Updating Canada's Tentative List

Updating Canada's Tentative List

The Challenge

The Approach

The Result

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The World Heritage Committee has asked States Parties to update their Tentative Lists to reflect both the current criteria for inscription and the priorities outlined in the Global Strategy. As Canada’s previous Tentative List was prepared in 1980, it was considered to be out of date. The process of updating the Tentative List provided an opportunity to identify Canadian sites that could be considered to meet the test of outstanding universal value and that respond to the priorities of the Global Strategy. It was also an opportunity to examine sites in the context of the conservation work that has been carried out in the past two decades, so that the very best candidates can be put forward for consideration.

It was decided at the outset of the Canadian exercise that the updated Tentative List should be based on sound science. In addition, stakeholder support was a key consideration. Any site nominated as a potential World Heritage Site would have to have the support of those responsible for the site as well as the respective provincial or territorial governments, and, where relevant, Aboriginal groups. This support would be based on an understanding of the implications of inscription.

In order to provide sound scientific information, research reports on natural and cultural heritage were prepared by two independent, internationally respected Canadian experts familiar with World Heritage policies and guidelines. The two research reports provide an assessment of potential Canadian sites in light of the World Heritage criteria and the priorities outlined in the Global Strategy. The sites assessed include those suggested by Canadians during the past two decades as potential candidates for the World Heritage List, as well as other sites that appear to meet the criteria for outstanding universal value. The two reports are available on the Parks Canada Web site.