Here is a suggestion (if Els approves) for a new tradition of preparing connections for all non-controversial recommendations for Inscribe starting 1-week in advance of the WHC. To some degree we already do this on an individual basis. This will lead to more Connections ready on 'inscription day' and less overlap. The WHC will still offer some surprises during the session as they do every year.

Guidelines: It probably does not make sense to post connections on sites that might not be inscribed, even if they are very likely inscriptions. So, I removed all sites that are recommended referrals, deferrals, or not inscribe. Furthermore, considering some ICOMOS recommendations challenged certain criteria (for example with Melka Kunture and Balchit), it might be prudent to avoid connections that might fall under potential rejected criteria, etc.

Africa
- The Royal Court of Tiebele (Burkina Faso) - Inscribe
- Melka Kunture and Balchit Archeological and Paleontological Site (Ethiopia) - Inscribe
- Historic Town of Gedi (Kenya) - Inscribe
- The Emergence of Modern Humans: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa (South Africa) - Inscribe

Arab States
- Umm al-Jimal (Jordan) - Inscribe
- The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area (Saudi) - Inscribe

Asia and the Pacific
- The Central Axis of Beijing (China) - Inscribe
- Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes (China) - Inscribe
- Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf [Phase II Extension] (China) - Extension approved
- Moidams - the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty (India) - Inscribe
- The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park's Caves Complex, Sarawak (Malaysia) - Inscribe
- Phuphrabat Historical Park (Thailand) - Inscribe

Europe & North America
- Te Henua Enata - The Marquesas Islands (France) - Inscribe
- Residence Ensemble Schwerin (Germany) - Inscribe
- Moravian Church Settlements Extension (Germany, UK, USA) - Extension approved
- Via Appia 'Regina Viarum' (Italy) - Inscribe
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire Dacia (Romania) - Inscribe
- Sculptural Ensemble of Constantin Brancusi at Targu Jiu (Romania) - Inscribe
- Testament of Kenozero Lake (Russia) - Inscribe
- Flow Country (United Kingdom) - Inscribe

Latin America & Caribbean
- Lencois Maranhenses National Park (Brazil) - Inscribe

I will begin with a connection I already mentioned in the Connection Suggestions.

That would be good indeed. I already added 3 for each a while ago, but happy to include more before the session starts...

Starting with Africa.

The Royal Court of Tiebele (Burkina Faso)

Built in the 16th Century - "Established since the 16th century at the foot of the hill of Tchébili, 172 km south of the capital Ouagadougou and approximately fifteen kilometres north of the border with Ghana, the Royal Court of Tiébélé is an earthen architectural complex that bears testimony to the social organisation and cultural values of the Kasena people." - AB Evaluation

Earth Architecture - "The architecture of the Royal Court of Tiébélé is one of low earthen structures. The compound walls, enclosures and low walls, and the walls of the dwellings, are made of wet mud (banco), mixed with straw and cow dung, using the cob method (walls constructed using clods of earth piled on top of each other), with flat earthen terrace roofs supported by wooden beams, or conical thatched roofs. More recently, the adobe technique (sun-dried mudbrick), which makes building easier, has supplanted the cob method." - AB Evaluation

Role of Women - "the Royal Court of Tiébélé is nationally and internationally renowned for its mural decorations, which reflect the outstanding knowhow of the Kasena women, who also play an important role in the transmission of the cultural heritage. A woman from the Royal Court of Tiébélé was granted recognition in 2015 as a Living Human Treasure (LHT)." - AB Evaluation

Historic Town of Gedi (Kenya)

Built in the 12th Century - "Gedi flourished between the 12th to 15th century, a period referred to as the "Golden Age" of Swahili civilisations." - AB Evaluation

Coral Masonry - "Local materials such as coral stone, lime, coconut palm, mangrove poles and coral rag were used in the construction of the houses, tombs, and mosques." - AB Evaluation

Swahili culture - "Gedi is one of the greatest, most important, and most prosperous Swahili cities on the East African coast, and is the only major Swahili city located away from the coastline." - AB Evaluation

Fusion - "The fusion of African and Islamic beliefs can be seen in the layout of the city, in the distinctive architectural forms of its coral stone buildings, in the decorative details of its mosques and tombs, and in the technical know-how of the wells and hydraulic systems that sustained a large urban settlement over centuries of occupation." - AB Evaluation

Let me share the 3 for each upcoming WHS already, otherwise we get too many doubles.

Give me a moment to do the query

These connections I have added already (you will only see them appear in the connections after the site has been formally included late July):
Brâncusi Monumental Ensemble of Targu Jiu Built in the 20th century
Brâncusi Monumental Ensemble of Targu Jiu Monumental Columns
Brâncusi Monumental Ensemble of Targu Jiu Named after individual people
Marquesas Islands Built in the 11th century
Marquesas Islands Archipelagos
Marquesas Islands Pacific Ocean
Schwerin Residence Ensemble Built in the 19th Century
Schwerin Residence Ensemble Horse Stables
Schwerin Residence Ensemble Theatres
Via Appia Grand Tour
Via Appia Built in the 4th century BC
Via Appia Linear inscriptions
Niah National Park's Caves Pictographs
Niah National Park's Caves Neolithic age
Niah National Park's Caves Early Hominid Remains
Umm Al-Jimal Built in the 5th century
Umm Al-Jimal Nabatean culture
Umm Al-Jimal Spolia
Pleistocene Occupation Sites Early Hominid Remains
Pleistocene Occupation Sites Middle Pleistocene
Phu Phrabat Petrosomatoglyphs
Phu Phrabat Built in the 7th century
Phu Phrabat Megalithism
The Royal Court of Tiébélé Earth Architecture
The Royal Court of Tiébélé Conical roofs
The Royal Court of Tiébélé Built in the 16th century
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Dunes
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Lagoons
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Mangroves
The Flow Country Peat
The Flow Country Eagles
The Flow Country Critically endangered fauna species
Badain Jaran Desert Dunes
Badain Jaran Desert Critically endangered fauna species
Badain Jaran Desert Global Geoparks
Beijing Central Axis Linear inscriptions
Beijing Central Axis Built in the 13th century
Beijing Central Axis Exact locations inscribed twice (or more)
Moidams Horse Burials
Moidams Dynastic Burial Places
Moidams Built in the 13th century
Gedi Built in the 10th century
Gedi Swahili culture
Gedi Latrines
Dacian Limes Built in the 2nd century
Dacian Limes Serial sites with the greatest number of locations
Dacian Limes Exact locations inscribed twice (or more)
Melka Kunture and Balchit Ten years or more to inscribe
Melka Kunture and Balchit Cultural landscape not recognized
Melka Kunture and Balchit Early Hominid Remains
Melka Kunture and Balchit Obsidian
The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Neolithic age
The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Sacred Mountains
The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Late Pleistocene
Testament of Kenozero Lake Built in the 12th century
Testament of Kenozero Lake Sacred Forests or Groves
Testament of Kenozero Lake Wooden architecture

Via Appia

Monumental Columns - "Two ancient Roman pillars, symbols of Brindisi. They were once thought to mark the ending points of the Appian Way, instead they were used as a port reference for the antique mariners. Only one of the two, standing at 18.74 metres (61.5 ft), is still visible." (Wikipedia)

Continuing with the Arab States

Umm Al-Jimal (Jordan)

Byzantine Empire and Civilization - "Umm Al-Jimal bears testimony to the rural way of life on the Hauran plateau in the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods, and epitomises the Hauranian culture with its agro-pastoral identity, reflecting the social values and cultural traditions of the Hauranian people. It provides a window into the hinterland of the imperial capitals and urban centres of the time." - AB Evaluation

Mosaics - "Several of Umm el-Jimal's churches are home to mosaics depicting animals, plants, and geometric patterns. These ancient mosaics are most likely influenced by the school at Madaba, which in antiquity was a famous center for mosaic art and production. Often incredibly fragile, Umm el-Jimal's remaining mosaics are a prime concern for the site's long-term conservation efforts." - https://www.ummeljimal.org/en/religion.html (Umm el-Jimal Project)

Destroyed or Damaged by Earthquake - "Around this time the population decreased, especially after an earthquake hit Umm el-Jimal in A.D. 749. The site was gradually abandoned during the 9th century, in the Abbasid era. The actual cause of that abandonment is best seen as a combination of events – the aftermath of earthquake, rolling pandemic, drought and shift of political epicenter to Baghdad." - https://www.ummeljimal.org/en/history.html (Umm el-Jimal Project)

The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area (Saudi)

Extreme temperatures - "ICOMOS notes that the historic conditions of the nominated property were significantly different from the present, which is one of the harshest places in the world for human habitation." - AB Evaluation

Desert Cultural Landscapes - Criteria ii "The rich collection of archaeological findings and inscriptions is a tangible manifestation of the role of the site as an important meeting place for different groups of people who built the caravan city of Qaryat al-Faw and the influences and cultural exchanges between the tribes of the desert and the trading groups that occupied and resided in the area over time." - AB Evaluation

Contiguous National Sites - Located in the buffer zone of 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1699/

Moving on to Asia and the Pacific.

Beijing Central Axis (China)

Contains significant structures from the 20th Century - "The most extensive urban intervention was the total remodelling and expansion of Tian'anmen Square which was finalised in 1977. In this period, the Monument to the People's Heroes (1952-1958), the National Museum of China (1958-1959), the Great Hall of the People (1958-1959), and the Chairman Mao Memorial (1976) were built. To accommodate the growing city traffic, the Zhengyangmen Gate and surrounding areas were renovated in 1914-1915 and the Yongdingmen Gate and surrounding areas were demolished and renovated in the 1950s." - AB Evaluation

Zero Mile or Kilometer Markers - "The kilometre zero point for highways is at Tiananmen Square, just outside the Zhengyangmen Gate. It is marked with a plaque in the ground, with the four cardinal points, four animals, and "Zero Point of Highways, China" in English and Chinese." - Wiki

Reconstruction regarded as unsatisfactory by UNESCO or ICOMOS - "ICOMOS notes two elements of concern in relation to authenticity. The first relates to the remodelling and extension of Tian'anmen Square Complex during the 20th century. The second concern refers to the reconstruction of the Yongdingmen Gate in 2005 after its demolition in 1957. ICOMOS considers that the authenticity of the Tian'anmen Square Complex and the Yongdingmen Gate has been compromised." - AB Evaluation

Marco Polo - ICOMOS ackowledges the 'Travels of Marco Polo' can be considered a 'valuable source of information' in relation to the nominated property, but not enough for 'global significance'. "ICOMOS notes that while the Travels of Marco Polo is an important literary work, it is not solely associated with the nominated property and its timeframe corresponds only to the initial phase of the Axis during the Yuan Dynasty and not to the Ming Dynasty when its major development took place. The nomination dossier mentions that the book describes in detail the layout of the nominated property when it was established as Dadu, and ICOMOS considers that as such, it can be used as a valuable source of information, but the association does not itself demonstrate outstanding global significance." - AB Evaluation

Mao was here - Mao is here (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square)

Mausolea - Mao Zedong (1893 - 1976)

Large Squares - Tiananmen Square 215,000 m2

would like to propose:

Name after a Mountain : PPB is located on Phu Phrabat Mountain which means Holy Footprints of Lord Buddha Mountain
Sacred Mountain : as Thai name implied, it is sacred for locals as the place where Holy Footprints of Lord Buddha located
Pictograph : as seen in many rock shelters
Legend and Folk Myth : Usa & Baros Buddhist Myth
Sima Stone : PPB is the corpus of Dvaravati Sima
Theravada Buddhism : Wat Look Koei Temple
Foreigner Price : Thai 20 THB Other 100 THB as of 2024
Name Change : by ICOMOS recommendation
Need for a comparative study : its first attempt ICOMOS gave deferral for more in-depth comparative study on Sima Stone and other Standing rock culture

Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes (China)

Tectonic processes - Criterion (viii): "The property appears to be a very rare example at global scale that reflects the evolutionary landforms as a combined result of regional tectonism and hydrogeological changes associated with climatic evolution." - AB Evaluation

Lencois Maranhenses National Park (Brazil)

Atlantic Ocean - 80 km of coastline

Moidams - the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty (India)

Necropolises - Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty are a royal mound burial necropolis established by the Tai-Ahom in northeastern India. Ninety moidams are found within the Charaideo necropolis, sited on elevated land." - AB Evaluation

Horse Burials - "The vaults contain the buried or cremated remains of kings and other royal individuals together with grave goods such as food, horses, and elephants, and sometimes queens and servants." - AB Evaluation

Sacred Forests or Groves - "The Tai-Ahom created moidams ("home-for-spirit") that work with the natural features of hills, forests, and water, creating a sacred geography by accentuating the natural topography. Sacred trees were planted and water bodies were created." - AB Evaluation

The Royal Court of Tiébélé

Cemeteries - "the bonnalè, the cemetery of the Royal Court, located just inside the Court, forming a buffer space between the entrance gate and the domains" (Ab Ev)

Notable Trees - "the red fig tree marking the entrance to the Court, beneath which are placed the sacred stones (dala), on which sit the princes and dignitaries" (Ab Ev)

Reconstruction regarded as unsatisfactory by UNESCO or ICOMOS - "The development of the use of new materials, such as cement, corrugated sheet metal, metal windows, and tar or other chemicals to replace the natural pigments used for the mural decorations, could adversely affect the authenticity of the nominated property. Two concessions have been rebuilt using cement agglomerate, with corrugated sheet metal roofing and metal joinery, in an architectural style which differs from the traditional typology of Kasena concessions." (Ab Ev)

Tumuli - "Other characteristic symbolic elements of the Royal Court of Tiébélé are located outside the compound. These include the pourou, the sacred tumulus where the placenta of the new-borns of the royal family are buried". (Ab Ev)

Testament of Kenozero Lake (Russia)

Taiga - "It is situated in the middle subzone of the taiga, at the crossroads of Fennoscandia and the Russian Plain within the watershed of the White and Baltic Seas." IUCN (AB Evaluation)

Named after a Lake - Kenozero Lake

Cultural WHS set within an IUCN recognised protected area - Kenozersky National Park IUCN Category - II (National Park) Link

Notable Lakes - "The high number of waterfowl and the importance of Kenozero Lake for migratory birds led to its recognition as Important Bird Area (260 bird species).

World Biosphere Reserves - Kenozersky Biosphere Reserve 2004

Bird Migrations - Kenozersky Biosphere Reserve in the Arkhangelsk Region in the northwest of the country includes virgin taiga forest and mixed pine-spruce forest ecosystems. The site is a globally important migratory bird habitat, and contains unique swamp and forest ecosystems. Kenozersky Biosphere Reserve "Kenozero National Park has been included in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere programme since 2004. The nominated property, with unique swamp and forest ecosystems, is recognised as a globally important habitat for migratory birds." - AB Evaluation

The Most Beautiful Villages - Vershinino (The Most Beautiful Villages in Russia)