World Heritage UK’s Chair and President were both in attendance at 2025’s World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting (or 47COM) in Paris this summer.
Their reflections on what they heard are:
State of Conservation (SoC) Reports:
- There are too many and numbers reviewed will be restricted to 150 per annum in future – there were more than 250 this year and it was our opinion that the advisory bodies are struggling to cope
- It was suggested that State Parties may be charged for SoCs processing in future, which is a contentious idea
- A real concern is if a SoC report delays a planning application processing or decision, a waiting list for consideration by the WHC could potentially delay decision making by years
Nominations:
- Many nomination decisions to inscribe ignored the advice of the advisory bodies
- For cultural sites in particular ICOMOS must find this most frustration if not infuriating as this year a recommendation for non-inscription was inscribed by the WHC
- This matter will no doubt receive further scrutiny going forward
- This year’s successful nominations can be seen here
Other points of interest:
- See https://whc.unesco.org/document/221022 for interesting piece (part 3) concerning Cultural Landscape Category
- Advisory Bodies submitted a proposal which was welcomed for an updated “Gap Report” which would be most helpful – however it requires considerable new funding which is currently not forthcoming