WORLD HERITAGE POLICY COMPENDIUM

AN ONLINE CONSULTATION WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE WORLD HERITAGE

CENTRE IN ORDER TO GATHER FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT
POLICY COMPENDIUM FROM KEY WORLD HERITAGE STAKEHOLDERS IN LINE
WITH DECISION 40 COM 12. THE SURVEY CONTAINS A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF
THE DRAFT POLICY COMPENDIUM ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND
OPEN FIELDS FOR SPECIFIC COMMENTS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH A SEQUENCE OF DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE WORLD
HERITAGE COMMITTEE SINCE 2011 REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
CONSOLIDATED SOURCE OF WORLD HERITAGE POLICIES (35 COM 12B,
DECISION 37 COM 13, DECISION 40 COM 12), A COMPENDIUM OF POLICY FOR
THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION (‘POLICY COMPENDIUM’) IS CURRENTLY
UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

THE POLICY COMPENDIUM WILL AIM TO:

• PROVIDE A CONSOLIDATED SOURCE OF POLICY DECISIONS MADE UNDER
THE CONVENTION;

• IMPROVE DECISION-MAKING BY THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE AND

STATES PARTIES FOR THE BETTER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE
CONVENTION AND FOR THE CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION
OF WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES IN THE FUTURE;
• IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING BY STATES PARTIES SO THEY CAN BETTER
ADDRESS THE IDENTIFICATION, PROTECTION, CONSERVATION, PRESENTATION
AND TRANSMISSION OF CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION, AS WELL AS PREPARATION OF
NOMINATION FILES;
• FUNCTION AS A GUIDANCE TOOL CONTRIBUTING TO THE MANAGEMENT
BY THE STATES PARTIES OF WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES WHEN ADDRESSING,
FOR EXAMPLE, SUCH KEY CHALLENGES AS DISASTER RISK PREPAREDNESS,
CLIMATE CHANGE, HUMAN RIGHTS, ETC.

• ASSIST STATES PARTIES IN REVIEWING THEIR POLICIES, LEGAL SYSTEMS,

INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS RELATED TO
MANAGEMENT OF WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES;
• PROMOTE CAPACITY BUILDING OF STATES PARTIES FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION INCLUDING
STRONGER AWARENESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES TO WORLD HERITAGE CONSERVATION.

THEMES

GENERAL POLICIES REGARDING THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION

THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION, ADOPTED IN 1972, IS A LEGALLY BINDING
INSTRUMENT PROVIDING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL FRAMEWORK FOR
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND CONSERVATION
OF THE WORLD'S MOST OUTSTANDING NATURAL AND CULTURAL PROPERTIES.

THE CONVENTION SETS OUT THE DUTIES OF STATES PARTIES IN IDENTIFYING

POTENTIAL SITES AND THEIR ROLE IN PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THEM. BY
RATIFYING THE CONVENTION, EACH COUNTRY ENTERS IN A SYSTEM OF
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO PROTECT THE WORLD CULTURAL AND
NATURAL HERITAGE AND PLEDGES TO CONSERVE THE WORLD HERITAGE SITES
SITUATED ON ITS TERRITORY. THE STATES PARTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO
INTEGRATE THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE INTO
REGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAMMES, SET UP STAFF AND SERVICES AT THEIR
SITES, UNDERTAKE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CONSERVATION RESEARCH AND
ADOPT MEASURES THAT GIVE THIS HERITAGE A FUNCTION IN COMMUNITY DAY-
TO-DAY LIFE.
THE GENERAL POLICIES OF THE CONVENTION THEME INCLUDES POLICIES
RELATED TO THE OVERARCHING FRAMEWORK OF THE CONVENTION; THE LINKS
WITH OTHER STANDARD-SETTING INSTRUMENTS, COOPERATION AMONG STATES
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

CREDIBILITY
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE LIST REFERS TO IT AS A REPRESENTATIVE AND
GEOGRAPHICALLY BALANCED TESTIMONY OF CULTURAL AND NATURAL
PROPERTIES OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE.
THE CREDIBILITY THEME INCLUDES POLICIES RELATED TO THE WORLD HERITAGE
LIST, SUCH AS NOMINATIONS, OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE, TENTATIVE LISTS,
THE UPSTREAM PROCESS, THE GLOBAL STRATEGY OR TYPE OF PROPERTY,
AMONG OTHERS.

CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE IS AT THE CORE OF THE
CONVENTION. CONSERVATION INCLUDES EFFECTIVE AND ACTIVE MEASURES
THAT CAN BE TAKEN BY STATES PARTIES TO ENSURE THE IDENTIFICATION,
PROTECTION, PRESENTATION AND TRANSMISSION OF HERITAGE.

CONSERVATION OF NATURAL HERITAGE REFERS TO THE PROTECTION, CARE,

MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF ECOSYSTEMS, HABITATS, WILDLIFE
SPECIES AND POPULATIONS, WITHIN OR OUTSIDE OF THEIR NATURAL
ENVIRONMENTS, IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD THE NATURAL CONDITIONS FOR
THEIR LONG-TERM PERMANENCE (IUCN).

THE CONSERVATION THEME INCLUDES POLICIES RELATED TO PROTECTION,

MANAGEMENT, MONITORING, IMPACT ASSESSMENTS, FACTORS AFFECTING THE
PROPERTIES, TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
CAPACITY-BUILDING
CAPACITY-BUILDING – WHETHER OF PRACTITIONERS, INSTITUTIONS OR
COMMUNITIES AND NETWORKS – IS SEEN AS A FORM OF PEOPLE-CENTRED
CHANGE THAT ENTAILS WORKING WITH GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPROACHES TO MANAGING HERITAGE.
CAPACITY-BUILDING IN THE WORLD HERITAGE FRAMEWORK CAN ENCOMPASS
THE STRENGTHENING OF KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, SKILLS AND BEHAVIOUR OF
PEOPLE WITH DIRECT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND
MANAGEMENT. IT CAN IMPROVE INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES
THROUGH EMPOWERING DECISION-MAKERS AND POLICY-MAKERS, AND CAN
INTRODUCE A MORE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HERITAGE AND ITS
CONTEXT AND, IN TURN, GREATER RECIPROCAL BENEFITS BY USING A MORE
INCLUSIVE APPROACH, AND IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES A SUSTAINABLE
APPROACH TO MISSIONS AND GOALS.
THE CAPACITY-BUILDING THEME INCLUDES POLICY RELATED TO CAPACITY-
BUILDING FOR THE CONVENTION, INCLUDING THE CAPACITY BUILDING
STRATEGY.

COMMUNICATION
THE PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES SHOULD,
AS SET OUT IN THE CONVENTION TEXT, INCREASE PEOPLE’S AWARENESS,
UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE NEED TO PRESERVE CULTURAL
AND NATURAL HERITAGE, ENSURING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS UNDERSTAND
THE VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HERITAGE AND HELPING TO INCREASE
STAKEHOLDERS’ PARTICIPATION IN THE PROTECTION AND PRESENTATION OF
HERITAGE.
THE COMMUNICATION THEME INCLUDES POLICIES RELATED TO EDUCATION,
AWARENESS RAISING, INTERPRETATION AND USE OF THE WORLD HERITAGE
EMBLEM.

COMMUNITIES
ONE OF THE CENTRAL OBJECTIVES OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION IS TO
ENHANCE THE ROLE OF COMMUNITIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CONVENTION AND TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF THE LOCAL
POPULATION AND DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PRESERVATION OF THEIR
CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE. IN ADDITION, THE CONVENTION ASKS EACH
STATE PARTY ‘TO ADOPT A GENERAL POLICY WHICH AIMS TO GIVE THE
CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE A FUNCTION IN THE LIFE OF THE
COMMUNITY.

THE THEME OF COMMUNITIES INCLUDES POLICIES RELATED TO THE

PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, HUMAN
RIGHTS AND A RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH, GENDER, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES,
YOUTH, AND FOSTERING OF PEACE AND SECURITY.

OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE OF WORLD

HERITAGE
SITES AND FACTORS AFFECTING IT

OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE MEANS CULTURAL AND/OR NATURAL

SIGNIFICANCE WHICH IS SO EXCEPTIONAL AS TO TRANSCEND NATIONAL
BOUNDARIES AND TO BE OF COMMON IMPORTANCE FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS OF ALL HUMANITY. AS SUCH, THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF
THIS HERITAGE IS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE TO THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THE COMMITTEE DEFINES THE CRITERIA FOR THE
INSCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST.
ACCORDING TO THE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES, ‘THE STATEMENT OF
OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE SHALL BE THE BASIS FOR THE FUTURE
PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY’.

STATEMENTS OF OUV AIM TO PROVIDE A CLEAR, SHARED, UNDERSTANDING OF

THE REASONS FOR WORLD HERITAGE INSCRIPTION AND OF WHAT NEEDS
MANAGING IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN OUV FOR THE LONG TERM.

TO BE INCLUDED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST, SITES MUST BE OF OUTSTANDING

UNIVERSAL VALUE AND MEET AT LEAST ONE OUT OF TEN SELECTION CRITERIA.
THESE CRITERIA ARE EXPLAINED IN THE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION WHICH, BESIDES THE
TEXT OF THE CONVENTION, IS THE MAIN WORKING TOOL ON WORLD HERITAGE.
THE CRITERIA ARE REGULARLY REVISED BY THE COMMITTEE TO REFLECT THE
EVOLUTION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONCEPT ITSELF.

SELECTION CRITERIA
(I) TO REPRESENT A MASTERPIECE OF HUMAN CREATIVE GENIUS;
(II) TO EXHIBIT AN IMPORTANT INTERCHANGE OF HUMAN VALUES, OVER A SPAN
OF TIME OR WITHIN A CULTURAL AREA OF THE WORLD, ON DEVELOPMENTS IN
ARCHITECTURE OR TECHNOLOGY, MONUMENTAL ARTS, TOWN-PLANNING OR
LANDSCAPE DESIGN;

(III) TO BEAR A UNIQUE OR AT LEAST EXCEPTIONAL TESTIMONY TO A CULTURAL

TRADITION OR TO A CIVILIZATION WHICH IS LIVING OR WHICH HAS
DISAPPEARED;

(IV) TO BE AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF A TYPE OF BUILDING, ARCHITECTURAL

OR TECHNOLOGICAL ENSEMBLE OR LANDSCAPE WHICH ILLUSTRATES (A)
SIGNIFICANT STAGE(S) IN HUMAN HISTORY;

(V) TO BE AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF A TRADITIONAL HUMAN SETTLEMENT,

LAND-USE, OR SEA-USE WHICH IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A CULTURE (OR CULTURES),
OR HUMAN INTERACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS
BECOME VULNERABLE UNDER THE IMPACT OF IRREVERSIBLE CHANGE;
(VI) TO BE DIRECTLY OR TANGIBLY ASSOCIATED WITH EVENTS OR LIVING
TRADITIONS, WITH IDEAS, OR WITH BELIEFS, WITH ARTISTIC AND LITERARY WORKS
OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL SIGNIFICANCE.

(VII) TO CONTAIN SUPERLATIVE NATURAL PHENOMENA OR AREAS OF

EXCEPTIONAL NATURAL BEAUTY AND AESTHETIC IMPORTANCE;
(VIII) TO BE OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES REPRESENTING MAJOR STAGES OF EARTH'S
HISTORY, INCLUDING THE RECORD OF LIFE, SIGNIFICANT ON-GOING
GEOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANDFORMS, OR
SIGNIFICANT GEOMORPHIC OR PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES;
(IX) TO BE OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES REPRESENTING SIGNIFICANT ON-GOING
ECOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN THE EVOLUTION AND
DEVELOPMENT OF TERRESTRIAL, FRESH WATER, COASTAL AND MARINE
ECOSYSTEMS AND COMMUNITIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS;
(X) TO CONTAIN THE MOST IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT NATURAL HABITATS
FOR IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, INCLUDING THOSE
CONTAINING THREATENED SPECIES OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE FROM
THE POINT OF VIEW OF SCIENCE OR CONSERVATION.

LIST OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROPERTIES

WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE REVISION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE OF THE

PERIODIC REPORTING EXERCISE (SECTION II) IN 2008, THE WORLD HERITAGE
COMMITTEE ADOPTED A STANDARD LIST OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE
OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE OF WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES.
THIS LIST WAS ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING A 2-YEAR CONSULTATION PROCESS
WITH EXPERTS IN BOTH FIELDS OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. IT
CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF 14 PRIMARY FACTORS, ENCOMPASSING EACH A
NUMBER OF SECONDARY FACTORS.

1. BUILDINGS AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING INTERPRETATIVE AND VISITATION
FACILITIES
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MAJOR VISITOR ACCOMMODATION

AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE

2. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
GROUND TRANSPORT EFFECTS ARISING FROM USE OF
INFRASTRUCTURE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
AIR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE UNDERGROUND TRANSPORT
INFRASTRUCTURE
MARINE TRANSPORT
INFRASTRUCTURE

3. UTILITIES OR SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE

DEVELOPMENTS IN RELATION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ENERGY
NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES
UTILITIES (I.E. GAS, ELECTRICITY AND
WATER) AND OTHER SERVICE LOCALISED UTILITIES
REQUIREMENTS
MAJOR LINEAR UTILITIES
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
4. POLLUTION

ALL TYPES OF POLLUTION SURFACE WATER POLLUTION

(RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL) AS
AIR POLLUTION
WELL AS GARBAGE, SOLID WASTE.
SOLID WASTE
POLLUTION OF MARINE WATERS
INPUT OF EXCESS ENERGY
GROUND WATER POLLUTION
5. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE USE/MODIFICATION
THE COLLECTING/HARVESTING OF SUBSISTENCE WILD PLANT
WILD PLANTS AND ANIMALS COLLECTION
(FORESTRY, FISHING, HUNTING AND
USE THIS QUESTION FOR INDIGENOUS
GATHERING) AND HARVESTING
SUBSISTENCE HUNTING, GATHERING
DOMESTICATED SPECIES
AND COLLECTING, I.E. NOT FOR
(SILVICULTURE, AGRICULTURE AND
ECONOMIC BENEFIT
AQUACULTURE)
COMMERCIAL HUNTING
FISHING/COLLECTING AQUATIC
RESOURCES SUBSISTENCE, I.E. NOT FOR
ECONOMIC BENEFIT, HUNTING. USE
AQUACULTURE
“INDIGENOUS HUNTING,
LAND CONVERSION GATHERING AND COLLECTING” TO
INDICATE FACTORS RELATING
LIVESTOCK FARMING/GRAZING OF
SPECIFICALLY TO INDIGENOUS
DOMESTICATED ANIMALS
HUNTING, GATHERING AND
CROP PRODUCTION COLLECTING

COMMERCIAL WILD PLANT FORESTRY /WOOD PRODUCTION

COLLECTION

6. PHYSICAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION

PHYSICAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION QUARRYING

IF ILLEGAL SEE “OTHER HUMAN OIL AND GAS

ACTIVITIES”
WATER EXTRACTION
MINING

7. LOCAL CONDITIONS AFFECTING PHYSICAL FABRIC

ENVIRONMENTAL OR BIOLOGICAL USE “CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEVERE
FACTORS THAT PROMOTE OR WEATHER EVENTS” FOR SEVERE
CONTRIBUTE TO DETERIORATION WEATHER, INCLUDING FLOODING.
PROCESSES OF THE FABRIC OF
FOR TOURISM ACTIVITIES “IMPACTS
HERITAGE SITES. SINCE EFFECTS OF
OF TOURISM/VISITOR/RECREATION”.
DECAY CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO A
SINGLE FACTOR, CONSIDER ALL WIND
ELEMENTS.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
USE “AIR POLLUTION” FOR AIR
TEMPERATURE
POLLUTION.
RADIATION/LIGHT

DUST
WATER (RAIN/WATER TABLE) MICRO-ORGANISMS
PESTS

8. SOCIAL/CULTURAL USES OF HERITAGE

SOCIAL FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO DETERIORATION PROCESSES OF THE

FABRIC OF HERITAGE SITES. SOME USES MIGHT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT AS THEY
ENHANCE CERTAIN VALUES (E.G. RITUAL, RELIGIOUS) WHILE OTHERS MIGHT
COMPROMISE ASCRIBED VALUES AND COULD LEAD TO THE DETERIORATION OF
THE HERITAGE SITE.
RITUAL/SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS AND CHANGES IN TRADITIONAL WAYS OF
ASSOCIATIVE USES LIFE AND KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM
SOCIETY'S VALUING OF HERITAGE IDENTITY, SOCIAL COHESION,
CHANGES IN LOCAL POPULATION
INDIGENOUS HUNTING, GATHERING
AND COMMUNITY
AND COLLECTING
IMPACTS OF
TOURISM/VISITOR/RECREATION
9. OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES

NOTE USE “SOCIAL/CULTURAL USES OF HERITAGE” FOR IMPACTS ON LOCAL

COMMUNITIES
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES WAR

DELIBERATE DESTRUCTION OF TERRORISM

HERITAGE
CIVIL UNREST
MILITARY TRAINING

10. CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS

STORMS CHANGES TO OCEANIC WATERS

FLOODING TEMPERATURE CHANGE
DROUGHT OTHER CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

DESERTIFICATION

11. SUDDEN ECOLOGICAL OR GEOLOGICAL EVENTS

VOLCANIC ERUPTION EARTHQUAKE
TSUNAMI/TIDAL WAVE
AVALANCHE / LANDSLIDE
EROSION
SILTATION/DEPOSITION
FIRE (WILDFIRES)
FOR HUMAN-INDUCED FIRES, SEE
“OTHER THREATS” BELOW
AND

12. INVASIVE/ALIEN SPECIES OR HYPER-ABUNDANT SPECIES

TRANSLOCATED SPECIES HYPER-ABUNDANT SPECIES
INVASIVE / ALIEN FRESHWATER NATURALLY OCCURRING SPECIES
SPECIES IMPACTING ECOSYSTEM BY VIRTUE
OF ECOLOGICAL IMBALANCE
INVASIVE/ALIEN MARINE SPECIES
MODIFIED GENETIC MATERIAL

13. MANAGEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS

MANAGEMENT HIGH IMPACT

SYSTEM/MANAGEMENT PLAN RESEARCH/MONITORING ACTIVITIES
LEGAL FRAMEWORK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

LOW IMPACT FINANCIAL RESOURCES

RESEARCH/MONITORING ACTIVITIES
HUMAN RESOURCES
GOVERNANCE

14. OTHER FACTOR(S)

ANY ADDITIONAL FACTOR NOT ALREADY COVERED BY THE LIST ABOVE.

CULTURAL PROPERTY
“CULTURAL PROPERTY” SHALL REFER TO ALL PRODUCTS OF HUMAN CREATIVITY
BY WHICH A PEOPLE AND A NATION REVEAL THEIR IDENTITY, INCLUDING
CHURCHES, MOSQUES AND OTHER PLACES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, SCHOOLS
AND NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS AND SITES, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATELY-
OWNED, MOVABLE OR IMMOVABLE, AND TANGIBLE OR INTANGIBLE.

AMONG THE OTHER SALIENT AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL CULTURAL

HERITAGE ACT OF 2009 INCLUDE THE CATEGORIZATION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY
AND NATURAL PROPERTY OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE INTO THREE (3) GRADE
LEVELS, NAMELY, GRADE I LEVEL, GRADE II LEVEL, AND GRADE III LEVEL, AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PHILIPPINE REGISTRY OF HERITAGE WHERE ALL CULTURAL
PROPERTIES AND NATURAL PROPERTIES OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE SHALL BE
REGISTERED. HOWEVER, INFORMATION ON REGISTERED CULTURAL PROPERTIES
AND NATURAL PROPERTIES OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE WHICH ARE PRIVATELY-
OWNED SHALL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH R.A. NO. 10173
OR “THE DATA PRIVACY ACT OF 2012”.

THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE DECLARED AS GRADE I LEVEL:

(A) WORLD HERITAGE SITES; (B) NATIONAL CULTURAL TREASURES; (C) NATIONAL
HISTORICA L LANDMARKS; (D) NATIONAL HISTORICAL SHRINES; AND, (E)
NATIONAL HISTORICAL MONUMENTS.

THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE DECLARED AS GRADE II LEVEL:

(A) IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTIES;

GRADE III CULTURAL PROPERTY - ALL OTHER CULTURAL PROPERTY IN THE

REGISTRY OF CULTURAL PROPERTY NOT DECLARED AS GRADES I OR II SHALL BE
GRADE III CULTURAL PROPERTY DEEMED- IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY,
UNLESS OTHERWISE DELISTED.
UNCATEGORIZED PROPERTY - UNDECLARED PROPERTY NOT FALLING UNDER THE
PRESUMPTION OF IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY, BUT CONTAINS
CHARACTERISTICS THAT WILL QUALIFY THEM AS SUCH SHALL BE REGISTERED IN
THE PHILIPPINE REGISTRY OF CULTURAL PROPERTY.

CULTURAL PROPERTY CONSIDERED IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY - FOR

PURPOSES OF PROTECTING A CULTURAL PROPERTY AGAINST EXPORTATION,
MODIFICATION OR DEMOLITION, THE FOLLOWING WORKS SHALL BE
CONSIDERED IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY:
WORKS BY A MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN - WORKS BY DECEASED MANLILIKHA NG
BAYAN AWARDEES SHALL BE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY,
UNLESS DECLARED OR ITS PRESUMPTION REMOVED BY THE COMMISSION.
WORKS BY NATIONAL ARTISTS - WORKS BY DECEASED NATIONAL ARTISTS SHALL
BE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY, UNLESS DECLARED OR ITS
PRESUMPTION REMOVED BY THE COMMISSION.

ARCHEOLOGICAL, TRADITIONAL, ETHNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL - UNLESS

DECLARED OR ITS PRESUMPTION REMOVED BY THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, ALL
ARCHEOLOGICAL AND TRADITIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS SHALL BE
CONSIDERED IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY.
WORKS AND STRUCTURES - UNLESS DECLARED OR ITS PRESUMPTION REMOVED
BY THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES, WORKS OF
NATIONAL HEROES, MOVABLE OR IMMOVABLE STRUCTURES MARKED BY THE
NHCP OR ANY OF ITS PREDECESSOR AGENCIES OR STRUCTURES AT LEAST FIFTY
(50) YEARS OLD, SHALL BE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY.

ARCHIVAL MATERIALS OR DOCUMENTS - UNLESS DECLARED OR ITS

PRESUMPTION REMOVED BY THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, ARCHIVAL MATERIALS
OR DOCUMENTS AT LEAST FIFTY (50) YEARS OLD SHALL BE CONSIDERED
IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY.
RARE BOOKS AND INCUNABULA - UNLESS DECLARED OR ITS PRESUMPTION
REMOVED BY THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF THE PHILIPPINES, RAREBOOKS, SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS, AND INCUNABULA SHALL BE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT
CULTURAL PROPERTY.