benefits of being a World Heritage Site

There’s a lot of noise online about the Baha’i Shrines being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Sites are nominated by the country in which they are located and evaluated by the intergovernmental World Heritage Committee. They ‘represent the most outstanding examples of the world’s natural and cultural heritage.’

Cultural Criteria

To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. Among the selection criteria for a cultural heritage site are:

• “to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius“
• “to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history”
• “to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.“

Benefits

The overarching benefit of having been inscribed is the protection and preservation of the site. But let me break down my thoughts:

1. One obvious benefit is the increase of tourism at the Baha’i sites and in Haifa, providing both economic benefits to the city, and spiritual benefits to an increasing number of visitors. No visitors pay entrance fees and thus the only direct benefit of more tourists for the Baha’is is promotion of the Faith. (the ‘only’ but not the least unimportant one)
2. UNESCO states: ‘The World Heritage Committee awards funding to assist Sites, although such funding is limited.  Moreover, because World Heritage Sites are recognized as internationally important, international organizations often give priority to World Heritage Sites in making financial grants and providing technical assistance.’

   Baha’is are known only to accept donations for the sites from the Baha’i community itself, thus I am not entirely sure whether we would ever accept funding. (During the terrace construction project, the city of Haifa had offered money to help finance the terraces, but the Universal House of Justice had declined.)

3. Members of the World Heritage Agreement have also agreed to desist from deliberate actions that might damage the Sites. Iran is a signatory of the UNESCO world heritage list, and in case of a possible attack as discussed in current news Iran would face a lot of pressure not to damage this site, although they would probably love to, (following statements of the past years).
4. With the nomination, Israel pledges to ensure the ‘protection, conservation, presentation, and transmission to future generations of this heritage site.’ The properties must have adequate long-term legislative and regulatory protection and management to ensure their safeguarding.

These measures at national and local levels should assure its protection against development and change that might negatively impact the outstanding universal value and the integrity of the property. Thus:

5. In certain site cases there has been legislation on reduction of traffic and noise and air pollution. I am not entirely sure about the terms of nomination of the Baha’i sites.
6. A buffer zone should be provided for the effective protection of the property, basically an area surrounding the Baha’i property which has restrictions placed on its use and development as an added layer of protection. ‘This should include the immediate setting of the nominated property, important views and other areas or attributes that are functionally important as a support to the property and its protection.’
   The Haparsim area which includes the House of ‘Abdu’l-Baha and the Resting Place of Ruhiyyih Khanum lie within our buffer zone and thus limited protection is granted to these as well.

To read more about the inscription:

Ruha Reyhani at http://blog.reyhani.cc
Barney’s Blog at http://www.leithjb.net/blog
Official Article at Baha’i World News Service
More interesting thoughts at http://www.bahaithought.com

Terraced Gardens above the Shrine of the Bab