2020: heritage, the pandemic and the journal

The global COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted heritage preservation efforts, particularly for UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Tomb of Askia in Mali. Research highlights that conservation and rehabilitation processes were abruptly halted due to lockdowns, while tourism—critical for funding such sites—collapsed, with visitor numbers dropping by up to 99% in some regions. The study also notes parallels between COVID-19's impact and long-term threats like terrorism, climate change, and underfunding, emphasizing the urgent need for adaptive strategies to safeguard cultural heritage during crises. Surveys from Europe, North America, and Portugal further quantify these disruptions, underscoring the pandemic's rapid and profound effects on global heritage preservation.

Ferreira, T. M., O. Sequeira, S., Claro, A., Zélia Miller, A., & Figueiredo, E. (2021). 2020: heritage, the pandemic and the journal. Conservar Património, 8–11. https://doi.org/10.14568/cp36fm2