1.3 Our World & Its Heritage

4G1 Year 8 Geography

Syllabusapply key geographical questions to a local

environment

use geographical tools to measure and record elements of the local environment

present geographical information about the local environment using a range of written, oral and graphic forms

Our World and its heritage

Learn the LingoKey Word Definition

atlas a collection of maps showing different parts of the world

biomes the world’s major environment types consisting of both plant and animal communities that are uniquely adapted to the particular environment

criteria a standard for judging something

degradation the wearing down of the natural environment through human actions or by natural processes

Lingo ListKey Word Definition

Equator an imaginary line that runs around the middle of the Earth separating the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere

Human environments

environments that have been changed by people

insolation the amount of solar energy received on the Earth’s surface

International Date Line

the meridian of longitude at which the date changes

Lingo ListKey Word Definition

International Treaty

an agreement between nations for a common purpose

Latitude and Longitude

a grid system on a map that helps to locate placeson the Earth’s surface

Map projection a representation of the Earth’s curved surface drawn on a flat piece of paper

Meridians of longitude

grid lines that run around the world from north tosouth

Definitions completeKey Word Definition

Parallels of latitude

grid lines that run around the world from east to west

Physical environments

mostly made up of natural features like air, water,rocks and soils, and living things

Prime Meridian an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole passing through Greenwich, and from which other lines of longitude are measured

UNESCO a branch of the United Nations that is involved in protecting and managing World Heritage sites

World Heritage SitesNatural (physical) andCultural (human) sites

Our world contains natural (physical) and cultural (human) features that are important and significant to many people.

Some of these features should be protected and conserved for the benefit of all global citizens, as they are part of our heritage

Heritage is: our legacy from the past what we live with today what we pass on to future generations.

Where are theWorld Heritage Sites?The World Heritage

Committee was formed in 1972 and was administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

World Heritage sites belong to all the people of the world, regardless of the country in which the sites are located. There are currently 911

heritage sites around the world with 21 added to the list in 2010

Criteria for World Heritage Listing To be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List a place

must be of outstanding value to the world.

CULTURAL CRITERIA Represents human creative genius Shows important exchange of human values over time or

over an area. It can be displayed in architecture, technology, monuments, town planning or landscape design

Evidence of a civilisation that has disappeared or which still exists

An outstanding building or landscape that represents significant stage(s) in human history

An outstanding example of human settlement or land use representing human interaction with the environment

Directly associated with events or traditions

Criteria for World Heritage ListingNATURAL CRITERIA

Represents major stages of the Earth’s natural history, including record of life, geological processes and landforms

Represents ongoing processes in evolution and development of living things on land and water, developing ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.

Contains natural phenomena or areas of natural beauty and importance.

Important and significant natural habitats for conservation of biodiversity. May contain threatened species with value for science or conservation.

International treatiesand agreements- Responsibility for World Heritage Sites

UNITED NATIONS

UNESCO adopted an international treaty called the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972.

This is an agreement between countries that have signed the convention. It defines the types of natural and cultural sites that can be on the World Heritage List.

The convention sets out the duties of governments in identifying, protecting, preserving and reporting on existing and potential sites

Responsibility forWorld Heritage Sites

GOVERNMENTS

The governments of the countries that sign the convention agree to identify and nominate properties in their national territory. They also have to give details on how the site is going to be protected, and devise a management plan.

Responsibility forWorld Heritage SitesADVISORY BODIES

IUCN—The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is an international organisation that investigates natural and mixed sites, and reports on conservation.

ICOMOS—The International Council on Monuments and Sites is a non-government organisation that investigates cultural and mixed sites.

ICCROM—The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property provides advice on how to conserve sites properly.

WHC—The World Heritage Committee meets once a year and is made up of 21 member countries. It has the final say on whether a site will be World Heritage listed or not, and allocates funds and examines reports on the state of conservation of sites already on the World Heritage List. It also decides on sites that need to be on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Global citizens andWorld Heritage

Global citizens can become actively involved in the protection and management of World Heritage sites

There are many non-government organisations that provide opportunities to volunteer at World Heritage sites.

These include the Earthwatch Institute, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Rempart.

World Heritage in DangerSome sites are in danger as they are not being

properly managed or are threatened by natural activity.

It is not only the responsibility of international organisations to preserve World Heritage sites—the actions of global citizens are also important

Because there are threats to World Heritage sites, the World Heritage Committee (WHC) created the List of World Heritage in Danger.

WHC Destruction Or Degradation ListsThe threats can include:

Rapid Urban Or Tourist Development; Armed Conflict; Serious Fires, Earthquakes And Landslides; Volcanic Eruptions; Changes In Water Level, Floods Tidal Waves