The America's National Parks Podcast is brought to you by L.L. Bean is a proud

proud partner of the National Park Foundation.

L. L. Bine and NPF share a belief that every community

should have the opportunity and resources to experience the joy of the outdoors together.

Through this partnership, they're not only helping people find their parks,

they're helping protect, restore, and improve parks across the U.S.

If it's outside, L.L. Bean is all in.

Be an outsider with L.L. Bean.A. B. While exploring national parks, monuments, and historic sites across

the country, you may have noticed gigantic plaques in a few visitor centers, designating them as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

I'm Jason Epperson, and today on America's National Parks we explore what makes these sites special and

what it takes for an exceptional place to become a World Heritage Site.

More than 40 years ago, the United States was the first country to sign the World Heritage Convention, a pioneering

treaty for international cooperation in the preservation of the world's most significant natural and cultural treasures.

The United States played a key role in developing the convention,

which itself is part of the global outgrowth

and evolution of the American National Park idea.

Since 1978, the United States has nominated some of its most iconic sites, as well as some lesser

known ones, for inclusion in the prestigious

World Heritage List.

To date, 24 U.S. sites have been selected and inscribed on the World Heritage List.

The primary purposes of the World Heritage Convention

are to enhance worldwide understanding and appreciation

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