聯合國教科文組織世界遺產的相關基本觀念幾乎完全表現在世界遺產公約上。為了履行世界遺產公約，再設置作業準則（The Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage)。1977年世界遺產委員會（World Heritage Committee）將公約內容擬定完成，之後因加入文化景觀等新觀念，而陸續有較頻繁的修訂。
INTRODUCTION
I.ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
A.General Principles
B.Indications to States Parties concerning nominations to the list
C.Criteria for the inclusion of cultural properties in the World Heritage List
D.Criteria for the inclusion of natural properties in the World Heritage List
E.Procedure for the eventual deletion of properties from the World Heritage List
F.Guidelines for the evaluation and examination of nominations
G.Format and content of nominations
H.Procedure and timetable for the processing of nominations
II.REACTIVE MONITORING AND PERIODIC REPORTING
A.Reactive Monitoring
B.Periodic Reporting
C.Format and content of periodic reports
III.ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE IN DANGER
A.Guidelines for the inclusion of properties in the List of World Heritage in danger
B.Criteria for the inclusion of properties in the List of World Heritage in danger
C.Procedure for the inclusion of properties in the List of World Heritage in danger
IV.INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
A.Different forms of assistance available under the World Heritage Fund
i.Preparatory assistance
ii.Emergency assistance
iii.Training
iv.Technical co-operation
v.Assistance for educationinformation and promotional activities
B.Dealines for presentation of requests for international assistance for consideration by the Bureau and the Committee
C.Order of priorities for the granting of international assistance
D.Agreement to be concluded with States receiving international assistance
E.Implementation of projects
F.Conditions for the granting of international assistance
V.WORLD HERITAGE FUND
VI.BALANCE BETWEEN THE CULTURAL AND THE NATURAL HERITAGE IN THE IMOLMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION
VII.OTHER MATTERS
A.Use of the World Heritage Emblem and the namesymbol or depiction of World Heritage sites
B.Rules of Procedure of the Committee
C.Meeting of the World Heritage Committee
D.Meeting of Bureau the World Heritage Committee
E.Participation of experts from developed countries
F.Publication of the World Heritage List
G.Action at the national level to promote a greater awareness of the activities undertaken under the Convention
H.Links with other Conventions and Recommendations
ANNEXES
ANNEX1 Model for presenting a Tentative List
ANNEX2 World Heritage Emblem
ANNEX3 Guidelines and Principles for the Use of the World Heritage Elblem
前言
I. 世界遺產名單之登錄
A. 一般原則
B. 有關締約國推薦世界遺產名單之注意事項
C. 世界遺產名單文化遺產之登錄標準
D. 世界遺產名單自然遺產之登錄標準
E. 世界遺產名單登錄解除手續
F. 提名地點之評估及討論方向
G. 提名地點之書面文件與內容
H. 提名地點之登錄手續與時間表
II. 監測與通報
A. 監測
B. 通報
C. 通報的格式與內容
III. 瀕危世界遺產之登錄
A. 瀕危世界遺產之登錄細則
B. 瀕危世界遺產之登錄標準
C. 瀕危世界遺產之登錄手續
IV. 國際協助
A. 世界遺產基金協助型態
i. 預防性協助
ii. 緊急協助
iii. 研習
iv. 技術協助
v. 推廣活動之協助
B. 世界遺產委員會及理事會審查國際協助申請案之期限
C. 接受國際協助之優先次序
D. 與接受國際協助之締約國簽定備忘錄
E. 計畫之實施
F. 接受國際協助之條件
V. 世界遺產基金
VI. 履行世界遺產公約之際，文化遺產及自然遺產間之平衡
VII. 其他
A. 有關世界遺產識別標誌及世界遺產地名稱、象徵符號之使用
B. 世界遺產登錄紀念牌之製作
C. 世界遺產委員會之程序規則
D. 世界遺產委員會會議之召開
E. 世界遺產委員會常務理事會會議之召開
F. 先進國家專家學者之參與
G. 世界遺產名單之出版發行
H. 推廣世界遺產公約之國際活動
I. 與其他公約及宣言之合作
附件一 暫定名單之提出格式 附件二 世界遺產識別標誌 附件三 世界遺產識別標誌之使用原則及細則
參考資料
*世界遺產公約作業準則 The Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
*Historical Development of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
*「世界遺產導覽-世界公約篇-」（瀨戶內智庫綜合研究機構出版）