Education

The difference between World Heritage, Biosphere and Intangible Cultural Heritage

UNESCO has initiated different conventions and programmes since the 1970s, which aim to protect and preserve the natural and cultural Heritage. Even though they share a common goal, they have different conventions and programmes and are therefore distinguished between World Heritage, Biosphere and Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Probably the best-known UNESCO convention is the World Heritage Convention to protect World Heritage adopted in 1972. Further conventions were adopted in the 21st century, including the convention to maintain Intangible Cultural Heritage. The biosphere reserves are based on the UNESCO programme “Man and Biosphere”.

As diverse as the individual conventions and programmes are, they strive for a common goal: conserving the natural and cultural properties of the world for future generations.

Detailed explanations of the conventions and programmes are given at the following links: