Technical notes (a) Derivation of terms

Biogeographic(al) provinces

In the Operational Guidelines, biogeographic(al)

provinces are suggested as an appropriate comparative
unit for grouping similar natural properties when
preparing tentative lists (Paragraph 8), for
nominating a series of natural properties for
nomination to the World Heritage List
(Paragraph 19(iii)) and for IUCN when preparing
relative evaluations of natural properties
(Paragraph 60) (UNESCO February 1996: 6 and 18).


Buffer zone

Paragraph 17 of the Operational Guidelines defines a

buffer zone as:
... an area surrounding the property which has
restrictions placed on its use to give an added layer of
protection; the area constituting the buffer zone should
be determined in each case through technical studies
(UNESCO February 1996: 5).
Paragraph 17 of the Operational Guidelines further
states that:
Whenever necessary for the proper conservation of a
cultural or natural property nominated, an adequate
"buffer zone" around a property should be provided and
should be afforded the necessary protection ... Details
on the size, characteristics and authorized uses of a
buffer zone, as well as a map indicating its precise
boundaries, should be provided in the nomination file
relating to the property in question (UNESCO February
1996: 5).
Bureau
see World Heritage Bureau

C

Canal

In September 1994 a meeting on "Heritage Canals" was held at

Chaffeys Lock, Ontario, Canada. The expert meeting defined a
canal as:
... a human-engineered waterway. It may be of
outstanding universal value from the point of view of
history or technology, either intrinsically or as an
exceptional example representative of this category of
cultural property. The canal may be a monumental work,
the defining features of a linear cultural landscape, or
an integral component of a complex cultural landscape
(von Droste et al 1995: 433, Annex III).

see Cultural landscape