voluntary recommendation
All member states of the World Heritage Convention voluntarily nominate their sites with the best natural or cultural attributes. Among other requirements, the site must be authentic and meet at least one of several very strict criteria for universal value.
Each signatory to this Convention pledges to maintain sovereignty over its heritage sites, take responsibility for their protection, and support the conservation efforts of other countries. Direct authority over individual property rests with the responsible national, state, tribe, local government, or private organization.
The Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service, is responsible for identifying and recommending archaeological sites in the United States to the World Heritage List. Proposed locations in the United States must be on federal property, such as a national park, or already designated as a National Historic Site or National Natural Landmark. Properties not owned by the federal government can only be designated if the owner wishes to do so and pledges to protect the property in perpetuity.
Most of the United States’ World Heritage Sites are managed by the National Park Service. Others are administered by states, private foundations, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and Indian tribes.
The United States and Canada jointly nominated two World Heritage Sites, Waterton Glacier and Wrangell St. Elias/Glacier Bay/Tashenshini Alsek/Kluan, while retaining authority over their own parks. This designation emphasized the mutually beneficial interactions between neighboring parks in long-term resource management and day-to-day activities such as mountain and river rescue operations.
The Convention is based on key principles. Each country retains sovereignty and control over its World Heritage Sites. All participating countries pledge to identify and protect their major natural and cultural heritage sites as part of the human heritage and to cooperate with each other to achieve that goal.
By 2023, 195 countries have ratified the World Heritage Convention, and 1193 sites from 166 countries have been inscribed on the World Heritage List.
