At the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 19 to 29 July 2026, ICCROM worked alongside States Parties, UNESCO, the Advisory Bodies and heritage professionals from around the world to strengthen the conservation and management of World Heritage properties. Through technical advice, co-organization of the World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum, strategic partnerships and knowledge exchange, ICCROM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
The session provided an important opportunity to address some of the most pressing challenges facing World Heritage today, from climate change and impact assessment to risk management and biodiversity, while considering the State of Conservation of World Heritage properties and inscribing 26 new sites on the World Heritage List. Against this backdrop, ICCROM shared knowledge and expertise to help States Parties build the capacities, approaches and tools needed to strengthen conservation practice.
Photo: Plenary Morning Session, © UNESCO/KH, 2026, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
As an Advisory Body to the World Heritage Committee, ICCROM supports States Parties through research, technical guidance and capacity building. This support is delivered through programmes focused on World Heritage management, impact assessment and climate action. These efforts are informed by lessons emerging from the Periodic Reporting and Reactive Monitoring processes, helping to address evolving global conservation challenges.
A key message highlighted by ICCROM during this year's Committee was that effective capacity building depends on the active participation of professionals and experts from diverse States Parties in designing, delivering and continually improving capacity-building activities. Their contributions ensure that knowledge and experience are shared across regions, multiplying the impact of individual initiatives and strengthening the World Heritage system as a whole.
World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum 2026
Held from 16 to 23 July alongside the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, the 8th Forum focused on the theme Connection and Communication: Participatory Approaches to Managing World Heritage. The Forum spotlighted the need to empower site managers as key contributors to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. Following discussions, participants adopted a statement calling for stronger collaboration, participation, and capacity building to help achieve long-term conservation goals. The statement was subsequently presented to the World Heritage Committee during its State of Conservation discussions.
Read our separate article on the 8th World Heritage Site Managers' Forum to learn more about the Statement adopted by participants and its contribution to strengthening the role of site managers within the World Heritage system.
Looking beyond the Committee
While the World Heritage Committee provides the framework for international decision-making, it also creates opportunities to advance technical cooperation, strengthen partnerships, and shape future capacity-building efforts across the World Heritage system.
Fostering knowledge and technical cooperation
Throughout the Committee, ICCROM coordinated the Advisory Bodies space, providing a platform for technical exchange among States Parties, the Advisory Bodies and heritage professionals. Through a programme of side events and expert discussions, the Space explored practical approaches to some of the most pressing issues facing World Heritage today, including:
climate change adaptation and the Climate Action Toolkit;
integrated management and Strategic Environmental Assessment;
biodiversity conservation and World Heritage properties in Danger;
preliminary assessments for World Heritage nominations;
transboundary management; and
accessibility and the interpretation of Outstanding Universal Value.
ICCROM also contributed to discussions marking the tenth anniversary of the World Heritage Leadership Programme, sharing lessons learned and practical guidance that continue to inform conservation practice across the World Heritage system.
Building partnerships for long-term impact
The Committee also provided an opportunity to deepen existing partnerships and establish new collaborations that will support future capacity-building efforts. Discussions with partners and States Parties focused on:
supporting the fourth cycle of Periodic Reporting, including capacity building for national focal points, site managers and policymakers, as well as follow-up to the Nairobi Conference recommendations;
expanding collaboration with the African World Heritage Fund, WHITRAP and Tongji University to advance youth engagement and digital heritage initiatives; and
working with Zambia to explore regional professional networks and expert hubs that can support context-specific conservation priorities across Africa.
Together, these engagements reinforce ICCROM's commitment to building the partnerships, expertise and professional networks needed to address evolving conservation challenges and strengthen the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
As conservation challenges become increasingly complex, investing in people, institutions and international cooperation remains essential to safeguarding World Heritage. Through technical expertise, strategic partnerships, and sustained investment in people and institutions, ICCROM continues to help build a stronger, more connected World Heritage community.