INI
Natural World Heritage Classifications - INI
Under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, natural heritage sites must possess 'Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)' to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. To evaluate this value, four natural heritage criteria (vii, viii, ix, x) have been established. Criterion vii focuses on natural beauty and phenomena, viii on landforms and geology, ix on ecosystems, and x on biodiversity. A site must meet at least one of these criteria, along with conditions of integrity and protection, to be inscribed as Natural World Heritage.
UNESCO
World Heritage
Natural Heritage
Evaluation Criteria
Biodiversity
Ecosystem
Landform
Geology
[item.superlative-natural-phenomena]
code=vii
slug=superlative-natural-phenomena
name=Superlative Natural Phenomena and Beauty
description=Criterion for areas containing superlative natural phenomena or exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
category=Natural Heritage
focusArea=Natural Beauty and Phenomena
[item.earth-history-geology]
code=viii
slug=earth-history-geology
name=Earth History and Geology
description=Criterion for outstanding examples representing major stages of Earth's history, including the record of life and landform development processes.
category=Natural Heritage
focusArea=Landform, Geology, and Earth History
[item.ecological-processes]
code=ix
slug=ecological-processes
name=Ecological and Biological Processes
description=Criterion for outstanding examples representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution of ecosystems and communities.
category=Natural Heritage
focusArea=Ecosystems and Biological Processes
[item.biodiversity-conservation]
code=x
slug=biodiversity-conservation
name=Biodiversity and Conservation
description=Criterion for containing the most important natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity.
category=Natural Heritage
focusArea=Biodiversity and Threatened Species