As part of the legal process according to Article 29 of World Heritage ConventionPeriodic Reporting is a global conservation monitoring mechanism that aims to provide key stakeholders of World Heritage properties, e.g. managers of World Heritage sites and national focal points of the country, an opportunity to reflect on the implementation of World Heritage Convention and to take stock of issues related to the identification, conservation, protection and presentation of World Heritage sites at national and local levels.
This exercise is a self-reporting process that takes place every six years where States Parties from one of five regions – Arab States, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and North America – complete and submit an online questionnaire.
Third periodic reporting cycle in the Europe and North America region
The first phase of the Third Periodic Reporting Cycle exercise in the Europe and North America region will last for an approximate period of 10 months, i.e. from September 2022 to July 2023.
The Europe and North America region currently consists of 51 States Parties with a total of 547 World Heritage properties (468 cultural, 68 natural, 11 mixed and 32 transboundary). National Focal Points and World Heritage Site Managers designated by their respective States Parties will be asked to coordinate and respond to the questionnaire, with field information available and collected on World Heritage properties in the region. The revised third cycle questionnaire framework now also integrates the Sustainable Development approach and potential synergies between Multilateral Environmental Agreements as well as other UNESCO Conventions, programs and recommendations.
The Third Periodic Reporting Cycle is designed to be an extended process led by States Parties, while various national and sub-regional initiatives are expected to be undertaken by the parties involved. As a result, the Periodic Reporting exercise throughout its process offers the possibility of continuous regional cooperation and exchanges.
To facilitate the exercise, the UNESCO World Heritage Center has developed a series of tools and guidance materials for reference and made available on the dedicated page of the Periodic Reporting exercise. Prior to the start of the exercise, designated World Heritage site managers will be individually informed of the official dates, instructions and information regarding the online questionnaire.
For more information on Periodic Reporting, please visit:
