World Heritage

Labeled with the hashtag #Unite4Heritage, the 2,260 delegates from 160 countries passed a resolution at the beginning of the 39th World Heritage Committee session to protect and maintain World Heritage Sites that are under threat. They condemned the "barbaric attacks, violence and crimes" that have been committed recently by the "IS" and expressed deep concern over the terrorist threat to Syria's antique city of Palmyra. "That sent a clear message that such acts of terrorism are war crimes," UNESCO World Heritage Chairwoman Maria Böhmer told DW.

But can a campaign have an impact against the "IS"? UNESCO can't send troops to Syria or Iraq to protect World Heritage. But it can recommend that countries outlaw the trade of endangered cultural goods, which the UN did in May. In Germany, cultural protection laws are currently being redrafted.

"That means that in the future a cultural good can only be allowed into the country with permission from the country it comes from," explained Böhmer. She added that one lesson that's been learned from "IS" damage to cultural heritage is that the authorities in the affected countries must be strengthened, "so that they're not simply frozen until the terrorists do damage."

A cultural good that can be transported should be brought to safety when possible, said Böhmer. But even in the case of destruction, many cultural sites have been documented so that they can be reconstructed in the future. "We have said very clearly that we will support countries that are threatened by cultural destruction, whether due to terrorism or natural catastrophes," emphasized Böhmer.

A matter of money

That, of course, takes money. But the UNESCO World Heritage Committee doesn't decide budget issues - they are left to the UNESCO General Assembly, which has allocated around $5 million to World Heritage. One of the main points of criticism brought up at this year's conference is that roughly 75 percent of this budget is spent on evaluating the sites nominated for the World Heritage List, as well as the Endangered List. A mere quarter is left over for protection measures, including the support of local players.

The need for increased heritage protection on location became clear in the case of ancient manuscripts in Bamako, Mali, which were smuggled out of the country when armed troops arrived in 2012. The rescuers of the manuscripts were able to give a positive report about reconstruction in Mali following the destruction by Boko Haram. However, representatives from Mali were vocal about saying the help promised by UNESCO was not sufficient. For Nepal, which was mentioned in the official Bonn resolution, no clear budget has been set since the World Heritage Committee doesn't deal with financial matters.

According to World Heritage Watch, an independent non-governmental organization that works together with UNESCO, UNESCO continues to be chronically underfinanced. "Other than appeals, we haven't heard anything about how this lack of funding will be solved," said WHW Chairman Stephan Dömpke on Tuesday in Berlin.

Spectrum of new sites

Of the 36 nominated sites, 24 have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List this year. Italy now boasts the most sites of any country, with 50. Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale have just been added. Other freshly crowned sites include the Necropolis of Beit She'arim in Israel as a symbol of Jewish renewal and the Forth Bridge in Scotland as the longest cantilever railway bridge in the world.

Germany also celebrated its 40th site: the Speicherstadt warehouse district in Hamburg and the adjacent quarter, Kontorhausviertel. The Naumburger Cathedral was nominated, but not selected. "I hope it will be added next time or the time after next," commented Böhmer. World Heritage Watch holds a different opinion, though: They have appealed to Germany's state and federal governments to refrain from nominations for at least five years and instead invest money in helping poorer countries with their nominations.

But not all the winners were in Europe this year. Jamaica garnered a double title, which its Blue and John Crow Mountains being listed as both Natural and Cultural Heritage sites. The mountain range is home to a number of endangered species, and was also home of the Windward Maroons, who played an important role in the fight against slavery.

Africa, however, remains underrepresented on the World Heritage list and did not receive a single new title this year. "We need more partnerships concerning Africa - more transfer of knowledge, but also financial support," admitted Maria Böhmer, adding that the nomination process has become much more difficult. "In the past, just a few pages were enough for a nomination, but now they have to submit volumes."

Asia took home quite a few titles this year, including the ensemble of 23 industrial sites in Japan, which were highly controversial ahead of the conference because it was at the location in question that Japan forced South Korean laborers to toil during World War II. In Bonn, Japanese representatives admitted for the very first time that forced labor had taken place, and committed to commemorate the victims at the site.

Compromise and responsibility

Compromise was also found in the case of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The world's largest coral reef system has lost as much as half of its coral in the past 30 years, but was not added to the list of Endangered World Heritage. Instead Australia has committed to present a protection report by next year, outlining measures taken to preserve the reef.

"It's not enough to be happy about it being left on the list," said Böhmer. "Now it's time to take responsibility."

As of this week, the UNESCO World Heritage List incorporates 1,031 sites around the world. Next year's conference will take place in Istanbul.