A country signs the World Heritage Convention and pledges to protect its natural and cultural heritage. The country is then called a State Party. The State Party then prepares a list of sites within its borders considered to be of universal value and nominates sites for inscription on the World heritage List to the World Heritage Committee. Along with the nomination, the State Party also submits a detailed plan on how the site is managed and protected.

Three Advisory Bodies, two of which are non-governmental provide technical inputs and evaluations on the nominations. These bodies are

• International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS, non-governmental)
• World Conservation Union (IUCN, non-governmental) and
• International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)

Once a year, the World Heritage Committee decides the sites out of the nominations and inscribes these sites to the World Heritage List . This inscription acts as a catalyst to raising the awareness leading to protection and conservation of the sites. The World Heritage mission also provides emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate natural or man-made dangers.

World Heritage Committee raises funds from State Parties and through public donations. These funds are used to support the conservative activities of the Centre. It also helps the Centre to raise awareness, organise technical seminars, workshops and provide training to the volunteers. If you want to donate to the World Heritage Fund or are interested in becoming a volunteer, please visit their website http://whc.unesco.org .

Click here to see the complete list of World Heritage Sites in India.