The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage , adopted by UNESCO in 1972.As of January 2017, 1052 sites are listed: 814 cultural, 203 natural, and 35 mixed properties, in 165 states parties.For more information, visit: whc.unesco.org/en/list/
