This is what true commitment looks like: Three months after the 39th session, the participants of the Young Experts Forum 2015 initiated “Young Heritage Experts”.

Even two months after the 39th session we received another World Heritage Greeting – this time from a stunning World Heritage site in Belarus.

All Decisions of the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee are available online!

Find out who attended the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in Bonn!

On the penultimate day of its 39th session the World Heritage Committee discussed the Global Strategy. The package of measures adopted in 1994 aims at balancing the World Heritage List. Cultural and natural heritage should be equally considered as well as a globally equitable distribution of the inscribed sites.

Following the successful enrollment of 24 new sites on the World Heritage List, the Committee debated numerous reforms of the Operational Guidelines for the World Heritage Convention on 6 July.

On its eighth session day the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed nine more sites on the World Heritage List. New on the list are Hamburg's warehouse district and the Kontorhausviertel with the Chilehaus in Germany, the Necropolis of Bet She'arim in Israel, the railway bridge Forth Bridge in Scotland, the Spanish missions of San Antonio in the US, the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey and the aqueduct Padre Tembleque in Mexico.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee added eleven new sites to the World Heritage List on 4 July, including the Botanical Gardens in Singapore as the country’s first World Heritage site. Each two sites from Denmark, France and Iran are new on the List.

On 3 July the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed four new sites on the World Heritage List during its 39th session in Bonn. The new cultural heritage sites include Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale in Italy, Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” in Jordan and Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia.

On the fourth day of the World Heritage Committee session the state of conservation of sites on the World Heritage List has been discussed. Developments on sites such as Lake Turkana National Park (Kenya), the old town of Djenne (Mali), Lake Baikal (Russia) or the Emas National Park (Costa Rica) were subjects of the meeting.

On the third day of the World Heritage Committee meeting, the participants discussed the state of conservation of sites on the WHC’s List of World Heritage in Danger. Intensive debates on the endangered World Heritage sites in Syria resulted in an appeal to all neighboring countries to stop the illicit trade of looted cultural goods.

On the second day of its session the World Heritage Committee adopted the Bonn Declaration on World Heritage. The Committee laments the destruction and looting of World Heritage sites as a military strategy. It recommends the United Nations Security Council to include the protection of cultural heritage in UN Peacekeeping operations.

On Sunday evening the 39th session of UNESCO’S World Heritage Committee started off in the former plenary hall of the German Bundestag in Bonn. Under the chair of Maria Böhmer, Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office, it is the second time Germany hosts the Committee Session after 1995.

“Enriching, eye-opening and intense” – these are just a few words with which the 32 participants described the Young Experts Forum 2015 (YEF). After twelve days full of discussions, networking and involvement the young heritage experts presented their ideas and their commitment to a sustainable future of World Heritage at the Opening Ceremony of the 39th World Heritage Committee Session on 28 June 2015.

Be aware of itchy feet: The 5th World Heritage Greeting reaches us from Machu Picchu, Peru. The breathtaking Andean scenery and a unique combination of nature and architecture make Machu Picchu South America’s most famous pre-Columbian site.

On 18 June 2015, the members of the German Bundestag passed a motion regarding World Heritage proposed by the government coalition. The motion underlines Germany’s commitment to the protection of World Heritage on a national and international level, and its role in regard to the World Heritage Convention during and also beyond the presidency of the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee.

Following the motto of the Young Experts Forum – “Towards a Sustainable Management of World Heritage Sites” – the Young Experts do not only exchange ideas and talk about World Heritage in theory, but experience and test one mean towards sustainable management: The participants become volunteers and involve themselves practically in the conservation of the World Heritage site Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

How can World Heritage sites be managed sustainably? This is the main question of the Young Experts Forum (YEF) taking part in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and Bonn from 18 to 29 June. The Young Experts – that is to say young professionals working in the fields of architecture, site management, cultural and natural heritage as well as students in these fields – define the most important steps towards a sustainable management and exchange their experience.

The Young Experts Forum starts today in the World Heritage site Upper Middle Rhine Valley. For the next two weeks, from 18 to 29 June 2015, 32 young heritage experts from around the world will be discussing the ‘Sustainable Management of World Heritage Sites'.

Today’s World Heritage Greeting reaches us from Bulgaria. The Ancient city of Nessebar is a unique location where numerous civilizations have left tangible traces in a homogeneous whole, which harmoniously fits in with nature.

On the occasion of the 39th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Bonn, the UNESCO Chair in Heritage Studies at the University of Cottbus, Germany, will hold a symposium from 29 June to 8 July 2015.

Guided tours, presentations, exhibitions, painting competitions and much, much more: many of Germany's cultural and natural heritage sites will be offering an interesting programme of events to mark the eleventh national World Heritage Day on 7 June 2015.

A symposium involving high-profile participants will be convening in Leipzig from 5 to 6 June 2015. At the two-day conference entitled "Steps towards implementing the Global Strategy in Germany – the 5 Cs as a driving force for achieving the sustainable management of the World Heritage Programme", experts and practitioners will discuss how to better incorporate the objectives and substance of the World Heritage Convention into German civil society.

Jürgen Nimptsch, Lord Mayor of the Federal City of Bonn, cordially welcomes all participants of the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in Bonn, Germany:

On 28 May 2015, the resolution proposed by Germany and Iraq on “Saving the Cultural Heritage of Iraq” was adopted unanimously by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The resolution condemns the destruction of cultural sites and calls for the prosecution of the perpetrators.

Now online: The second set of 39COM Working Documents is available on the World Heritage Centre’s website.

On Wednesday 20 May, Minister of State Maria Böhmer, members of the German Parliament, and cultural and natural heritage sites representatives gathered to discuss “UNESCO World Heritage in Germany”.

On Tuesday 26 May 2015, the Carolingian Westwerk and Civitas Corvey celebrated the official handover of their inscription certificate for the World Heritage List of UNESCO. At the ceremony, high level ministers and special guests were present.

Another update from the exhibition team: They are still on the road searching for Heritage Heroes from all over the world! Today they are sending us greetings from the Tasmanian Wilderness and from Uganda.

The allotment of reserved hotel rooms for the 39th session will expire on 28 May 2015. Please book your hotel as soon as possible to avoid any inconvenience!

On 21 May 2015, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre invited representatives of StatesParties to the World Heritage Convention to participate in an information and exchange meeting on the 39th session, which will take place from 28 June to 8 July in Bonn, Germany.

On today's "UNESCO World Day for Cultural Diversity, for Dialogue and Development" Director-General Irina Bokova emphasised the crucial importance of cultural diversity for a peaceful and respectful life together.

While clashes continue close to the Syrian city of Palmyra between ISIS and forces of the Syrian regime, human rights and cultural activists launched the advocacy campaign #SavePalmyra through social media!

Now online: The first set of 39COM Working Documents is available on the World Heritage Centre’s website.

Today's World Heritage Greeting reaches us from the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park in Jamaica. The National Park was included in Jamaica’s Tentative List in 2006.

Another update from the artist collective, who is currently designing the exhibition "Heritage Heroes": The two teams are currently on their way to Tanzania and Tasmania to interview people, whose extraordinary personal efforts help to protect natural and cultural heritage worldwide!

Bamberg Gardeners’ City – part of the World Heritage site "Town of Bamberg" – presents itself from 5 May until 31 October 2015 in an exhibition on food sustainability organised by the UNESCO Office in Venice.

From 3 to 5 May 2015, Minister of State Maria Böhmer welcomed ambassadors to UNESCO from Japan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Tanzania, Turkey und Germany.

Heute ist Einsendeschluss: Die Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission e.V. lädt 18 bis 27 jährige Menschen in Deutschland ein, mit ihrem Smartphone sowie auf einem charakteristischen Foto zu zeigen, was sie mit "ihrer" deutschen Welterbestätte verbinden.

Ist Deutschlands Welterbe jugendtauglich? Unter diesem Motto treffen sich vom 6. bis 8. Mai 2015 Vertreter der 39 deutschen Welterbestätten auf Einladung des Vereins UNESCO-Welterbestätten Deutschland e.V. und der Deutschen UNESCO-Kommission. Sie werden diskutieren, was unternommen werden kann, um Kinder und Jugendliche für die Einzigartigkeit des Welterbes zu begeistern.

A Cologne based artist collective is currently designing the exhibition “Heritage Heros”. The exhibition portrays people around the world who show an extraordinary personal effort and commitment for the protection of World Heritage sites. Today – as first part of a ‘Making of’ series in the weeks to come – the artist and curating team behind "Heritage Heroes" wishes to introduce itself:

On 27 April Minister of State Maria Böhmer traveled to Turkey, where she visited the World Heritage site of Pergamon in her capacity as the Chairperson of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Pergamon and its multi-layered cultural landscape was inscribed on the World Heritage List at last year’s session in June 2014.

Die Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission e.V. lädt 18 bis 27 jährige Menschen in Deutschland ein, mit ihrem Smartphone sowie auf einem charakteristischen Foto zu zeigen, was sie mit "ihrer" deutschen Welterbestätte verbinden. Einsendeschluss ist der 6. Mai 2015.

Due to the strong earthquake in Nepal, monuments and sites within the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property as well as several other cultural and natural heritage sites have been heavily damaged, according to UNESCO’s preliminary assessment on the ground.

At a meeting in New York on 21 April, representatives of Germany and Iraq have announced a joint initiative for a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly against destructions and lootings of cultural goods by the terrorist organisation ISIS.

On 21 April 2015, the Federal Foreign Office organised an information meeting in Berlin on the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee.

Today we received World Heritage Greeting #2 from the Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue, Paraguay.

Every year on 18 April, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) celebrates the “International Day for Monuments and Sites”. This year the Day is also dedicated to celebrating ICOMOS’ 50th anniversary.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova has condemned the demolition of historic World Heritage ruins in the Iraqi city of Nimrud by terrorists as a war crime. Damage to the site was first reported in March, but a recently published video shows the full scale of destruction, as the city is completely destroyed.

Die Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission e.V. lädt 18 bis 27 jährige Menschen in Deutschland ein, mit ihrem Smartphone sowie auf einem charakteristischen Foto zu zeigen, was sie mit "ihrer" deutschen Welterbestätte verbinden. Einsendeschluss ist der 6. Mai 2015.

The 39th session of the Word Heritage Committee has now an official Facebook page!

“Framed by a breathtaking backdrop of rugged cliffs, sand dunes and Bedouin camps, you will find a vibrant diversity of life in Wadi Rum. During spring the desert blooms in a variety of colors and shapes and surprises travelers even with waterfalls.

On 28 March 2015 UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova launched the campaign #Unite4Heritage at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Baghdad in Iraq. #Unite4Heritage is a social media campaign to counter the propaganda of cultural cleansing and the destruction of cultural heritage, to support Iraqi youth and to mobilise young people across the world for its protection.

The German Commission for UNESCO is looking for volunteers for the practical support of the 39th session from 28 June to 8 July 2015 in Bonn. Deadline for application: 15 April 2015.

The Chairperson of the 39th World Heritage Commitee calls on the international community concerning the destruction of Iraqi cultural sites by IS terrorists.

On 5 March 2015 Minister of State Maria Böhmer accepted the invitation of Minister-President Reiner Haseloff (CDU) and visited the Francke Foundations in Halle on the Saale River and the Naumburg Cathedral in Land Saxony‑Anhalt. The two sites are seeking to be inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage.

Exhibition in the framework of the 39th Session of the World Heritage Comitee: The German Commission for UNESCO is inviting professionals with an understanding of the international heritage field, proven artistic experience in conceptualising and producing exhibitions, and with practice in photography and story-telling to submit an offer corresponding to the following Terms of References before 16 March 2015.

Islamic State Fighters Devastate Ancient Heritage of Mosul: The shocking footage showing IS fighters destroying ancient art works with sledgehammers in the Museum of Mosul sparked international outrage and most severe concerns among archeologists around the globe.

Prior to the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee, a Young Experts Forum will take place from 18 to 29 June 2015 in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage site and in Bonn. Young heritage experts from around the world from 20 to 30 years old are invited to exchange ideas and provide input to the theme of this year’s Forum 'Towards a Sustainable Management of World Heritage Sites'. Applications will be accepted until 23 March 2015.