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(1) The World Heritage Treaty (officially called the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage) was adopted at the 17th general assembly of UNESCO in 1972. Its purpose is to establish an international system of cooperation and assistance with a standpoint that it is important to protect cultural and natural heritage against the threat of damage and destruction and preserve them as world heritage of humanity. Japan has ratified this Convention in 1992 and has become a State Party. According to the Convention, properties considered to have 'outstanding universal value' to be mentioned (registered) on the World Heritage List and thus transmitted to future generations include; monuments, ruins, natural areas and properties made by man that are common to mankind, surpass national boarders and race, and are seen to be irreplaceable. (2) As such, in order to be listed as World Heritage it is firstly a condition that the property has a global 'outstanding universal value'. Secondly, it is necessary to satisfy more than one of the standards to be listed as World Heritage. Thirdly, in order for the value of the Property to be transmitted to future generations it is imperative that measures be taken for preservation and conservation. (3) As of March 2004, at present there are 754 properties in 129 countries inscribed on the World Heritage List (149 natural, 582 cultural and 23 'mixed' (A property that has meet the requirements of both Natural and Cultural Heritage) properties). * Definition * World Heritage (Cultural Property) Registration Standards * World Heritage in Japan * The Process to be inscribed onto the World Heritage List * The Scope of World Heritage Sites * The Necessity to be Nominated as a World Heritage Property * The Buffer Zone around the Mine's Ruins * Schedule for Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine to be listed as a World Heritage Site * The Iwami Ginzan Ruins After World Heritage