Study Of The International Legal Regime Of The World Heritage Protection

The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (the Convention), which was passed by UNESCO in 1972, is the core treaty in international protection of world heritage. With a large number of signatory countries that vigorously proceed with their efforts to protect world heritage in line with the guidance and requirements from the Convention system, the Convention has undoubtedly unfolded a new chapter in the protection of world heritage sites around the world. China has made much progress in applying for world heritage status for its sites since it officially ratified the Convention in 1985. Currently, China has 35 world heritage sites, ranking third in the world in terms of number of listed sites, only after Italy and Spain. However, there is an undeniable fact that the protection of world heritage sites in China simply stops after the application and listing. As a result of outdated ideas, weak legislation and absence of relevant systems, China still needs to make further efforts to meet the requirements of the Convention and fails to assume the overall responsibility as required by the Convention.Centered on the Convention, this thesis will first offer a review on the evolution of the definitions and classifications of world heritage. An exploration of the principal ideas and values of the Convention will also be presented through an introduction of the history and basic concepts of the international protection of world heritage. Then, based on a study of the principles, contents of the Convention as well as its implementation mechanisms and procedures, the thesis will provide a systematic and comprehensive analysis on the current systems concerning the Convention, and continue to give a series of multidimensional suggestions to improve China's protection of world heritages.