This symposium aimed to share the context and principles of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in November 2012. It provided an opportunity to discuss future cooperation in the safeguarding of world cultural and natural heritage, and in the building of peace and sustainability, with reference to concrete cases in various parts of the world. The symposium featured a keynote speech by Koïchiro Matsuura, former Director-General of UNESCO, a series of presentations on international cooperation for nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties, and a panel discussion.

Location: United Nations University, Japan
Co-organizers: The University of Tsukuba, Global Environment Outreach Centre (GEOC)
Conference note: http://www.heritage.tsukuba.ac.jp/assets/files/pdf/WHC40eng.pdf