Iran, too, as one of the world’s oldest major civilizations that has many wonderful cultural & historical attractions; joined the UNESCO World Heritage Convention on Feb 1979, and in the same year Persepolis, Tchogha Zanbil, and Meidan Emam were registered in UNESCO World Heritage List.
After that, Takht-e Soleyman in 2003, Pasargadae & Bam with its Cultural Landscape in 2004, Soltaniyeh in 2005, Bisotun in 2006, Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran in 2008, Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System in 2009, Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex &Sheikh Safi al-din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil in 2010, The Persian Garden in 2011 and Gonbad-e Qabus & Masjed-e Jame of Isfahan in 2012 were added to this list. Furthermore, about 54 properties of Iran such as shush, Susa, tape sialk, naghsh-e Rostam & naghsh-e Rajab have been submitted on the tentative list.
UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a particular agency of the UN that was founded on November 16, 1945, with the aim of establishing peace and security, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication, and information by promoting Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture and Communication.
It has 195 member states, 8 associated with five main programs that are education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information.
It also has acted as a sponsor for several Projects literacy, technical, and teacher-training programs; international science programs; regional and cultural history projects; the promotion of cultural diversity; international cooperation agreements to secure the world’s cultural and natural heritage (World Heritage Sites) are some of them.
The World Heritage Convention was held in 1972 with the aim of protecting World Cultural and Natural Heritage and in 1992 a center was established within UNESCO for coordinating a program in which a list of places like a forest, mountains, lakes, deserts, monuments, building, complex, or city is prepared and announced as special cultural or physical significance that international community interested in preserving them. The places that are included in this list are called “world heritage”.
This committee is composed of 21 state parties and is the focal point for all matters related to maintaining the World Heritage. These state parties are Algeria, Cambodia, Colombia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Iraq, Japan, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Qatar, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
As of 2012, 745 cultural, 188 natural, and 29 mixed properties, in 157 states (total of 962 world heritage sites) are listed and Italy with 47 sites is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites, then Spain with 44 and China with 43 sites have the second and third rank.
This committee provides advice to States Parties in the preparation of site nominations, organizes international assistance from the World Heritage Fund upon request, and coordinates both the reporting on the condition of sites and the emergency action undertaken when a site is threatened. The Center also organizes technical seminars and workshops, updates the World Heritage List and database develops teaching materials to raise awareness among young people of the need for heritage preservation, and keeps the public informed of World Heritage issues.
What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. UNESCO has a broad program active in preserving World Heritage sites. For the past 40 years, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention has conserved, protected, and presented the Outstanding Universal Value of our shared heritage. World Heritage properties are important travel destinations that if managed properly, have a great potential impact on local economic development and long-term sustainability.
Iran, too, as one of the world’s oldest major civilizations that has many wonderful cultural & historical attractions; joined the UNESCO World Heritage Convention on Feb 1979, and in the same year Persepolis, Tchogha Zanbil, and Meidan Emam were registered in UNESCO World Heritage List.
After that, Takht-e Soleyman in 2003, Pasargadae & Bam with its Cultural Landscape in 2004, Soltaniyeh in 2005, Bisotun in 2006, Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran in 2008, Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System in 2009, Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex &Sheikh Safi al-din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil in 2010, The Persian Garden in 2011 and Gonbad-e Qabus & Masjed-e Jame of Isfahan in 2012 were added to this list. Furthermore, about 54 properties of Iran such as shush, Susa, tape sialk, naghsh-e Rostam & naghsh-e Rajab have been submitted on the tentative list.
Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today
Naqsh-e jahan square isfahan
Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage is both irreplaceable sources of life and irrespective of their territories, belongs to all the peoples of the world.
Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran (2008)
Bisotun (2006)
Cultural Landscape of Maymand (2015)
Golestan Palace (2013)
Gonbad-e Qābus (2012)
Historic City of Yazd (2017)
Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan (2012)
Meidan Emam, Esfahan (1979)
Pasargadae (2004)
Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region (2018)
Shahr-E Sokhta (2014)
Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil (2010)
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (2009)
Soltaniyeh (2005)
Susa (2015)
Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (2010)
Takht-e Soleyman (2003)
Tchogha Zanbil (1979)
The Persian Garden (2011)
The Persian Qanat (2016)
Natural (2)
Hyrcanian Forests (2019)
Lut Desert (2016)