Beyond Standards: Framework for Monitoring, Protection, and Conservation of Highly Vulnerable Cultural Heritage Sites in the Context of Anthropopressure and Climate Change

A groundbreaking framework for monitoring, protecting, and conserving highly vulnerable cultural heritage sites—such as the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial—has been developed to address threats posed by climate change and anthropogenic pressure. The study introduces non-standard, minimally invasive testing methods that successfully mitigate risks without altering the material fabric of historic assets. Drawing from a multi-year interdisciplinary research project in collaboration with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, it challenges conventional conservation standards, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies to protect sites increasingly vulnerable to external threats like hydrogeological changes. This approach offers a model for safeguarding other UNESCO World Heritage Sites facing similar pressures.

Paruch, R., & Porębska, A. (2026). Beyond Standards: Framework for Monitoring, Protection, and Conservation of Highly Vulnerable Cultural Heritage Sites in the Context of Anthropopressure and Climate Change. Sustainability, 18(1), 409. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010409