Barcelonakonvention

The Barcelonakonvention, also known as the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, is an international treaty adopted by the UNESCO in 1972. Its primary objective is to protect and preserve cultural and natural heritage sites around the world. The convention defines World Heritage as "monuments, groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites) of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art, or science."

The convention establishes a framework for the identification, protection, conservation, presentation, and transmission of cultural and natural heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. It requires signatory states to designate sites of outstanding universal value and to take measures to ensure their protection and preservation. These measures can include legal protection, management plans, and public awareness campaigns.

The convention also provides for the establishment of a World Heritage Committee, which meets annually to review the state of conservation of World Heritage sites and to make recommendations to the UNESCO General Conference. The committee can also inscribe new sites on the World Heritage List and remove sites that no longer meet the criteria for protection.

The Barcelonakonvention has been ratified by 195 states, making it one of the most widely adopted international treaties. It has played a significant role in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage sites around the world, including the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Taj Mahal in India, and the historic center of Rome in Italy. The convention continues to be an essential tool for the protection and preservation of the world's cultural and natural heritage.