Conservation Tool

IUCN World Heritage Outlook

The IUCN World Heritage Outlook is the most comprehensive global assessment of World Heritage sites inscribed for their nature conservation values. Based on in-depth, evidence-based site assessments (Conservation Outlook Assessments), the World Heritage Outlook provides site managers, decision-makers, and other stakeholders a basis for targeted conservation action.

Implemented by the IUCN World Heritage Team and IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), this knowledge product provides a reliable, transparent, and independent assessment on the present situation and future prospects of natural World Heritage. Conservation Outlook Assessments are carried out through desk-studies by independent experts, drawing on extensive information sources.

These assessments provide a detailed analysis of the state of heritage values and associated attributes, the threats facing those attributes and the state of protection and management at the site level. Well-managed sites are recognised for their conservation efforts and good management practices are communicated.  

Since the launch of the IUCN World Heritage Outlook in 2014 and updates in 2017 and 2020, it is possible to analyse the state of conservation across World Heritage sites over time that are inscribed for their nature conservation values. This provides site managers, decision-makers, and other stakeholders a basis for targeted action to address threats and strengthen management and protection measures, while highlighting conservation successes.