A World Heritage property is a place of natural or cultural interest which is so valuable that it is important for the whole of humanity. It is a place, property, environment, or object which provides unique testimony to the history of the earth and of mankind. Once inscribed on the prestigious World Heritage List, it is guaranteed protection and care for all time. Sweden has fourteen properties on the list.

Foto: Bengt A Lundberg

There is every reason to be proud of our shared world heritage, but there is also reason for concern. Many of the properties are threatened by destruction and decay. That is why the World Heritage List was established. It is based on UNESCO's Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was adopted in 1972. Sweden adhered to the Convention in 1985 and has thus - along with more than 180 other nations - voluntarily undertaken to protect its own world heritage for all time, and to support other countries in their efforts to look after theirs.

For a property to be inscribed on the list it must satisfy a number of criteria. A cultural site, for example, must be a masterwork created by humans, a style-setting architectural building, a place associated with ideas or beliefs of universal significance, or an outstanding example of a traditional way of life which is representative of a particular culture. A natural site can exemplify important stages in the development of the earth, represent ongoing ecological or biological processes, be a landscape of exceptional natural beauty or a habitat for endangered animal species.

The World Heritage List is constantly growing and now includes 851 sites. The Royal Domain of Drottningholm was the first Swedish site to be inscribed in 1991, and by 2007 a total of fourteen sites of cultural and natural interest were included on the list.

See also:
Swedish National Commission for UNESCO - coordinates Swedish participation in UNESCO's work.
World Heritage - UNESCO.
Nordic World Heritage Foundation