399176656324!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x40a58fc5722e651f%3A0xe33a2485fa8f1a1e!2sMadara%20Horseman!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1765913131055!5m2!1sen!2sin" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></html>
|disclaimer =The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
}}<gallery mode="packed">
File:Madara Rider1.jpg
File:Madara Rider2.jpg
File:Madara Rider3.jpg
File:Madara Rider4.jpg
File:Madara Rider5.jpg
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== '''Outstanding Universal Value''' ==

=== Brief synthesis ===
The Madara Rider is a unique relief, an exceptional work of art, created during the first years of the formation of the Bulgarian State, at the beginning of the 8th century. It is the only relief of its kind, having no parallel in Europe. It has survived in its authentic state, with no alternation in the past or the present.

It is outstanding not only as a work of Bulgarian sculpture, with its characteristically realist tendencies, but also as a piece of historical source material dating from the earliest years of the establishment of the Bulgarian state. The inscriptions around the relief are, in fact, a chronicle of important events concerning the reigns of very famous Khans: Tervel, Kormisos and Omurtag.

'''Criterion (i):''' The Madara Rider is an exceptional work of art dating from the beginning of the 8th century. It is the only relief of its kind, having no parallel in Europe.

'''Criterion (iii):''' The Madara Rider is outstanding not only as a work of the realist Bulgarian sculpture but also as a piece of historical source material from the earliest years of the Bulgarian state, since the inscriptions around the relief chronicle events in the reigns of famous Khans.

'''Integrity'''

The rock relief of the Madara Horseman encompass within its boundaries sufficient elements for its presentation. It lies within an archaeological reserve that includes other archaeological monuments, up to 2000 years old. The defined boundaries, and the protection zone, ensure the conservation of the property's surrounding.

Due to the uncertain stability of the supporting rock, the relief has a serious and enduring conservation problem, although changes in the integrity of the property are not significant. A combination of wind erosion, and surface water run-off from heavy rain and melting snow, together with biological coatings, is causing the rock to erode. The property has been subject to numerous archaeological, geodesic, geological, hydrological, static, seismograph, physical chemistry and, lately, microbiological research investigations. These exceptional research efforts have been incorporated into a database, the results of which have defined the parameters for immediate conservation interventions. In 2007 an international project, seeking solutions for the conservation of the relief, was concluded and an evaluation of proposed interventions is pending.

'''Authenticity'''

The form and design, location and setting, materials and substance, and spirit and feeling of the Madara Horseman relief have retained their authenticity.

'''Protection and management requirements'''

Management is implemented by virtue of:

- Cultural Heritage Law (Official Gazette No.19 of 2009) and subdelegated legislation. This law regulates the research, studying, protection and promotion of the immovable cultural heritage in Bulgaria, and the development of Conservation and Management plans for its inscribed World Heritage List of immovable cultural properties.

In addition, secondary legislation, issued by the Government in 1981 (Ordinance No. 22 on Protection of the Historical and Archaeological Reserves of Pliska, Preslav and Madara, promulgated in the Official Gazette No. 14 of 1981) also applies.

In order to ensure the conservation of the relief, there is a need to implement the proposed interventions drawn by the 2007 International project.

Madara Rider

2025-12-16T19:22:25Z

Wikipedia Foundation: Created page with "{{HeritageLayout |heading = |intro = |main = |country = |flag = |date = |Category = |dossier = |index = |location = |disclaimer = }}"

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File:Madara Rider5.jpg

2025-12-16T19:21:48Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

File:Madara Rider4.jpg

2025-12-16T19:21:37Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

File:Madara Rider3.jpg

2025-12-16T19:21:25Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

File:Madara Rider2.jpg

2025-12-16T19:21:13Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

File:Madara Rider1.jpg

2025-12-16T19:21:00Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

File:Madara Rider.jpg

2025-12-16T19:20:49Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

Boyana Church

2025-12-16T18:53:23Z

Wikipedia Foundation:

{{HeritageLayout
|heading =Boyana Church
|intro =Located on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana Church consists of three buildings. The eastern church was built in the 10th century, then enlarged at the beginning of the 13th century by Sebastocrator Kaloyan, who ordered a second two storey building to be erected next to it. The frescoes in this second church, painted in 1259, make it one of the most important collections of medieval paintings. The ensemble is completed by a third church, built at the beginning of the 19th century. This site is one of the most complete and perfectly preserved monuments of east European medieval art.
|main =File:Boyana Church.jpg
|country =Bulgaria
|flag =File:Bulgaria.png
|date =1979
|Category =Cultural
|dossier =42bis
|index =WH101BO
|location =<html><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2934.787867151305!2d23.26363157560154!3d42.6446569170748!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x40aa835e4285705d%3A0x1c6d9838c419ba63!2sBoyana%20Church!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1765911094952!5m2!1sen!2sin" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></html>
|disclaimer =The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
}}<gallery mode="packed">
File:Boyana Church1.jpg
File:Boyana Church2.jpg
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== '''Outstanding Universal Value''' ==

=== Brief synthesis ===
There are several layers of wall paintings in the interior from the 11th, 13th, 15-17th and 19th centuries which testify to the high level of wall painting during the different periods. The paintings with the most outstanding artistic value are those from 13th century. Whilst they interpret the Byzantine canon, the images have a special spiritual expressiveness and vitality and are painted in harmonious proportions.

'''Criterion (ii):''' From an architectural point of view, Boyana Church is a pure example of a church with a Greek cross ground-plan with dome, richly decorated facades and decoration of ceramic elements. It is one of the most remarkable medieval monuments with especially fine wall paintings.

'''Criterion (iii):''' The Boyana Church is composed of three parts, each built at a different period - 10 century, 13th century and 19th century which constitute a homogenous whole.

'''Integrity'''

The integrity of Boyana church is fully assured. In 1917 a park was created around the church, thereby securing its immediate surroundings through being separated from the impact of modern traffic. The property has also remained intact from historic invasions, and other destructive threats. Three separate zones are defined in the property boundaries and buffer zone, through which appropriate control measures are applied.

'''Authenticity'''

The concept, form and development of the three constructional phases of the property, from the 10th-11th; 13th; and 19th centuries, are clearly evident. Necessary conservation and restoration works have been completed. Where sufficient evidence existed, later façade renders have been removed to reveal the original appearance of walls.

To safeguard and present the internal 11th and 12th centuries fresco fragments, those from the 13th century, and the later 1882 additions in the antechamber, they were cleaned, refilled and conserved. This work was completed in 2008. The property is now air-conditioned, and under constant surveillance.

'''Protection and management requirements'''

The management is implemented by virtue of:

* Cultural Heritage Law (Official Gazette No 19 of 2009) and subdelegated legislation. This law regulates the research, studying, protection and promotion of the immovable cultural heritage in Bulgaria, and the development of Conservation and Management plans for its inscribed World Heritage List of immovable cultural properties.
* Instructions on the Protection and Preservation of the World Monument "Boyana Church" and its Protective Zone were adopted by Official Cover Letter No.RD-91-00-17, signed by the Chairman of the Culture Committee, and dated 10.08.1989. These Instructions are mandatory and set out the responsibilities of the interested parties, including the state, local institutions and owners.

Boyana Church

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Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda

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{{HeritageLayout
|heading =Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda
|intro =Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, the town’s history is linked to the sugar-cane industry. Rebuilt after being looted by the Dutch, its basic urban fabric dates from the 18th century. The harmonious balance between the buildings, gardens, 20 Baroque churches, convents and numerous small passos (chapels) all contribute to Olinda’s particular charm.
|main =File:Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda.jpg
|country =Brazil
|flag =File:Brazil.png
|date =1982
|Category =Cultural
|dossier =189
|index =WH102BR
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|disclaimer =The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
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== '''Outstanding Universal Value''' ==

=== Brief synthesis ===
The exceptional ensemble of landscape, urbanism and architecture found in the Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda is an eloquent reflection of the prosperity nourished by the sugar economy. Founded in 1535 on hillsides overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on Brazil’s northeast coast, close to the isthmus of Recife where its port is situated, Olinda served from the last years of the 16th century onward as one of the most important centres of the sugarcane industry, which for almost two centuries was the mainstay of the Brazilian economy. This former capital of the Portuguese administrative division (''capitania'') of Pernambuco became the symbol of sugar and of the wealth it procured. Its historic centre today is marked by a number of architecturally outstanding buildings set in the lush vegetation of gardens, hedgerows and convent precincts, a mass of greenery bathed in tropical light with the sandy shore and ocean below.

Rebuilt by the Portuguese after being looted and burned by the Dutch, Olinda’s existing historic fabric dates largely from the 18th century, although it incorporates some older monuments such as the 16th-century church of ''São João Batista dos Militares''. Olinda became a remarkable nucleus, first as an economic, architectural and artistic centre, and later as a centre for the renewal of ideas. The harmonious balance between its buildings, gardens, convents, numerous small ''passos'' (chapels) and about twenty baroque churches all contribute to the Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda’s particular charm. It is dominated by the ''Catedral Alto da Sé'', the former Jesuit church and college (now the church of ''Nossa Senhora da Graça''), the ''Palácio Episcopal'', the ''Misericórdia'' church, the convents of the Franciscans, Carmelites and Benedictines, and various public buildings ranging from the 17th to 19th centuries. The studied refinement of the decor of these architectural works contrasts with the charming simplicity of the houses, many of which are painted in vivid colours or faced with ceramic tiles. All are located in an informal web of streets and alleyways and set within a lush tropical forest landscape overlooking the ocean that differentiates this town and gives it its unique character.

'''Criterion (ii):''' The historic centre of Olinda contains a number of buildings that are outstanding from the point of view of both their architecture and decoration, including the ''Catedral Alto da Sé'', the church of ''Nossa Senhora da Graça'' and examples of civil architecture ranging from the 17th to 19th centuries. The lush vegetation of the roadsides, gardens, hedgerows and convent precincts all form a landscape in which the salient feature is the town nestling in a mass of greenery, bathed in tropical light, with the sandy shore and ocean below.

'''Criterion (iv):''' From the last years of the 16th century onward, Olinda served as one of the most important centres of the sugarcane industry, which for almost two centuries was the mainstay of the Brazilian economy, and became the symbol of sugar and of the wealth it procured. The exceptional ensemble of landscape, urbanism and architecture in Olinda’s historic centre is an eloquent reflection of the prosperity nourished by the sugar economy.

'''Integrity'''

Within the boundaries of the Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda are located all the elements necessary to express its Outstanding Universal Value, including its grand churches erected on the hilltops, imposing multi-storey structures and network of houses within a tree-covered landscape laid over an urban fabric delightfully moulded to the contours of the topography. The town’s 190.9-ha historic centre is of sufficient size to adequately ensure the complete representation of the features and processes that convey the property’s significance. The Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda does not suffer from adverse effects of development and/or neglect. Continued controls on the possible negative effects of urban development have been effectively maintained.

'''Authenticity'''

The Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda has a high degree of authenticity in terms of location and setting, forms and designs, and materials and substances. Its historical location and design, the materials employed in its construction and the predominance of its original residential character are reaffirmed in the oldest surviving document on Olinda, the Foral Charter (''Carta Foral''), which includes the city’s first “master plan,” and in Dutch cartography and the engravings of Frans Post (17th century). Its defining attributes remain fully intact, having been preserved in their essence and constituting an intelligible unit, whether taken as a whole or separately.

The authenticity of the property has been threatened by processes that have destabilised the hill slopes, including the centuries-long slow movement of the slopes, which has affected foundations and caused cracks in buildings; and, in recent years, rising water levels in the soil coupled with a poor or non-existent rainwater and sewage drainage system, the removal of vegetation, and the creation of unstable embankments and cuts for housing construction.

'''Protection and management requirements'''

The Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda is protected by instruments enacted through a series of specific standards and laws: inscriptions no. 412 in the ''Livro do Tombo Histórico'', no. 487 in the ''Livro do Tombo de Belas Artes'' and no. 044 in the ''Livro do Tombo Arqueológico, Etnográfico e Paisagístico'' in 1968 , designating the Historical Site of Olinda as a Brazilian cultural heritage site, implemented by the federal government through the ''Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional'' (National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage – IPHAN); Federal Notification of 1979, delimiting the protected site and surrounding areas; and the ''Sistema Municipal de Preservação'' (Municipal Preservation System), created by means of Municipal Law No. 4119/1979 and consisting of a Foundation, Council (composed of representatives of the municipal, state and federal governments) and Preservation Trust Fund. National Monument designation was conferred by the state in 1980, with a view to protecting the site’s physical assets in recognition of its history, art and landscape.

Various administrative and management instruments include a revised federal standard governing the preservation of heritage sites, issued in 1985; a municipal historic preservation law, drafted in 1992; and a review of the Municipal Preservation System, undertaken in 2010. The Monumenta Program and IPHAN have carried out urban renovation measures on a broad scale and facilitated the allocation of public funding to private properties for the purpose of preserving and restoring historical housing structures. The ''Plano de Ação para as Cidades Históricas'' (Action Plan for Historic Cities), launched by IPHAN in 2010, involves federal and state institutions to support the development, restoration and revitalization of historic cities in the country, among them the Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda.

Sustaining the Outstanding Universal Value of the property over time will require developing strategies and actions based on scientific analysis to eliminate or mitigate the processes that have destabilised the hill slopes; maintaining effective controls on the possible negative effects of urban development; and establishing monitoring indicators related to these and other future interventions, to ensure that such interventions do not have a negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value, authenticity and integrity of the property.

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Historic Town of Ouro Preto

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{{HeritageLayout
|heading =Historic Town of Ouro Preto
|intro =Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century. With the exhaustion of the gold mines in the 19th century, the city’s influence declined but many churches, bridges and fountains remain as a testimony to its past prosperity and the exceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho.
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|date =1980
|Category =Cultural
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|disclaimer =The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
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== '''Outstanding Universal Value''' ==

=== Brief synthesis ===
Founded in the early 18th century 513km north of Rio de Janeiro, the Historic Town of Ouro Preto (Black Gold) covers the steep slopes of the Vila Rica (Rich Valley), centre of a rich gold mining area and the capital of Minas Gerais Province from 1720-1897. Along the original winding road and within the irregular layout following the contours of the landscape lie squares, public buildings, residences, fountains, bridges and churches which together form an outstanding homogenous group exhibiting the fine curvilinear form of Baroque architecture.The Historic City of Ouro Preto was the symbolic center of the ''Inconfidência Mineira'' in 1789, a Brazilian independence movement, and home to exceptional artists responsible for many of the most significant works of the Brazilian Baroque period, including the Church of São Francisco of Assisi by the distinguished architect and sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa (Aleijadinho). The area’s isolation for the better part of the 19th and 20th centuries generated economic stagnation, fostering preservation of the original colonial constructions and urban pattern.

'''Criterion (i):''' Set in a remote and rugged landscape, the aesthetic quality of the vernacular and erudite architecture and irregular urban pattern of Ouro Preto makes the town a treasure of human genius. The most notable of the city’s architectural works are represented by the religious monuments and administrative buildings, including the Palácio dos Governadores (Governors’ Palace), today the School of Mines, and the former Casa de Câmara e Cadeia (Administrative and Prison House), home to the Inconfidência Museum. The Baroque churches carry sculptures by Antônio Francisco Lisboa, Aleijadinho, colonial Brazil’s greatest artist, and the ceiling paintings of Manuel da Costa Athaide among others. These were the representatives of the initial expressions of an artistic form deemed genuinely national and developed in a region marked by difficult access and a scarcity of materials and labor in the 18th century.

'''Criterion (iii):''' The built heritage of the Historic City of Ouro Preto bears exceptional testimony to the creative talents of a society built on pioneering mining wealth under Portuguese colonial rule. Although the architecture, paintings, and sculptures are based on underlying models introduced by Portuguese immigrants, the works vary significantly from the contemporary European art, not only with respect to their spatial conception, but in their decorative treatment, in particular the stone sculptures carved on the facades, distinctive for their originality and design and in the combined use of two materials, gneiss and soapstone. The absence of formal convents or monasteries, due to the edict of the Portuguese Crown which prohibited the establishment of religious orders in Minas Gerais, led to the construction of churches and chapels displaying the full splendor, quality, and originality of the syncretized artistic traditions of two cultures.

'''Integrity'''

The Historic Town of Ouro Preto retains its urban nucleus built in the colonial period, including the diversity of civic and religious buildings marked by refined aesthetic and architectural qualities that express Outstanding Universal Value. Not all of these are in a good state of conservation; some houses and churches suffer from neglect.

The historic town is vulnerable to urban growth, traffic, industrialization and tourist impact. The expansion of Ouro Preto to the surrounding hillsides, occupying geologically unstable terrains, green areas, archaeological areas, and public spaces, poses a threat of irreversible damage to the urban setting.

'''Authenticity'''

The relevant examples of religious and civic architecture and the accompanying works of art within Ouro Preto have been preserved in terms of form and design, materials and immediate setting. Controlled growth of the city’s surrounding areas and limits on the scale of new buildings have served to maintain the urban landscape of the 18th and 19th centuries within the property largely unaltered. In regard to the city’s residential and commercial constructions, inevitable modifications have been authorized while safeguarding the original facades. The preservation measures adopted by the Federal Government with the support of the local government, based on urban planning norms and successive conservation and recovery projects have ensured the authenticity of the cultural property.

'''Protection and management requirements'''

Since the 1930s, the Historic City of Ouro Preto has been targeted for protection through a series of government initiatives. The first involved Municipal Decrees 13 of 1931 and 25 of 1932 issued by Mayor João Velloso, which mandated the “preservation of the colonial façade.” A year later, President Getúlio Vargas designated the city a National Monument. Creation of the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Service (Serviço do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional – SPHAN), today the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional – IPHAN), and enactment of Decree-Law 25 of November 30, 1937, put in place the necessary legal instruments, which continue in effect to the present day, to ensure the protection of all cultural property determined to be of outstanding value to the nation. Based on the Decree, the Architectural and Urban Framework of Ouro Preto was formally entered in the Fine Arts Heritage Registry (Livro de Tombo de Belas Artes) on January 20, 1938.

Beginning in the 1950s, the city experienced significant expansion and a rise in heavy traffic flows in the light of the region’s emerging economic development, a direct consequence of intensified steel production and mining activities. In response, the Federal Government built a highway around the city named after SPHAN’s first director, Rodrigo Mello Franco de Andrade. A second measure implemented to protect the city from excessive vehicle traffic involved construction of a bus terminal on the outskirts of Ouro Preto to clear the central section of intra- and interstate and tourist buses. With a view to enhancing management of Ouro Preto’s cultural heritage, IPHAN opened a Technical Office in the city in the 1980s staffed with a multidisciplinary team of professionals. In the light of these measures, the Brazilian Government submitted an application to UNESCO requesting designation of Historic Town of Ouro Preto as a World Heritage Site. On September 5, 1980, the city became Brazil’s first cultural property entered on the World Heritage List. On September 15, 1986, IPHAN expanded the site’s heritage designation through inscription in the Historical Landmark Registry and the Archeological, Ethnographic and Landscape Registry.

In the 1990s, the Technical Advisory Group (Grupo de Assessoramento Técnico – GAT) was established, composed of technical experts representing IPHAN and the Municipal Government, in addition to other government agencies devoted to the city’s preservation efforts. The group developed a series of guidelines to control land use and occupation in the city center, officially referred to as the Special Protection Zone (Zona de Proteção Especial). These guidelines were formally consolidated in a specific IPHAN Directive issued in 2004.

Similarly, a set of regulations agreed to by the different levels of government served to reinforce the initial version of the Municipal Master Plan approved through Complementary Law 1 of December 19, 1996. Ten years later, the Master Plan was submitted to review and updated through a specific Complementary Municipal Law.

In addition to these legislative initiatives, the Municipality adopted a number of other measures to regulate urban land use, in particular through the introduction of model Architectural Projects based on “Community Design Plans” (“Plantas Populares”) for construction work within the Municipality of Ouro Preto, but outside the area entered on UNESCO’s Heritage List, and the establishment of the Municipal Public Engineering and Architectural Service (Serviço Municipal de Engenharia e Arquitetura Pública), tasked with providing low-income families with free public technical assistance on the design and oversight of social interest housing building projects.

With a view to strengthening shared management of the site, in 2006 the Municipality established the Municipal Secretariat of Urban Heritage and Development (Secretaria Municipal de Patrimônio e Desenvolvimento Urbano), an agency composed of a multidisciplinary team of professionals. The Secretariat provides support to the Municipal Cultural and Natural Heritage and Urban Policy Councils (Conselhos Municipais de Patrimônio Cultural e Natural e de Políticas Urbanas) and is financed through the Heritage Preservation Fund (Fundo de Preservação do Patrimônio).

In 2010, IPHAN issued rules setting forth criteria for the preservation of Ouro Preto’s Architectural and Urban Framework, regulating interventions in the federally protected area, and repealing, in the process, all previous regulations governing (includes the declared area) the related questions. Also in 2010, IPHAN issued two normative rules aimed at enhancing the city’s management: Directive 187 of June 11, 2010, governing the procedures for conducting investigations into alleged administrative violations involving conduct and acts which are deemed to be harmful to or damage the city’s cultural heritage structures, and Directive 420 of December 22, 2010, which sets out the procedures for authorizing interventions in protected heritage structures and the respective surrounding areas.

A number of challenges remain to ensure proper management of the city, enhance urban expansion planning through additional controls on the occupation of the surrounding hillsides, regulate general traffic planning in the urban zone surrounding the protected area, and effectively develop the area’s tourist-cultural potential, transforming the city into an international cultural destination, recognized for its rich cultural heritage.

The substitution of traditional materials and techniques with new ones and the occupation of open spaces at the back of existing lots and within the heart of the complex has been spurred by demands for new housing, a contributing factor for which has been the significant expansion of the Federal University and local Technical School. Measures have been taken at both the federal and municipal levels to stem this trend, an effort which has secured modest success to date.

Throughout the period described above, the Historic City of Ouro Preto has received significant investments aimed at conserving and restoring its cultural heritage and ensuring, in this way, the site’s perpetuation and use for current and future generations.

Historic Town of Ouro Preto

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Okavango Delta

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{{HeritageLayout
|heading =Okavango Delta
|intro =This delta in north-west Botswana comprises permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. It is one of the very few major interior delta systems that do not flow into a sea or ocean, with a wetland system that is almost intact. One of the unique characteristics of the site is that the annual flooding from the River Okavango occurs during the dry season, with the result that the native plants and animals have synchronized their biological cycles with these seasonal rains and floods. It is an exceptional example of the interaction between climatic, hydrological and biological processes. The Okavango Delta is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion.
|main =File:Okavango Delta.jpg
|country =Botswana
|flag =File:Botswana.png
|date =2014
|Category =Natural
|dossier =1432
|index =WH102BO
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|disclaimer =The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
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== '''Outstanding Universal Value''' ==

=== Brief synthesis ===
The Okavango Delta is a large low gradient alluvial fan or ‘Inland Delta’ located in north-western Botswana. The area includes permanent swamps which cover approximately 600,000 ha along with up to 1.2m ha of seasonally flooded grassland. The inscribed World Heritage property encompasses an area of 2,023,590 ha with a buffer zone of 2,286,630 ha. The Okavango Delta is one of a very few large inland delta systems without an outlet to the sea, known as an endorheic delta, its waters drain instead into the desert sands of the Kalahari Basin. It is Africa’s third largest alluvial fan and the continent’s largest endorheic delta. Furthermore it is in a near pristine state being a largely untransformed wetland system. The biota has uniquely adapted their growth and reproductive behaviour, particularly the flooded grassland biota, to be timed with the arrival of floodwater in the dry, winter season of Botswana.

The geology of the area, a part of the African Rift Valley System, has resulted in the ‘capture’ of the Okavango River that has formed the Delta and its extensive waterways, swamps, flooded grasslands and floodplains. The Okavango River, at 1,500kms, is the third largest in southern Africa. The Delta’s dynamic geomorphological history has a major effect on the hydrology, determining water flow direction, inundation and dehydration of large areas within the Delta system. The site is an outstanding example of the interplay between climatic, geomorphological, hydrological, and biological processes that drive and shape the system and of the manner in which the Okavango Delta’s plants and animals have adapted their lifecycles to the annual cycle of rains and flooding. Subsurface precipitation of calcite and amorphous silica is an important process in creating islands and habitat gradients that support diverse terrestrial and aquatic biota within a wide range of ecological niches.

'''Criterion (vii):''' Permanent crystal clear waters and dissolved nutrients transform the otherwise dry Kalahari Desert habitat into a scenic landscape of exceptional and rare beauty, and sustain an ecosystem of remarkable habitat and species diversity, thereby maintaining its ecological resilience and amazing natural phenomena. The annual flood-tide, which pulses through the wetland system every year, revitalizes ecosystems and is a critical life-force during the peak of the Botswana’s dry season (June/July). The Okavango Delta World Heritage property displays an extraordinary juxtaposition of a vibrant wetland in an arid landscape and the miraculous transformation of huge sandy, dry and brown depressions by winter season floods triggers spectacular wildlife displays: large herds of African Elephant, Buffalo, Red Lechwe, Zebra and other large animals splashing, playing, and drinking the clear waters of the Okavango having survived the dry autumn season or their weeks’ long migration across the Kalahari Desert.

'''Criterion (ix):''' The Okavango Delta World Heritage property is an outstanding example of the complexity, inter-dependence and interplay of climatic, geo-morphological, hydrological, and biological processes. The continuous transformation of geomorphic features such as islands, channels, river banks, flood plains, oxbow lakes and lagoons in turn influences the abiotic and biotic dynamics of the Delta including dryland grasslands and woodland habitats. The property exemplifies a number of ecological processes related to flood inundation, channelization, nutrient cycling and the associated biological processes of breeding, growth, migration, colonization and plant succession. These ecological processes provide a scientific benchmark to compare similar and human-impacted systems elsewhere and give insight into the long-term evolution of such wetland systems.

Criterion (x): The Okavango Delta World Heritage property sustains robust populations of some of the world’s most endangered large mammals such as Cheetah, white and black Rhinoceros, Wild Dog and Lion, all adapted to living in this wetland system. The Delta’s habitats are species rich with 1061 plants (belonging to 134 families and 530 genera), 89 fish, 64 reptiles, 482 species of birds and 130 species of mammals. The natural habitats of the nominated area are diverse and include permanent and seasonal rivers and lagoons, permanent swamps, seasonal and occasionally flooded grasslands, riparian forest, dry deciduous woodlands, and island communities. Each of these habitats has a distinct species composition comprising all the major classes of aquatic organisms, reptiles, birds and mammals. The Okavango Delta is further recognized as an Important Bird Area, harbouring 24 species of globally threatened birds, including among others, six species of Vulture, the Southern Ground-Hornbill, Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret. Thirty-three species of water birds occur in the Okavango Delta in numbers that exceed 0.5% of their global or regional population. Finally Botswana supports the world’s largest population of elephants, numbering around 130,000: the Okavango Delta is the core area for this species’ survival.

'''Integrity'''

The property covers most of the Delta, encompassing a vast area of over 2 millions ha of substantially undisturbed wetlands and seasonally flooded grasslands. It is of sufficient size to represent all of the delta’s main biophysical processes and features and support its communities of plant and animal species. Because of its vast size and difficult access the delta has never been subject to significant development and it remains in an almost pristine condition. Tourism to the inner Delta is limited to small, temporary tented camps with access by air. Facilities are carefully monitored for compliance with environmental standards and have minimal ecological impact. Most importantly, the source of the Okavango Delta’s waters in Angola and Namibia remain unaffected by any upstream dams or significant water abstraction and the three riparian states have established a protocol under the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) for the sustainable management of the entire river system. OKACOM has formally supported the inscription of the Okavango Delta on the World Heritage List. It is imperative that upstream environmental water flows remain unimpeded and that over abstraction of water, the building of dams and the development of agricultural irrigation systems do not impact on the sensitive hydrology of the property.

Concerns have been noted regarding fluctuating populations of large animals. Elephant numbers have been increasing whilst other species are reported as exhibiting significant declines. Data is variable, subject to different survey techniques and uncoordinated surveys undertaken by different institutions all contribute to an unclear picture of the Okavango Delta’s wildlife. Authorities have initiated efforts to establish a comprehensive and integrated wildlife monitoring system that can accurately track population size and trends for the entire property, however ongoing work is needed to realise this. Causes of decline are attributed to seasonal variability, poaching (for example of giraffe for meat) and veterinary cordon fencing used to manage animal sanitation and control the spread of disease between wildlife and domestic stock.

Mining activities including prospecting will not be permitted within the property. Furthermore, potential impacts from mining including concessions in the buffer zone and outside the buffer zone need to be carefully monitored and managed to avoid direct and indirect impacts to the property, including water pollution. The State Party should also work with State Parties upstream from the Delta to monitor any potential impacts, including from potential diamond mining in Angola, which could impact water flow or water quality in the Delta.

'''Protection and management requirements'''

The Okavango Delta comprises a mosaic of protected lands. About 40% of the property is protected within the Moremi Game Reserve, and the remainder is composed of 18 Wildlife Management Areas and a Controlled Hunting Areas managed by community trusts or private tourism concession-holders. Legal protection is afforded through Botswana’s Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act, 1992 and an associated Wildlife Conservation Policy. The Tribal Land Act of 1968 also applies to the property and the whole of the nominated area (and the buffer zone) is communally-owned Tribal Land under the control of the Tawana Land Board.

As noted above the underlying causes of wildlife population declines are not clear, but an imposed hunting ban will further strengthen conservation measures in the property. The State Party is encouraged to develop a coordinated and systematic wildlife monitoring programme to establish population baselines for key species and to track trends. Veterinary cordon fences are known to cause significant disruption to wildlife at individual, population and species levels. Most of the property’s core and buffer zones are free of veterinary cordon fencing and the location of site’s boundaries was guided by these considerations. However, the Southern Buffalo Fence defines the southern boundary of the World Heritage property and whilst damage has compromised its effectiveness in disease control, it acts as a locally known demarcation to stop cattle grazing within the property. The Northern Buffalo Fence, also within the alignment of the property buffer zone, is known to disrupt connectivity in particular for the region’s Roan and Sable Antelope populations. Veterinary fencing is recognised as a sensitive, multi-dimensional issue. The State Party is encouraged to continue efforts to rationalize fencing, removing it when its effectiveness for disease control has become questionable or where more holistic approaches to animal sanitation and disease control are possible.

Ongoing vigilance is critical to ensure mining developments do not adversely impact the property. Past mining prospecting licences have been extinguished, and will not be renewed or extended. No extractive activity is undertaken in the property, and no new licenses will be issued within the property. The State Party should implement rigorous environmental impact assessment procedures for mining activities outside the property but which have the potential to negatively impact on its Outstanding Universal Value, to avoid such impacts.

The Delta has been inhabited for centuries by small numbers of indigenous people, living a hunter-gatherer existence with different groups adapting their cultural identity and lifestyle to the exploitation of particular resources (e.g. fishing or hunting). This form of low-level subsistence use has had no significant impact on the ecological integrity of the area, and today mixed settlements of indigenous peoples and later immigrants to the area are located around the fringes of the delta, mostly outside the boundaries of the property. Continued special attention is needed to reinforce the recognition of the cultural heritage of indigenous inhabitants of the Delta region. Ongoing efforts should focus upon sensitively accommodating traditional subsistence uses and access rights consistent with the protection of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value. Efforts should centre on ensuring that indigenous peoples living in the property are included in all communication about the World Heritage status of the property and its implications, that their views are respected and integrated into management planning and implementation, and that they have access to benefits stemming from tourism.

The State Party is encouraged to address a range of other protection and management issues to improve integrity. These include enhanced governance mechanisms to empower stakeholders in the management of the property; the development of a property specific management plan which harmonizes with planning in the wider landscape; ensuring adequate staffing and funding to build the capacity of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks; and programmes to strengthen the control and elimination of invasive alien species from the property.

Okavango Delta

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Tsodilo

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{{HeritageLayout
|heading =Tsodilo
|intro =With one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world, Tsodilo has been called the ''Louvre of the Desert''. Over 4,500 paintings are preserved in an area of only 10 km2 of the Kalahari Desert. The archaeological record of the area gives a chronological account of human activities and environmental changes over at least 100,000 years. Local communities in this hostile environment respect Tsodilo as a place of worship frequented by ancestral spirits.
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|country =Botswana
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|date =2001
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|disclaimer =The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
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== '''Outstanding Universal Value''' ==

=== Brief synthesis ===
Located in north-west Botswana near the Namibian Border in Okavango Sub-District, the Tsodilo Hills are a small area of massive quartzite rock formations that rise from ancient sand dunes to the east and a dry fossil lake bed to the west in the Kalahari Desert. The Hills have provided shelter and other resources to people for over 100,000 years. It now retains a remarkable record, in its archaeology, its rock art, and its continuing traditions, not only of this use but also of the development of human culture and of a symbiotic nature/human relationship over many thousands of years.

The archaeological record of the site gives a chronological account of human activities and environmental changes over at least 100,000 years, although not continuously.

Often large and imposing rock paintings exist in the shelters and caves, and although not accurately dated appear to span from the Stone Age right through to the 19th century. In addition, within the site sediments, there is considerable information pertaining to the paleo-environment. This combination provides an insight into early ways of human life, and how people interacted with their environment both through time and space.

The local communities revere Tsodilo as a place of worship and as a home for ancestral spirits. Its water holes and hills are revered as a sacred cultural landscape, by the Hambukushu and San communities.

'''Criterion (i):''' For many thousands of years the rocky outcrops of Tsodilo in the harsh landscape of the Kalahari Desert have been visited and settled by humans, who have left rich traces of their presence in the form of outstanding rock art.

'''Criterion (iii):'''Tsodilo is a site that has witnessed visits and settlement by successive human communities for many millennia.

'''Criterion (vi):''' The Tsodilo outcrops have immense symbolic and religious significance for the human communities who continue to survive in this hostile environment.

'''Integrity'''

The boundaries contain all the main sites. Three basic long-term facts have contributed to Tsodilo’s outstanding state of preservation: its remoteness, its low population density, and the high degree of resistance to erosion of its quartzitic rock. The considerable archaeological evidence is generally well preserved. All excavations are controlled in accordance with the national legislation. Previous excavations have been properly backfilled and, in most instances, leaving intact deposits and strata as a resource for future research.

The property attracts increasing visitor numbers, resulting in the need to manage the threat of increased litter. Despite these increased visits, there have been limited reports of vandalism and graffiti due to the compulsive guided tour regulations put in place.

'''Authenticity'''

The authenticity of the rock art in terms of materials, techniques, setting and workmanship is impeccable and, other than some impact caused by natural deterioration and visitors, it remains as original as the time of its creation. Conservation work has been limited to preventive strategies without altering the art and its substrate.

The intangible values of the site continue to be practiced thereby authenticating them as sacred and relevant to local communities. This approach ensures their continued evolvement in line with traditional protection systems.

'''Protection and management requirements'''

The site owned by the Government is currently protected in terms of the Monuments & Relics Act 2001, and by conditions of the Anthropological Research Act 1967, National Parks Act 1967, and Tribal Act 1968.

Declared a National Monument in 1927, the responsibility for looking after Tsodilo Hills rests with the Department of National Museum and Monuments in collaboration with the Tsodilo Management Authority, an independent advisory group comprising the Tsodilo Community Trust, community based organizations, NGOs and selected critical government based Departments.

To ensure the conservation of all the site attributes, in 1997, a revised Integrated Management Plan was developed and approved by stakeholders. An Integrated management Plan detailing community initiatives was developed in 2007 and currently being implemented in the buffer area of the site. With the assistance of the African World Heritage Fund, a Core Area Management Plan was developed for the site in 2009.

The main objective of the previous and the current management plans is to ensure the conservation of the values of the site. In addition to the existing site office, and the Tsodilo Management Authority Trust, the Government has opened a regional Monument office to directly oversee the implementation of the management plan for the site.

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