Common heritage of humanity

*Earthrise*, photographed during an orbit of the Moon by William Anders during the 1968 Apollo 8 mission

Common heritage of humanity (also termed the common heritage of mankind, common heritage of humankind or common heritage principle) is a principle of international law that holds the defined territorial areas and elements of humanity's common heritage (cultural and natural) should be held in trust for future generations and be protected from exploitation by individual nation states or corporations.