Other relevant bodies in the United Nations system 83 and avoid and resolve ethnic conflict. Numerous MOST projects, either completed or ongoing, deal with the social and political aspects of international migration and growing ethnocultural diversity.89 Culture and minorities Cultural heritage According to the 1972 World Heritage Convention, “cultural heritage” refers to a monument, group of buildings or site of historical, aesthetic, archaeological, scientific, ethnological or anthropological value. “Natural heritage” designates outstanding physical, biological and geological features, such as habitats of threatened plants or animal species and areas that have scientific or aesthetic value or are important from the point of view of conservation. Each country that ratifies the Convention pledges to conserve the sites situated on its territory, some of which may be recognized as World Heritage Sites. Their preservation for future generations then becomes a responsibility shared by the international community as a whole. The Convention is overseen by the World Heritage Committee, which meets annually to discuss all matters related to its implementation. It also decides on the inscription of new sites on the World Heritage List. Some of the cultural or natural sites included in the World Heritage List are located in regions where minority communities live, such as the Asian Rice Culture and its Terraced Landscapes of the Ifugao in the Philippines and the Old Town of Lijiang of the Naxi in China. UNESCO encourages minority communities to participate in identifying sites which might be nominated by their Government for inscription on the World Heritage List.90 For further information, contact: World Heritage Centre UNESCO 7, place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07SP France E-mail: whc-info@unesco.org Website: whc.unesco.org Intangible cultural heritage UNESCO has protected “intangible cultural heritage” since 1989, pursuant to the UNESCO Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore. Intangible cultural heritage includes oral cultural heritage, languages, performing arts and festive events, social rituals and practices, knowledge systems and beliefs and practices about nature. In many cultures, and for minority and indigenous populations in particular, intangible cultural heritage is an essential source of identity. Since UNESCO launched the Safeguarding and Promotion of Intangible Heritage programme in 1993, it has undertaken many activities covering different aspects of the intangible cultural heritage of minorities in Asia, Africa and the Pacific; some are still in progress. UNESCO is also conducting a feasibility study on the elaboration of a new standard-setting instrument to protect intangible cultural heritage. See www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/social-transformations/most-programme (accessed 3 December 2012). 89 See http://whc.unesco.org/en/committee (accessed 3 December 2012). 90