1-9 December, St. Petersburg and Kazan hosted the International Forum for the 50^th anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which brought together more than 1,700 delegates from Russia, the CIS countries, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

The World Heritage Site Managers' Conference was held as part of the Forum. It was organized and moderated by the Natural Heritage Protection Fund and the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Conference was attended by about 50 representatives from 9 countries, namely directors of protected areas included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, experts from relevant government agencies, scientific and public organizations. Participants of the international professional community discussed a wide range of issues related to World Heritage Sites and got acquainted with the best practices for the conservation and development of unique territories. As part of individual working sessions, they held discussions on finding the best solutions against the background of constant conflicts between conservation and development, identifying the best models for informed management of Natural World Heritage Sites, determining the best options for tourism activities at World Heritage Sites.

Following the Forum, the Kazan Declaration was adopted. It summed up the conclusions and results of 9 conferences held as part of the Forum. The Managers’ Conference Resolution is at the stage of coordination. It includes specific proposals for Russia to improve its implementation of the World Heritage Convention. The resolution will be submitted to the Commission for UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.

Forum page https://50whc.kzn2022.com/