Cultural Landscape of Sintra
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Immersive technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), significantly enhance visitor engagement at cultural heritage sites. A proposed AR/VR-based Web app for Monserrate Palace, a UNESCO-listed site in Sintra, Portugal, demonstrates this potential by offering interactive storytelling and immersive experiences that deepen the connection between visitors and historical narratives. The study explores how these technologies can address challenges in traditional tourism, such as limited visitor engagement, while addressing technical constraints and preservation concerns. Findings suggest that AR and VR not only enrich the visitor experience but also create memorable and enjoyable interactions with cultural heritage, making them valuable tools for modern audiences.
Old City of Sana'a
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Waterfronts in the Sayilah of Old Sana'a significantly contribute to the sustainability and enhancement of architectural heritage, fostering cultural awareness while improving urban quality of life. These waterfronts serve as a bridge between historical identity and contemporary needs, offering aesthetic and environmental benefits that strengthen the visual and functional interaction between the city and its heritage. An analytical case study approach revealed their potential for integrated preservation strategies, recommending policies to protect them from degradation and reactivate their role as vital environmental components within Old Sana'a's boundaries.
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat
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A study on Thai tourists' experiences at religious tourism sites, including Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, reveals four key dimensions shaping visitor satisfaction: enjoyment, learning, aesthetics, and escape. Enjoyment arises from activities like sightseeing and merit-making festivals, while learning is fostered through historical narratives and hands-on experiences such as meditation. Aesthetic value is tied to architectural beauty, and escape offers mental rejuvenation in serene surroundings. These dimensions highlight the interplay of emotional, spiritual, and cultural elements in creating meaningful experiences. The research used thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 23 Thai tourists at three Buddhist temples in Phitsanulok Province, providing actionable insights for tourism planners to balance visitor engagement with cultural preservation.
West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
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A combined GIS-based visual analysis framework reveals that only two of ten potential city-to-lake visual corridors remain unobstructed in Hangzhou's West Lake, highlighting unmanaged vegetation as a critical barrier. This multi-method approach—integrating cumulative viewshed (CV), visual magnitude (VM), field of view (FOV) analysis, and street-view image (SVI) segmentation—exposed intentional spatial design strategies in high-visibility zones while also identifying 37 landscape types along lakeside roads where vegetation obstructs views. The study underscores the limitations of single-method analyses, such as SVI's insensitivity to topographic variation, and demonstrates that integrating multiple visual analysis methods provides deeper spatial insights for heritage conservation and urban planning.
Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil)
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This study sheds light on the enduring cultural and historical significance of the Jesuit Guaraní Missions through an artistic and autobiographical lens. It explores the (re)signification of visualities at the site of São Miguel Arcanjo, capturing the nuances of genuine discovery during photographic expeditions. The research highlights the unique hybrid culture that flourished in the missions during the 16th to 18th centuries, combining European and Indigenous elements, and the subsequent disruption caused by colonial policies. It also delves into the symbolic significance of natural elements, such as the burrowing owl and the Guarani Aquifer, and their connection to the site's history and cultural heritage.
Mount Taishan
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A novel ensemble-based susceptibility modeling approach with predictive symmetry optimization achieves superior accuracy (AUC = 0.964) for geological hazard prediction at Mount Tai, China, outperforming individual machine learning models (max AUC = 0.927). This method addresses small-sample constraints by dynamically weighting models (MLP and XGB) based on output symmetry, reducing bias while maintaining robustness across six algorithms (LR, MLP, RF, GBDT, XGB, SVM). Key drivers of geohazards—elevation, slope, topographic wetness index, and road adjacency—were identified, with high-susceptibility zones concentrated in southeastern terrain and road-intensive areas. The approach combines grid search for hyperparameter tuning and SHAP values for factor contribution quantification, offering a scalable solution for small-sample risk assessment.
The Gedeo Cultural Landscape
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Enset, a vital food security crop for over 25% of Ethiopia's population, supports diverse landraces adapted to varied ecological conditions, serving as food, animal feed, medicine, and fiber. A study across Hadiya, Gedeo, Gurage, Kembata Tembaro zones, and Basketo Special Woreda revealed moderate to high enset landrace diversity, with 274 vernacular names recorded but only 106 actively cultivated. Despite this, no significant differences in diversity were observed among sites. Food value was identified as the primary driver of landrace selection and abundance. The research employed in-depth interviews, surveys, group discussions, and field observations to analyze distribution and richness using Simpson’s diversity, Shannon–Wiener, and Margalef’s indices. The findings underscore the importance of maintaining landrace diversity and traditional knowledge for sustainable enset agriculture, resilience, and food security.
Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats
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A dynamic balance exists between microalgal biomass exchange and tidal cycles in Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats. Environmental factors such as strong winds, waves, and heavy rainfall significantly enhance resuspension, while site-specific sedimentary settings and diel cycles influence microalgal flux. This near-equilibrium highlights the complex interplay of environmental conditions shaping coastal carbon cycling. The study employed a combination of field observations and modeling to elucidate these processes, offering insights into the ecological dynamics of tidal flats.
Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex
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A study in Thailand's Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex reveals critical environmental factors influencing the spatial abundance of five key tiger prey species: gaur, banteng, sambar deer, muntjac, and wild boar. Using advanced camera-trap data analysis models (REST and Royle-Nichols), researchers found that vegetation cover, proximity to human settlements, elevation, and salt licks significantly impact prey densities. Muntjac and wild boar consistently showed higher densities, with estimates ranging from 1.05 to 3.06 individuals per km² depending on the model used. These findings provide a novel framework for predicting animal density, offering crucial insights for conservation strategies aimed at sustaining tiger populations in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Serra da Capivara National Park
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Rock art in Brazil's Serra da Capivara and Serra das Confusões National Parks reveals ancient environmental perceptions, suggesting a wetter climate 20-25 thousand years ago. The study, using Landscape Archaeology, interprets phytomorphic and zoomorphic representations—like the Blastocerus dichotomus—as paleoenvironmental indicators. It also contributes to the debate on the peopling of the Americas, particularly at Toca do Boqueirão da Pedra Furada, while contrasting Western scientific perspectives with indigenous views that see petroglyphs as containing hidden languages.
Škocjan Caves
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Erasmus students show strong engagement with UNESCO World Heritage Sites and local PDO/PGI products, driven by curiosity and academic mobility. A comparative study of Poland (Malbork Castle, Wieliczka Salt Mine) and Slovenia (Škocjan Caves, Ljubljana) revealed shared patterns in cultural tourism preferences while highlighting unique regional influences. Survey data from the University of Gdańsk and the University of Primorska, combined with field studies at key sites, demonstrated students' motivation to explore heritage landscapes and support local gastronomy. The findings suggest opportunities for heritage management and tourism marketing to enhance international student experiences, reinforcing education's role in cross-cultural connections.
Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings
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Hollókő's cultural heritage, encompassing both tangible and intangible elements, plays a pivotal role in the sustainable development of rural areas. While cultural tourism offers economic benefits by leveraging this heritage as a global attraction, its massification poses risks to the site's authenticity, condition, and value. The study reveals that the increasing tourist influx can degrade the heritage's integrity, disrupt local tranquility, and threaten long-term sustainability. Through surveys and interviews with key stakeholders, the research maps Hollókő's heritage history—its exploration, preservation, and tourism utilization—across different eras, reflecting societal processes. It also assesses the current state of the site, highlighting both its global visibility as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the challenges arising from its elevated status.
Canal du Midi
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The Canal du Midi exemplifies the transformative power of human ingenuity and its enduring aesthetic and functional significance. Originally built between 1666 and 1681 to connect Toulouse with Sète via 328 engineering structures—locks, aqueducts, bridges, and tunnels—it has evolved from a transport artery into a multifaceted space for tourism, leisure, and urban living. This transformation has not only preserved its natural heritage but also enhanced its aesthetic appeal, fostering a dynamic landscape that nourishes both residents and visitors alike. The study highlights how the Canal du Midi serves as a living testament to the interplay between human design and environmental beauty, reflecting philosophical ideals of art and public space.
Hoi An Ancient Town
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A scale to assess the competitiveness of tourist destinations, applied to Hoi An cityreveals that while visitors widely agree on key factors influencing its appeal, significant gaps persist in infrastructure and connectivity. The study developed a seven-factor, 64-criteria rating system using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) to evaluate competitiveness. Preliminary findings highlight the need for targeted improvements in these areas to enhance Hoi An's tourism development. This approach provides a structured framework for analyzing destination competitiveness, offering actionable insights for heritage management.
Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
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A new framework for visual impact assessment (VIA) of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, specifically the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, has been established. The study identifies optimal horizontal angles—28° for Taereung and 47° for Gangneung—to assess visual impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) attributes of these tombs. It reveals that high-rise buildings in surrounding areas obstruct views of the mountains, negatively affecting the visual integrity of the heritage site. The research proposes criteria for VIA implementation, addressing a critical gap in domestic conservation practices. By mapping OUV attributes and using 3D simulations, it provides actionable guidelines to mitigate negative visual impacts while preserving the cultural landscape's authenticity.
Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche
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A sub-evergreen tropical forest within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve demonstrates high carbon storage potential, despite some localized degradation. Soil analysis revealed neutral to moderately alkaline conditions with low salinity and a sandy loam to sandy clay loam texture, supporting medium to very high organic matter (OM) and carbon content. The study found significant correlations between moisture levels and conductivity, as well as inverse relationships between silt/clay content and pH, indicating soil texture's influence on chemical properties. While the site's carbon sequestration potential is lower than semi-remote forests or national parks but higher than urban areas like Mexico City, it remains a valuable reservoir for carbon storage. The research suggests that large-scale degradation has not significantly impacted these properties, preserving Calakmul's ecological and climatic benefits.
Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
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Laojun Mountain National Park, within China's Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage region, holds significant non-use value estimated at 79.697 to 260.841 billion yuan annually, based on a contingent valuation study analyzing 219 survey responses. Key determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation include education, income, occupation, cultural identity, and recognition of legacy values. Interaction effect logistic regression revealed that cultural identity's influence on WTP is moderated by income level and ecological awareness. Motivational analysis identified aesthetic appreciation, cultural meaning, and intergenerational ethics as primary drivers of conservation support, while refusal to pay was largely tied to expectations of governmental responsibility among low-income and less-educated respondents. This study advances bio-cultural valuation theory, informs Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme design, and highlights the need for integrating socio-cultural dimensions into sustainable conservation finance and policy strategies.
Complex of Koguryo Tombs
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Research identifies six likely royal tombs from the late Goguryeo period (427–668 CE) in Pyongyang, Korea, following the kingdom's capital relocation. By analyzing roof tile production dates, tomb sizes, and artifact evidence, the study concludes that Gyeongsin-ri No. 1 (Jangsu King’s Tomb) was the first royal burial after the move, followed by five others: Dongmyeong King’s Tomb, Honam-ri Sasinchong Tomb (Anjang King), Topori Daechong Tomb (Anwon King), Gangseo Daemyo (Pyeongwon King), and Gosan-dong No. 1 (Yeongyang King). The findings suggest a structured afterlife concept among Goguryeo’s elite, reflecting their international standing in Northeast Asia. Two kings—Yangwon and Yeongnyu—remain unaccounted for, indicating ongoing research gaps.
Central Amazon Conservation Complex
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Research in the Central Amazon Conservation Complex reveals that variations in leaf phenology can serve as early warning signals for tree mortality, occurring up to seven and a half years before death. This finding suggests that tree death is not solely driven by external disturbances but also involves internal physiological decline and aging. The study analyzed 52 years of phenological data from hundreds of trees, demonstrating that water table depth significantly influences leaf production patterns, duration, and timing. Additionally, it identified two distinct phenological strategies in evergreen trees: one focused on drought avoidance/resource acquisition during wet periods, and another on drought resistance/resource conservation during drier periods. These insights enhance the understanding of Amazonian forest functionality and resilience, providing a systemic approach to predicting tree death and improving ecological models.
Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche
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Research at the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve reveals that its sub-evergreen tropical forest maintains high carbon storage capacity, despite some localized degradation. The study found that soil properties—neutral to moderately alkaline pH, low salinity, and sandy loam to sandy clay loam texture—support medium to very high organic matter and carbon content, promoting fertility and nutrient availability. While moisture levels varied with depth (higher at the surface due to the rainy season), significant correlations were observed between moisture, conductivity, silt/clay content, and pH, indicating soil texture's role in chemical dynamics. Though carbon sequestration potential was lower than in semi-remote forests or national parks but higher than urban areas like Mexico City, the site retains robust ecological resilience. The study employed passive sulfur sampling to assess atmospheric deposition during the rainy season, providing insights into spatial variability and long-term stability.
The Gedeo Cultural Landscape
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Agroforests in the Gedeo Cultural Landscape of Ethiopia serve as critical biodiversity havens and landscape connectors, mimicking natural forests to support sustainable agroforestry practices. These systems enhance on-farm conservation, environmental resilience, and livelihoods while acting as buffers against deforestation and fragmentation. They provide habitats for disturbance-sensitive species, conserve native tree gene pools, and facilitate ecological connectivity through corridors and stepping stones. Additionally, the diverse species composition in Gedeo agroforests significantly contributes to biomass and carbon storage, aiding climate change mitigation. Despite their ecological and socio-economic benefits, these agroforests face threats from land degradation, monoculture cash crops, climate change, market limitations, financial constraints, and insufficient technical knowledge.
Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex
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Nationalist movements in the Balkans appropriated Ottoman architectural heritage, including the Selimiye Mosque, by reinterpreting local folk narratives about master builders. These narratives, resembling the myth of Icarus, became tools for ethnic identity formation during interstate tensions in Thrace (1930s–1940s). The study reveals how transnational debates over these stories clashed with nationalist syncretism, exposing tensions between cultural continuity and national identity construction. Analyzing archival records and historical discourse, the research demonstrates the political instrumentalization of folklore in post-Ottoman heritage politics.
Historic Centre of Bukhara
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Bukhara's ethnotourism potential is highlighted as a key driver for global tourism, leveraging its rich historical and ethnographic heritage. The study reveals that the oasis, centered around the Zarafshan River, offers unique cultural experiences through its multiethnic communities, architecture, and culinary traditions. By analyzing Bukhara's aesthetic preferences and worldview, the research demonstrates how ethnotourism destinations such as Shirin, Sheykhon, Qorgon, and Borontepa actively promote national customs and folk arts. Challenges to ethnotourism growth are also identified, along with recommendations for sustainable development. The study positions Bukhara as an outdoor ethnographic museum, crucial for the expansion of global travel.
Garamba National Park
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Local communities in Garamba National Park (DRC) hold deep ethnozoological knowledge about the African buffalo, highlighting its multifaceted role in their lives. The study reveals that buffalo are vital for food, medicine, and cultural practices, with meat serving as a primary protein source and by-products used in remedies. While 69% of participants view them as valuable tourist attractions, concerns about aggression were noted (24.5%), alongside recognition of their ecological role in seed dispersal (6.8%). Knowledge is predominantly transmitted orally (84%), underscoring its importance for conservation efforts. The research, based on surveys of 429 individuals using the Kobocollect app, emphasizes integrating local knowledge into sustainable biodiversity management strategies.
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
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A new species of dwarf spiny freshwater crayfish, Euastacus vanderwerfi, has been discovered in the highland rainforests of Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia. This species is distinguished from its closest relatives by unique morphological features and exhibits specific burrowing behavior and ecological preferences. The discovery highlights the biodiversity of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Site and underscores the need for urgent conservation efforts, as Euastacus vanderwerfi is assessed as Critically Endangered due to significant population decline and habitat threats.
The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida
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A robust, multi-tool digital documentation approach enhances the preservation of twentieth-century architectural landmarks, as demonstrated by a case study on Eladio Dieste's UNESCO-listed Church of Atlántida. The research reveals that while SLAM-based methods show greater deviation, they remain valuable for initial surveys or confined spaces, whereas photogrammetry excels in capturing unreachable features, complementing laser scanning's precision. By integrating these tools and aligning their data sets with scalar fields to trace reliability, the study proposes a replicable workflow that improves data quality and supports sustainable conservation practices.
Historic Cairo
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Historic Cairo faces significant vulnerability to natural disasters such as flooding and landslides. A recent study reveals that 54.1% of the area is at very low to moderate risk for floods, while 12.4% is classified as very high hazard, impacting 21 heritage sites. Additionally, 16% of the area is in high-threat zones for landslides, affecting 13 cultural sites. When considering both hazards, at least 30 sites are in high-risk areas, including 9 in very high-risk zones, particularly in central and eastern Historic Cairo. The research employed remote sensing and GIS methods, prioritizing key factors using the Analytic Hierarchy Process to generate hazard maps. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted risk mitigation strategies to protect Historic Cairo's cultural heritage. The study provides a valuable GIS-based database and hazard maps for urban planners, policymakers, and stakeholders.
Taxila
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Taxila faces significant threats from rapid urban expansion and land cover changes between 1990 and 2024. Research reveals a dramatic increase in built-up areas (from 23.68 km² to 78.5 km²) and bare land (from 8.56 km² to 26.5 km²), with notable conversions of cropland and vegetation into urban and barren zones. Spatial analysis using support vector machine techniques and Getis–Ord Gi methods identified high clustering patterns near Sarakhola and Bhir Mound sites, while high-resolution imagery documented a critical loss of the Sarakhola site's core zone (from 0.0168 km² to 0.0032 km²), endangering its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). The study underscores urgent conservation challenges, advocating for stricter heritage law enforcement and policy revisions to safeguard Taxila's authenticity and integrity.
Sian Ka'an
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A striking 98% of dolphin-watching tour boats in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve violated local guidelines, with proximity to dolphins being the most common infraction. The study, using boat observations and drone footage, also found that 95% of dolphin directional changes occurred away from boat trajectories, while 55% showed increased swimming speeds during interactions. These findings highlight the urgent need for stricter monitoring and enforcement of dolphin-watching guidelines to protect local bottlenose dolphin populations and ensure sustainable tourism practices.
Komodo National Park
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A strong preference for sustainable development practices emerged as the key finding from a study evaluating tourist support for proposed developments in Komodo National Park. Using Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) and regression models, researchers analyzed data from 600 tourists to assess discrepancies between visitor expectations and perceptions of current park management. The findings underscored significant concerns about carrying capacity and environmental impacts, highlighting the need for park management to prioritize conservation while enhancing visitor satisfaction. Recommendations included controlled access systems, expanded visitor education programs, and sustainable infrastructure improvements to align development strategies with ecological preservation.
Qinghai Hoh Xil
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Approximately 19.02% of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau's permafrost region is highly susceptible to thermokarst lake formation, a phenomenon accelerated by climate change and posing significant risks to infrastructure and ecosystems. This finding stems from an innovative evaluation index system developed using Landsat imagery and human-computer interaction, which improved the accuracy of thermokarst lake classification in remote, data-scarce areas. Key factors identified include lake density, soil moisture, slope, vegetation, snow cover, ground temperature, precipitation, and permafrost stability. The study highlights the most vulnerable regions—southwestern Qinghai, northeastern Tibet, and Hoh Xil—as critical zones for disaster warning and mitigation efforts.
Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia – The domus de janas
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A rare entomological analysis of a Sardinian Neolithic tomb, the Domus de Janas at Filigosa, reveals new insights into prehistoric funerary practices. Mineralized remains of blow flies (Calliphora and Lucilia) and beetles (Necrobia) suggest that human bodies were exposed briefly before being deposited in the chamber, allowing initial colonization by flies. Subsequent primary burials occurred within the same space, with geological changes sealing the tomb shortly after use ceased. This study demonstrates how forensic entomology can reconstruct ancient burial sequences, bridging a gap in the application of this method to sites thousands of years old.
Saint Catherine Area
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A study evaluating runoff and morphometric characteristics in Wadi Ked, Sinai, Egypt, reveals significant variations in effective rainfall (E.R.) and flood hazard potential based on return periods (R.P.). Using the Curve Number (CN) method and HEC-HMS hydrological modeling, researchers estimated storm depths ranging from 27.63 mm to 86.99 mm for R.P. of 5 to 200 years, with corresponding runoff volumes between 4.93 Mm³ and 48.45 Mm³. The analysis, supported by ArcGIS for spatial representation and rainfall data from Dahab, Sharm El-Sheikh, and Saint Catherine stations, provides critical insights for designing protective structures to mitigate flooding risks in this environmentally sensitive region.
Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija
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A critical evaluation of sampling and preparation methodologies for mercury (Hg) analysis in foliage reveals significant biases that can distort our understanding of Hg cycling. The study found that rinsing samples removes 24–60% of Hg, particularly particulate-bound Hg enriched in heavier isotopes, underscoring its role in internal plant Hg dynamics but not total foliar Hg content. Vertical crown stratification also significantly influences Hg concentrations, with inner canopy foliage showing up to 50% higher Hg levels due to reduced solar exposure and enhanced throughfall deposition. The research validates the comparability of drying methods for low-Hg environments while highlighting the need for consistent rinsing protocols when studying surface-bound Hg fractions. These findings emphasize the importance of methodological rigor in foliar Hg studies, urging further investigation into inter-species differences, seasonal variability, and isotopic fractionation effects.
Classical Gardens of Suzhou
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Suzhou classical gardens, renowned for their blend of spatial aesthetics and poetic expression, have been systematically evaluated using quantitative models. The study identified the Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden as exhibiting high coordination between spatial form and poetic imagery, with coupling-coordination degrees (D) of 0.351 and 0.329 respectively. In contrast, Lion Grove Garden and Canglang Pavilion showed weaker performance due to design or cultural symbolism deficiencies. The research employed AHP-TOPSIS for indicator weighting and evaluation, combined with questionnaire data from 450 respondents, alongside coupling-coordination analysis to assess subsystem compatibility. This approach provides a scientific framework for conserving and revitalizing these gardens, emphasizing the synergy between spatial and poetic elements. However, the study's focus on Suzhou limits broader applicability, suggesting future research should expand to diverse cultural contexts.
West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
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A new framework for evaluating the multi-dimensional value of cultural landscapes, particularly along the Grand Canal in Hangzhou, has been developed. This approach integrates conservation and developmental values to assess how contemporary projects align with World Heritage standards while supporting urban development. Using coupling coordination degree theory, researchers analyzed 10 cultural landscape projects implemented post-World Heritage inscription, revealing insights into their synergistic potential for balancing heritage preservation and sustainable growth. The study provides a model for future 'city-river interdependence' projects along the Grand Canal, offering practical guidance for harmonizing land use control, urban planning, and conservation efforts.
Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats
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A study evaluating the diagnostic reliability of gill-based Ray’s fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM) assays for detecting Perkinsus olseni infections in Manila clams across Korean tidal flats found that while gills are a strong proxy for whole-body infection in high-prevalence areas, their accuracy drops significantly in low-infection environments. The research analyzed six tissues from clams collected at six sites, revealing that the visceral mass consistently harbored the highest parasite loads (27.8%-49.0%), followed by the mantle and gills. At most sites, gill infection levels correlated strongly with whole-body infection intensity (r²=0.6-0.95), but at Padori—where infection prevalence was lowest—the gill assay's efficacy plummeted to 56%, leading to a 44% false negative rate. These findings highlight the limitations of relying solely on gill tissue for diagnostic purposes and advocate for a dual-tissue approach combining gill and whole-body samples to enhance accuracy in surveillance efforts.
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls
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A groundbreaking exploration of the Old City of Jerusalem reveals how individuals and communities navigate complex realities of emplacement, challenging dominant narratives focused on political and religious significance. The study combines biographical narratives with spatial sociology to uncover diverse experiences of belonging, exclusion, and adaptation, tracing socio-political transformations since 1948. It highlights the intricate interplay between personal life stories, urban space, family ties, political occupation, religious identity, and social hierarchies, offering a nuanced account of daily life under occupation and intercommunal tension.
Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco
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Researchers have uncovered extreme horizontal ground motion amplification in Mexico City's Xochimilco region, attributed to the superposition of multiple resonance peaks. This phenomenon, revealed through ambient seismic noise tomography combining horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSR) and multimodal dispersion curves, highlights the complex interaction between sedimentary layers with varying water content and lava intrusions. The study, involving 84 seismic stations, demonstrates that while surface wave energy is distributed across fundamental and higher modes, the spatially continuous decrease in dominant peak frequency toward the lake interior masks heterogeneous amplification patterns. These findings are crucial for seismic mitigation strategies in Mexico City and may apply to other cities built on sedimentary basins.
Vredefort Dome
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Researchers have discovered previously unrecognized ejecta from the world's largest known impact crater, the 2.02-billion-year-old Vredefort Dome in South Africa. The study identifies sediments of the Doornfontein Member in the Griqualand West Basin as proximal ejecta, located approximately 500 km west of the crater center. These sediments, dating between 1928 ± 4 million years and 2222 ± 13 million years, overlap with the Vredefort event's age (2019 ± 2 million years) and exhibit shock metamorphic features such as planar deformation in quartz grains and granular zircons. The discovery suggests that the crater was likely on land rather than underwater and highlights the potential for preserving massive Paleoproterozoic ejecta layers. This finding could represent the oldest described crater-ejecta pair, offering new insights into the preservation of impact-related materials.
Tsodilo
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A shallow lake existed at Tsodilo Hills, Botswana, during the Late Pleistocene (17,500 to 15,000 years ago), contradicting the region's current arid conditions. Lacustrine carbonates with freshwater diatoms were deposited in two distinct phases, suggesting a deeper, more permanent water body around 17,500 years BP and a seasonally drying lake at 15,000 years BP, possibly influenced by windblown sand. The study confirms a widespread humid period in the Kalahari Desert during this time, likely due to increased summer precipitation from the southerly shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), coupled with lower temperatures and evaporation rates. Sedimentology and diatom assemblages were analyzed to reconstruct past environmental conditions.
New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands
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Research reveals that eastern rockhopper penguins around Campbell Island, New Zealand, have incorporated the commercially valuable arrow squid <em>Nototodarus sloanii</em> into their diet for the first time during the 2012–13 breeding season. Stable isotope analysis of cephalopods in penguin diets showed ecological stability for <em>Moroteuthopsis ingens</em>, while shifts were observed in <em>Octopus campbelli</em>, possibly due to warmer oceanic temperatures. This suggests potential changes in cephalopod biodiversity in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean, underscoring the need for further study on this region's ecological dynamics.
National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj
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Geochemical and loss-on-ignition (LOI) studies at the National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj reveal distinct patterns of prehispanic land use, supporting hypotheses from traditional excavations. Peripheral areas exhibited higher and more varied LOI values compared to central zones, indicating greater organic matter content and suggesting these regions were more actively utilized for residential or agricultural purposes. The research, conducted in collaboration between the park and the University of Warsaw, analyzed sediment samples from the Central Group, South Group, and peripheral areas using advanced geoarchaeological techniques to reconstruct land use dynamics.
Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site
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Researchers have identified a new species of dwarfgoby, <em>Eviota bikiniensis</em>, from Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. This discovery is notable for its unique morphological traits, including the absence of cephalic sensory-canal pores, thickened unbranched pectoral-fin rays, no fifth pelvic-fin ray, and a distinctive blue-white elongated first dorsal-fin spine in males. The study highlights the biodiversity of this UNESCO-listed nuclear test site, offering insights into the adaptability and diversity of marine life in such environments.
Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
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Livelihood resilience in tourism-dependent communities within the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, China, showed moderate overall stability despite significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A study analyzing 365 households across five towns revealed a 6.38% decline in resilience during the epidemic disruption stage (2020–2022), followed by a 4.54% recovery post-2022. Key drivers of resilience included increased material capital, improved organizational management, and proactive attitudes toward livelihood challenges, while constraints such as reduced tourist numbers, inefficient ecotourism management, and limited financial resources hindered progress. The research highlights the importance of interactive pathways—buffering, adaptation, and transformation capabilities—in enhancing resilience under exogenous shocks like pandemics.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: originary habitat of Mesoamerica
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2025 —
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The FESI-UNAM Seed Bank (SB) holds over 5,200 accessions of approximately 2,500 species from Mexico's arid regions, with a notable concentration of endemic and threatened flora. The SB's collection includes 2,135 accessions from these zones, representing 1,182 species across 547 genera and 108 families. Regions like the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley and central Mexico dominate the collection, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Cactaceae comprising nearly half of the samples. However, significant gaps remain in representation, particularly for endangered or endemic species in underrepresented regions. The study identifies these gaps to guide future conservation efforts, emphasizing the need to bolster seed collections from arid zones to safeguard Mexico's unique biodiversity.
Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din
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2025 —
WHE0CCB329843
A recent examination of the medieval wall paintings in Crac des Chevaliers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant Crusader fortifications in the Levant, has uncovered previously unknown details. The study, conducted as part of a new restoration program supported by Hungary and involving the Syro-Hungarian Archaeological Mission, utilized advanced techniques such as ED-XRF, OM, and PFIB-SEM to analyze the murals in situ within the castle's main chapel. These investigations revealed intricate details of damaged and incomplete depictions, providing insights into the painting technique and materials used. The research, conducted at the University of Miskolc's laboratories, contributes significantly to our understanding of the artistic and historical significance of Crac des Chevaliers, especially following the devastation caused by recent conflicts.
Lake Malawi National Park
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2025 —
WHE107B22EFBE
Protected area-based tourism at Lake Malawi National Park significantly contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enhancing local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and ecological health. The study reveals that such tourism creates employment and entrepreneurship opportunities while supporting community-led conservation initiatives, thereby reinforcing the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. By integrating these dimensions, Lake Malawi National Park emerges as a model for leveraging tourism to drive sustainable development. The research underscores the critical role of local community participation in maximizing tourism benefits and ensuring equitable resource distribution, ultimately fostering long-term conservation and community resilience.
Erbil Citadel
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2025 —
WHE4B37816CD9
Space syntax analysis reveals the Hashim Chalbi House, a historic residence turned museum within Erbil Citadel (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), holds significant potential for conservation and restoration while preserving its architectural and cultural integrity. This study addresses a recognized gap in spatial analyses of heritage buildings by using depthmap analysis to map and interpret the house's spatial configuration, offering insights into social and cultural interactions. The findings provide actionable guidance for maintaining the museum's historical authenticity and functionality, ensuring that future conservation efforts balance structural preservation with adaptive reuse.
Mount Sanqingshan National Park
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2025 —
WHECFDCFEB391
A significant mediating role of destination image between sensory impressions and behavioral intentions is identified, particularly highlighting the influence of visual, olfactory, auditory, and tactile stimuli on tourists' cognitive, affective, and conative images at Mount Sanqingshan National Park (MSNP). The study, grounded in Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory, demonstrates that destination image positively impacts behavioral intention, especially through the conative component. Using data from 393 on-site questionnaires analyzed via Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the research reveals how sensory impressions shape tourists' perceptions and subsequent behaviors, offering novel insights for branding World Natural Heritage Sites (WNHSs).
