French Association for World Heritage Properties in France (ABFPM)

01 December 2010

Association des biens français du patrimoine mondial (ABFPM)

After several meetings with French sites, the representatives of 30 cultural and natural sites in France decided to give some structure to their coordination by founding the ABFPM. This association wants to act upon the shared awareness of the responsibility involved in inclusion in the World Heritage List.

Context

The French properties included in the World Heritage List first met back in 2004, following the Loire Valley's initiative, with a view to drafting periodic UNESCO assessment reports. This was followed by annual meetings through which the desire to form a network for discussing and sharing experiences was born.

Objectives

The association's missions are to:

Create the conditions for discussing and sharing knowledge and experiences in the areas of preservation, protection, promotion, bringing to life and management of the heritage
Make proposals and hold discussions in these areas among heritage stakeholders in France and abroad
Promote the sites included in the World Heritage List among the public and tourist operators.

Results

09-10/12/2004: 1^st Meetings of World Heritage sites in France in Fontevraud and Tours – Proceedings from the 1st meeting

06-07/07/2005: 2^nd Meetings of World Heritage sites in France in Nancy
06-07/2005: 3^rd Meetings of World Heritage sites in France in Lyons
18-19/10/2006: 4^th Meetings of World Heritage sites in France in Arles/Pont du Gard
27/09/2007: 5^th Meetings of World Heritage sites in France in Puy-en-Velay: French Association for World Heritage Properties in France (ABFPM) founded
Autumn 2008: 6^th Meetings of World Heritage sites in France in Le Havre
01-02/10/2009: 7^th Meetings of World Heritage sites in France in Reims
06-07/05/2010: 8^th Meetings of World Heritage sites in France in Besançon

Partners

13 full members, operators of the properties listed:
- Saint-Savin sur Gartempe Abbey-Church
- Jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion (Treasurer)
- Pont du Gard (Chairman of the Management Plan Commission)
- Belfries of France
- Historical Site of Lyons (Chairman of the International Relations Commission)
- Le Havre
- Loire Valley (Co-Chairman of the Culture, Communication and Tourism Commission)
- Arles (Acting Vice-President)
- Nancy (Deputy Secretary)
- Strasbourg (Secretary)
- Fontenay Abbey
- Provins
- Bordeaux (Deputy Treasurer)
- Network of major Vauban sites (Co-Chairman of the Culture, Communication and Tourism Commission)
2 qualified specialists:
- Yves Dauge, Indre-et-Loire Senator (President)
- Minja Yang, Director of the UNESCO Board in India (Board Member)