Recent Publications
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra
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2026
A study modeling the habitat suitability of the great argus (Argusianus argus) in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Indonesia, revealed that primary forests located far from human disturbances and with lower rainfall levels are critical for its survival. Using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm, researchers analyzed environmental variables such as elevation, slope, distance to rivers, and land cover, combined with field survey data. The model achieved high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.846), identifying distance to roads, rainfall intensity, and primary forest presence as key factors influencing the species' distribution. These findings highlight the urgency of conserving undisturbed primary forests and mitigating road impacts to protect this vulnerable species and preserve the ecological integrity of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
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2026
Forest fires in Uttarakhand, India, pose significant threats to the region's economy, biodiversity, and water resources. Annual fires affect approximately 1750 hectares of forest, particularly during specific seasons, disrupting the delicate balance of ecosystems that support rivers, agriculture, and medicinal plants. The study highlights the critical role of forests in Uttarakhand—covering 45.43% of its geographical area—as a backbone for biodiversity and economic stability. However, these fires not only destroy forest resources but also threaten the livelihoods of local communities dependent on these ecosystems. The research underscores the urgent need for sustainable fire management strategies to protect this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its ecological significance.
Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah
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2026
State-led waterfront developments in the Gulf region, while aiming to reconnect maritime heritage with World Heritage Sites (WHSs), often fall short on social integration and climate adaptation, undermining urban resilience. A comparative study of Historic Jeddah and Muharraq, Bahrain, using an expanded Comprehensive Waterfront Development Index (CWDI) framework—now comprising eight dimensions—revealed that these projects, though integrating key CWDI aspects, lack sufficient social cohesion and climate adaptability. This finding highlights a critical gap in sustainable development within rapidly transforming WHS peripheries, challenging the narrative of waterfront developments as mere extensions of heritage assets.
Manú National Park
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2026
Conservation practitioners' narratives often perpetuate exclusionary wilderness discourses, emphasizing their own heroism while erasing or marginalizing Indigenous peoples. A critical analysis of archival material and interviews from the Manu National Park, Peru—a global conservation priority—reveals that these narratives frame Indigenous communities as environmental threats rather than acknowledging their vital roles. While some exceptions exist, fundamental reflexivity in conservation practices remains lacking, highlighting the need for practitioners to de-center themselves and recognize Indigenous contributions.
Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek
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2026
Alpine glaciers and ice fields in the Alaska Range, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek, have yielded significant archaeological discoveries, including preserved artifacts from early human activity. The exhibit 'Archeology on Ice' showcases these findings at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, a strategic location near North America's earliest archaeological sites. The research approach involves systematic exploration of ice patches and glaciers, revealing insights into past human behavior and environmental interactions. This exhibit serves as an educational platform to share these discoveries with both academic and general audiences.
Vilnius Historic Centre
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2026
The inscription of the Vilnius Historic Centre onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 marked a pivotal moment, symbolizing international recognition of Lithuania's urban heritage and its re-established independence. This study reveals how Soviet-era conservation practices, despite their flaws—such as ineffective implementation and methodological principles like 'sanation' that undermined authenticity—were paradoxically validated post-independence. The research explores the transition from centralized Soviet approaches to emerging civic rights and romantic reconstruction ideas, highlighting the interplay between heritage conservation, national identity, and global recognition. By analyzing the 1987 Vilnius Old Town Regeneration Project, this work provides a nuanced understanding of how heritage practices shape post-Soviet landscapes.
Gunung Mulu National Park
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2026
Gunung Mulu National Park exemplifies the neocolonial and antipolitical dimensions of global conservation governance. The study reveals how the World Heritage Convention, through its technical and scientific frameworks, prioritizes nature for global enjoyment while marginalizing Indigenous voices and displacing local communities. By analyzing site selection processes in Mulu Park, Malaysia, researchers demonstrate how these practices normalize 'global' values, often facilitated by international non-governmental organizations (BINGOs), thereby perpetuating land grabs and cultural displacement without meaningful local participation.
Ogasawara Islands
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2026
Brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) exhibit route-dependent foraging behavior around passenger ferries, suggesting that these vessels may act as 'fish finders' by disturbing surface-associated prey like flying fish. Research conducted in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan—home to one of the largest breeding colonies—revealed a directional asymmetry: significantly higher numbers of boobies accompanied ferries departing from the main colony island (Hahajima) compared to southbound trips. The behavior peaked during the chick-rearing period in August, with birds following the ferry immediately upon departure but only appearing mid-route when traveling toward the colony. This pattern hints at cognitive abilities such as spatial memory and associative learning. The study highlights the potential of low-cost observational methods from public transport for behavioral research, offering a scalable approach for citizen science.
West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
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2026
Traditional Chinese Feng Shui theory significantly shaped the design philosophy and practice of Guozhuang, a historic garden in Hangzhou adjacent to West Lake. The study reveals that Guozhuang's layout, aesthetics, and function align with Feng Shui principles, such as north-south orientation, borrowed scenery, and balanced water and rockery systems, creating a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature. Architectural details further express ideas of guiding qi and balancing energies, enhancing spatial atmosphere and aesthetic value. This research combines literature review, field investigation, and expert interviews to analyze the garden's geographical setting, spatial layout, and landscape elements, offering theoretical and practical insights for contemporary landscape design while supporting the preservation of traditional culture.
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
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2026
A novel framework combining ChiMerge discretization, Weight of Evidence (WOE) transformation, and tree-based ensemble learning achieves high accuracy in mapping landslide susceptibility in Jiuzhaigou Valley, China. The approach outperforms conventional methods by identifying statistically meaningful thresholds in conditioning factors and quantifying their association with landslides, leading to an AUC of 0.9432 for the best-performing model (WOE-CatBoost). High-risk zones, covering 28.59% of the study area, account for 85.96% of observed landslides, primarily in steep valleys, fractured lithological areas, and regions affected by human activities such as road construction and tourism development. This method enhances both prediction accuracy and interpretability, offering critical spatial support for landslide prevention and sustainable land management.
Group of Monuments at Hampi
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2026
Hampi's rural tourism model stands out as a mature, globally recognized approach that effectively integrates heritage tourism with community-based hospitality, contrasting sharply with Kalaburagi district. The study reveals that while Kalaburagi boasts rich cultural and rural resources, it lags in organized hospitality models and tourism integration compared to neighboring districts like Ballari (Hampi region), Bidar, and Raichur. By analyzing tourism resources, infrastructure, community participation, and government support, the research highlights significant disparities in development. Recommendations for Kalaburagi include adopting best practices from surrounding regions to enhance its rural tourism potential, offering a blueprint for sustainable growth.
Old Town of Ghadamès
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2026
Traditional houses in Ghadamès, Libya, demonstrate exceptional sustainability through passive design strategies that enhance thermal comfort and minimize energy consumption. These structures utilize internal courtyards, thick walls, compact urban forms, and natural ventilation to adapt effectively to hot-arid climates. In contrast, contemporary houses rely heavily on mechanical cooling systems and industrial materials with high embodied energy, leading to higher operational energy demands. This comparative study highlights the potential of integrating climate-responsive traditional design principles into modern architecture to improve environmental performance and promote sustainable urban development in Libya.
Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua
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2026
A groundbreaking study in the Tchimpounga Nature Reserve (TNR), Republic of Congo, reveals that Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture (SECR) analysis is the most precise and cost-effective method for estimating chimpanzee density. Using camera trap data collected over six months, researchers identified 116 chimpanzees across a 252 km² grid, yielding a density estimate of 0.87 individuals per km² (95% CI: 0.58-1.30). This finding aligns with the distance sampling method's estimate of 0.81/km² but underscores SECR's superior reliability. The study marks the first application of SECR to great apes in Congo, providing critical insights for conservation efforts in the Odzala-Kokoua Forest Massif. This approach offers a robust foundation for monitoring chimpanzee populations amid habitat loss and illegal hunting pressures.
Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites
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2026
A long-term monitoring system implemented on the bell tower of Assisi's Basilica reveals critical insights into the dynamic behavior and seismic vulnerability of monumental structures. The study, conducted between 2022 and 2023, utilized a network of ultra-low-noise accelerometers and a velocimeter to track modal behavior, assess impacts from recent seismic events, and analyze weather-induced frequency variations. Data managed via cloud-based platforms highlights the tower's response to complex loading conditions, offering a model for preserving heritage sites in seismically active regions. This research advances understanding of long-term structural integrity under dynamic stresses.
Medieval Monuments in Kosovo
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2026
The Church of St. George in Rečani, Kosovo, was definitively established as a 14th-century Serbian cultural monument through the discovery of a tombstone inscription dating to December 23, 1370, suggesting its founder (ktitor) may have been a duke buried there. While earlier mentions in Dušan’s charter around 1348 remain uncertain, this inscription provides the earliest reliable evidence of the church's existence. The study also documents the church's decline from the 19th century onward, marked by neglect, vandalism, and a suspected fire, followed by partial restorations in the mid-20th century. Tragically, it was destroyed in 1999 despite international protection, raising concerns about historical erasure in Kosovo. The research combines epigraphic analysis with historical documentation to reconstruct the church's fate.
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