A UNESCO Tentative List records natural and cultural properties that a country considers potentially significant enough to become World Heritage Sites. Inclusion does not mean a place has been approved or formally nominated; it marks the start of a process that may lead to a nomination later on.
To qualify, a property must demonstrate Outstanding Universal Value: significance considered exceptional beyond its own country and relevant to people around the world, including future generations. It must meet at least one of UNESCO’s 10 selection criteria, which cover areas such as human history and culture, geology, ecological processes and biodiversity. The criteria are periodically revised.
Meeting a criterion is not sufficient by itself. A proposed site must also satisfy applicable requirements for authenticity and integrity, protection and management. Its case must explain why its significance is exceptional internationally, including through comparisons with similar properties.
Countries identify potential sites and manage their own Tentative Lists. UNESCO encourages them to consult a range of stakeholders, including local communities, site managers, government bodies and non-governmental organizations, although the consultation process varies by country. A country can update its list at its discretion, and a site that is not nominated in one round may be considered later. Once a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List, it is removed from the Tentative List.
The United States currently has 17 properties on its Tentative List, with entries dating from 2008 and 2017. They include cultural sites such as the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park in New York, the Civil Rights Movement Sites in Alabama, and Ellis Island, as well as natural properties including Big Bend National Park in Texas, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.
After a country decides to proceed, it must prepare a formal nomination showing how the property meets the relevant criteria, documenting its authenticity and integrity, and setting out protections and a management framework. The nomination also compares the site with others of similar significance. Independent advisory bodies assess nominated properties and their conservation measures; the UNESCO World Heritage Committee makes the final decision on inscription.
Sources: Condé Nast Traveler.