Protecting places

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, initially recognized under natural heritage criteria, successfully transitioned to the new category of 'associative cultural landscape' within UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This shift reflects evolving academic debates on culture and nature, the growing political influence of Indigenous and non-Western perspectives, and the challenges in managing inhabited protected areas. The study highlights how international political processes and intangible dimensions—such as spiritual and symbolic values—shape environmental protection frameworks. By analyzing Uluru-Kata Tjuta's renomination, the research demonstrates the dynamic interplay between physical landscapes and cultural significance, offering a case study for redefining heritage conservation in an era of increasing global collaboration.

(Ed.). (2017). Protecting places. Cultural Landscapes and Environmental Change, 109–124. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315824802-18