From Planning to Management of Cultural Heritage Sites: Controversies and Conflicts Between Unesco WHL Management Plans and Local Spatial Planning in South-Eastern Sicily

A study of Syracuse and Pantalica, UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) in South-Eastern Sicily, reveals significant challenges in integrating supranational heritage management plans with local spatial planning. The research highlights that while UNESCO's protective frameworks aim to foster sustainable development, their effectiveness is often undermined by rigid local planning systems. This disconnect leads to conflicts between global conservation goals and regional development priorities, demonstrating the need for more adaptive and collaborative planning approaches.

Piccolo, F. L., & Todaro, V. (2015). From Planning to Management of Cultural Heritage Sites: Controversies and Conflicts Between Unesco WHL Management Plans and Local Spatial Planning in South-Eastern Sicily. European Spatial Research and Policy, 21(2), 47–65. https://doi.org/10.1515/esrp-2015-0004