Cultural and natural heritage is necessary to be protected not only at the national level but also from the international viewpoint, especially in economically poor countries. So a demand arises for inventory of those important values of our planet that need protection. Therefore in 1972 UNESCO on its General conference in Paris accepted the Convention about protection of the World cultural and natural heritage. On its basis the member states of the convention can suggest cultural and natural values into List of world cultural and natural heritage. The decision on registration into the list is carried out by the Committee for world heritage elected from the representatives of the member states. The board decides on the basis of established criteria with the help of experts especially from international non-governmental organizations ICCROM, ICOMOS and IUCN. At the same time the board established how the resources of Fund of world heritage will be used. This fund is created by compulsory dues of member states, as well as by other sources. In 1995 on the List of world heritage there have been 440 localities, among them 4 ones from Slovakia. Except the possibility to get an international help, the registration to the list means an increased interest in the given locality which in its turn means an increase of tourism and economic prosperity. So also the chances for permanent protection of particular world cultural and natural values grow.