Visually imposing World Heritage sites often catch the imagination of the public. Few realize the importance of community engagement that accrues benefits to local people at these sites. This chapter consists of five case studies from different parts of the world that demonstrate local community benefits from World Heritage conservation.

The case study on Memphis and its Necropolis (Egypt) profiles a recent programme to fight poverty in the Dahshur area by fostering sustainable heritage tourism and cultural industries through participatory and community-owned protection and management of Dahshur's cultural and natural resources. The direct beneficiaries are from the five targeted local villages.

World Heritage inscription was a major factor in the conservation of the Wadden Sea (Germany and the Netherlands), particularly to bring about cooperation and coordination and move forward with conservation in a concerted manner. Strategic communication and marketing strategies are being implemented to ensure local community sense of ownership that places the Wadden Sea as part of a larger community of marine World Heritage sites with a leading role along with others such as Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Papahanaumokuakea in the United States.

World Heritage status has boosted the local economy and helped to change negative perceptions of the town at the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage site (United Kingdom). Collaboration between the public sector, local traders and community groups has resulted in an exciting events programme intended to assist the local economy and promote the site. The transformations have helped residents to again feel a sense of pride in their historic town and the surrounding heritage landscape, halting the population decline of the past ninety years and contributing to around 100 jobs.