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Making the Most of World Natural Heritage—Linking Conservation and Sustainable Regional Development?

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  • Katharina Conradin

    (University of Bern, Centre for Development and Environment; Hallerstrasse 10, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Thomas Hammer

    (University of Bern, Centre for Development and Environment; Hallerstrasse 10, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Today, more than 1000 World Heritage (WH) sites are inscribed on UNESCO’s list, 228 of which are natural and mixed heritage sites. Once focused primarily on conservation, World Natural Heritage (WNH) sites are increasingly seen as promoters of sustainable regional development. Sustainability-oriented regions, it is assumed, are safeguards for conservation and positively influence local conservation goals. Within UNESCO, discussions regarding the integration of sustainable development in official policies have recently gained momentum. In this article, we investigate the extent to which WNH sites trigger sustainability-oriented approaches in surrounding regions, and how such approaches in turn influence the WNH site and its protection. The results of the study are on the one hand based on a global survey with more than 60% of the WNH sites listed in 2011, and on the other hand on a complementary literature research. Furthermore, we analyze the policy framework necessary to support WNH sites in this endeavor. We conclude that a regional approach to WNH management is necessary to ensure that WNH sites support sustainable regional development effectively, but that the core focus of WNH status must remain environmental conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Katharina Conradin & Thomas Hammer, 2016. "Making the Most of World Natural Heritage—Linking Conservation and Sustainable Regional Development?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-10, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:4:p:323-:d:67027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tisdell, Clement A., 2010. "World Heritage Listing of Australian Natural Sites: Effects on Tourism, Economic Value and Conservation," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 94306, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    2. Su, Yu-Wen & Lin, Hui-Lin, 2014. "Analysis of international tourist arrivals worldwide: The role of world heritage sites," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 46-58.
    3. Hjortsø, Carsten Nico & Stræde, Steffen & Helles, Finn, 2006. "Applying multi-criteria decision-making to protected areas and buffer zone management: A case study in the Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 91-108, June.
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    1. Hui Shi & Tiange Shi & Fang Han & Qin Liu & Zhi Wang & Hulan Zhao, 2019. "Conservation Value of World Natural Heritage Sites’ Outstanding Universal Value via Multiple Techniques—Bogda, Xinjiang Tianshan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-27, October.
    2. Kagan Dogruyol & Zeeshan Aziz & Yusuf Arayici, 2018. "Eye of Sustainable Planning: A Conceptual Heritage-Led Urban Regeneration Planning Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Jörn Harfst & Jasmin Sandriester & Wolfgang Fischer, 2021. "Industrial Heritage Tourism as a Driver of Sustainable Development? A Case Study of Steirische Eisenstrasse (Austria)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Elena Bykowa & Irina Dyachkova, 2021. "Modeling the Size of Protection Zones of Cultural Heritage Sites Based on Factors of the Historical and Cultural Assessment of Lands," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Jonathan Liljeblad & Khin Thinn Thinn Oo, 2020. "World heritage sustainable development policy & local implementation: Site management issues using a case study of Sri Ksetra at Pyu ancient cities in Myanmar," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 468-477, May.
    6. Xing Luo & Kangning Xiong & Juan Zhang & Dong Chen, 2021. "A Study on Optimal Agroforestry Planting Patterns in the Buffer Zone of World Natural Heritage Sites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-16, October.

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