LONDON, ENGLAND.- Heritage Minister Andrew McIntosh today welcomed a UK-UNESCO Co-operation Agreement which will enable developing countries to benefit from UK heritage and conservation expertise.
 
UK experts will assist developing countries with: identifying World Heritage Sites; preparing Management Plans and conservation strategies for both cultural and natural World Heritage Sites.

Speaking in Paris at the signing, Andrew McIntosh said: “The UK has some of the best conservation expertise in the world. I am delighted that as a result of this co-operation agreement with UNESCO we will able to share that experience to help identify and manage possible World Heritage Sites. Tackling conservation issues overseas will also give UK experts valuable training and the opportunity to develop working relationships with colleagues in other countries.  World Heritage Site status allows countries to protect and promote their cultural and natural heritage.  That in turn can enhance the collective pride and sense of national identity in developing countries, as well as increasing economic benefits such as tourism."
 
The Director General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura said: "Today more than ever, we need to help restore the capacity of developing countries to protect their heritage and to respond to emergency situations. We need to have the tools and the necessary resources to identify areas of high conservation value, protect heritage at risk and build the capacity of countries around the world to make heritage conservation an integral part of the livelihoods of local communities.  This needs more cooperation between governments. A main priority for UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee is to redress the current imbalances of the World Heritage List. The work plan that has been agreed for this first year is prudent and will put the resources available to best effect in regions that are presently under-represented on the World Heritage List.  The agreement being signed demonstrates the close cooperation established between UNESCO and the United Kingdom on World Heritage matters over many years. I congratulate the United Kingdom for this most timely and relevant initiative, which will assist State Parties in the developing world by creating new resources and alliances for the benefit of World Heritage. I hope that this initiative will serve as an example that will inspire other partners to engage in such useful and important forms of international cooperation."  
 
The Department has agreed with UNESCO, that the Caribbean and South Asia should be the first regions to benefit in the first few years of the agreement.