This is the sixth in IUCN’s series of Working Papers which provide global overviews of natural World Heritage sites in the major biomes on earth. The theme of this Working Paper 6 is mountains, a theme chosen to coincide with the designation by the UN as the International Year of the Mountains. The objectives of this Working Paper are to: (1) identify and analyze the existing natural and mixed sites on the World Heritage List and, (2) suggest other mountain areas that may merit consideration for nomination to the List by the relevant State Party. As per previous global overview studies this paper relied on site data sheets compiled by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) as well as a number of other published references and suggestions generated by members of the World Commission on Protected Areas mountain theme programme.
After defining what criteria an area would meet to be considered a World Heritage mountain, the Overview presents a list of 55 natural and mixed sites. This amounts to one-third of the total of all natural and mixed sites on the List (as of 2002). Along with sites in the terrestrial wetlands biome and in marine and coastal sites, mountains are among the three most “represented” biomes in the World Heritage List.
The Working Paper proceeds to analyze various attributes of the 55 mountain sites. These are: criterion for inscription, biogeographic realm distribution, size, occurrence of transboundary sites, and human use – both by resident populations and numbers of visitors.
In identifying which additional sites in mountains may contain “outstanding Universal values”, the Overview notes four mountain sites where a deferral decision was made by the World Heritage Committee. Also noted are three nominations under or soon to be evaluated for inscription. The working paper then notes boundary extensions to 19 existing mountain sites where current boundaries are considered sub-optimal.
