Safeguarding of cultural heritage

The UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972, responds to the concern about the conservation of the world’s threatened cultural and natural heritage and preserving this for the future generations. The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage further complements it. 

Finland’s National World Heritage Strategy and its implementation plan for 2015–2025, which set out Finland’s policy on world heritage and the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, were evaluated at the beginning of 2026. The evaluation shows that implementation of the Strategy has been substantial, strengthening Finland’s position as a responsible steward of world heritage and deepening cooperation between world heritage sites. The next step is to update the Strategy so that it better responds to current needs. In Finland, responsibility for world heritage matters is split between the Ministry of Education and Culture, which oversees cultural heritage, and the Ministry of the Environment, which is responsible for natural heritage.

The objective of the 1972 Convention is to strengthen the appreciation for the unique heritage of different nations and to enhance its protection through educational and information programmes. The Convention sets the foundation for international cooperation efforts to save, cherish and restore cultural heritage when the resources of the nations themselves do not suffice.

At present the World Heritage List contains eight Finnish World Heritage Sites and one Natural Heritage Site:

  • Fortress of Suomenlinna (1991)
  • Old Rauma (1991)
  • Petäjävesi Old Church (1994)
  • Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (1996)
  • Bronze Age Burial Site at Sammallahdenmäki (1999)
  • Struve Geodetic Arc (2005)
  • Kvarken Archipelago (2006)
  • Aalto Works (2026)

The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Culture Heritage. There are four Finnish objects on the international list of intangible cultural heritage:

  • Sauna culture in Finland (2020)
  • Kaustinen fiddle playing and related practices and expressions (2021)
  • Nordic clinker boat traditions (2021, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden)
  • Knowledge, craft and skills of handmade glass production (2023, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary and Spain)