World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 27981 – 28000 of 30315 publications

Site management process and urban renewal in Istanbul: Historical Peninsula

Historic Areas of Istanbul — 2012 — WHE0923447E2C

Uncoordinated urban renewal projects and the absence of a comprehensive Master Zoning Plan pose significant challenges to the effective management of Istanbul's Historical Peninsula, despite legal frameworks aimed at its preservation. The study highlights how concurrent large-scale plans and projects, alongside ongoing site management processes, have led to dominant impacts on the area without sufficient coordination or long-term planning. This situation underscores critical gaps in urban governance and heritage conservation strategies for this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Site specialists, diet generalists? Isotopic variation, site fidelity, and foraging by loggerhead turtles in Shark Bay, Western Australia

Shark Bay, Western Australia — 2012 — WHE9D59AB0912

Loggerhead turtles in Shark Bay, Western Australia, exhibit strong site fidelity and remarkable affinity for small geographic areas, often less than 5 km², suggesting they are site specialists. While larger adults display low isotopic variance, indicating a highly generalized diet, smaller individuals show higher isotopic variation, potentially reflecting dietary differences or timing of habitat recruitment. This study integrates stable isotope analysis with behavioral data to infer foraging patterns, challenging the assumption that among-individual isotopic variation at nesting sites reflects prey specialization.

Social Metabolism, Cultural Landscape, and Social Invisibility in the Forests of Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea — 2012 — WHEDF351AB29D

A significant portion of Rio de Janeiro's urban landscape, particularly its forests within the Pedra Branca and Tijuca mountain massifs, remains socially invisible despite its ecological and cultural importance. This study reveals how social metabolism—interactions between human societies and their environments—shapes these landscapes, often marginalizing local communities' contributions to biodiversity conservation. Researchers analyzed urban expansion, land use, and social dynamics using cross-cultural fieldwork methods, uncovering the tension between formal conservation efforts and informal, community-driven practices that sustain the city's unique ecosystems.

Socotra Archipelago - a lifeboat in the sea of changes: advancement in Socotran insect biodiversity survey

Socotra Archipelago — 2012 — WHE3C358DBA79

The Socotra Archipelago, a remote island group in the Indian Ocean, harbors a unique and highly diverse insect fauna that serves as a 'lifeboat' amid global environmental changes. This study advances our understanding of Socotran insect biodiversity by documenting 104 species, including 23 new to science, from a comprehensive survey conducted between 2009 and 2011. The research employed traditional taxonomic methods combined with DNA barcoding to assess species richness and endemism across the archipelago's distinct habitats. Findings reveal that Socotra's insects exhibit remarkable levels of endemism (up to 75% in some groups), underscoring its significance as a biodiversity hotspot. This work highlights the importance of protecting Socotra's fragile ecosystems, which face threats from climate change and human activity.

Soil organic carbon storage in moutain grasslands of the Lake Plateau at Mt. Durmitor in Montenegro

Durmitor National Park — 2012 — WHE1DBCD629F0

Researchers estimate that alpine grasslands on the Lake Plateau of Durmitor National Park, Montenegro, store approximately 560,414.86 tons of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the top 40 cm of leptosol soils, equivalent to an average density of 15.27 kg per square meter. This study highlights significant variability in SOC storage, driven by local-scale factors such as soil moisture, clay and silt content, and mean annual temperature. These variables collectively explain about 51% of the variation in SOC density across 28 soil profiles. The findings underscore the importance of microclimatic and edaphic conditions in determining carbon storage potential in high-altitude mountain ecosystems.

Soil Resource Inventory in U.S. National Parks: Increasing Appreciation of Soils, Advancing Scientific Discovery

Redwood National and State Parks — 2012 — WHEE89A4C7B62

A comprehensive soil resource inventory across U.S. National Parks, including Redwood National and State Parks, has identified 19 new endemic soil species in Great Smoky Mountains alone, challenging prior assumptions about soil types supporting long-lived bristlecone pines in Nevada's Great Basin National Park. This study, conducted by the National Park Service since 1999, leverages partnerships with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and employs advanced geospatial tools like the Remote Area Soil Proxy (RASP) to map soils in remote or hazardous landscapes. The inventory not only enhances park management strategies but also contributes to scientific discovery by mapping organic carbon sequestration areas and exploring inorganic carbon dynamics in crystalline soils, while addressing climate change impacts on ecosystems like Sequoia National Park's ancient trees.

Soil-gas survey of liquefaction and collapsed caves during the Emilia seismic sequence

Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines — 2012 — WHE379FAA6713

A soil-gas survey conducted during the Emilia seismic sequence revealed significant variations in carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from collapsed caves, including newly formed ones, indicating dynamic subsurface processes linked to seismic activity. The study, focused on the epicentral area of northern Italy's Ferrara Arc—a region with active thrust-related folds—highlighted the interplay between liquefaction phenomena and ground fractures following the May 2012 mainshock. Researchers measured soil-gas emissions in both pre-existing and newly identified collapsed caves, providing insights into the subsurface response to seismic events. The findings contribute to understanding the geodynamic behavior of evaporitic karst systems within UNESCO-recognized sites, offering critical data for hazard assessment.

Soils of the Botanical Garden on Bolshoi Solovetsky Island

Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands — 2012 — WHE008562B826

Anthropogenic transformation significantly alters soil properties and distribution patterns on Bolshoi Solovetsky Island, as demonstrated by a comparative study of the island's botanical garden soils. Researchers found that human activities have introduced distinct structural characteristics and changes in soil composition when compared to natural soils formed under similar geological conditions. The study highlights how anthropogenic factors can reshape soil landscapes, offering insights into the environmental impacts of human intervention in sensitive ecosystems like the UNESCO-listed Solovetsky Islands.

Solid Waste Management Issues in Small Towns of Developing World: A Case Study of Taxila City

Taxila — 2012 — WHEA4EEA7A424

Taxila City faces severe solid waste management challenges due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. The study reveals that open dumping of municipal solid waste is causing significant environmental degradation, including land and water pollution, infectious diseases, and biodiversity loss. Key factors contributing to these issues include insufficient funding, poor waste management practices, non-implementation of legislation, and irresponsible behavior by residents. The research highlights the urgent need for improved waste management systems in small towns of developing countries to mitigate negative environmental impacts.

Solomon’s Temple, Stonehenge, and Divine Architecture in the English Enlightenment

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites — 2012 — WHE85FCA44E4C

A significant connection between Stonehenge and Solomon’s Temple emerged during the English Enlightenment, with Isaac Newton positing that Stonehenge may have been an ancient Prytanæum—a sacred fire temple predating Solomon’s design. Though Newton only briefly mentioned this in unpublished work, notable figures like Inigo Jones, William Stukeley, and John Wood the Elder expanded on it, framing Stonehenge as a precursor to divine architecture. This reinterpretation became a distinctly English narrative, blending historical speculation with architectural theory.

Solstice orientation of the St Nicholas’ Church monastery Studenica, Serbia

Studenica Monastery — 2012 — WHE9EB08063A7

A 13th-century Serbian monastery, St Nicholas’ Church at Studenica, exhibits a solstice alignment that deviates significantly from the traditional east-west orientation. Research reveals that the church's longitudinal axis is tilted 24 degrees northeastward, likely to align with the summer solstice sunrise. Using orthographic transverse map projections and topographical analysis, scientists confirmed this alignment by measuring the distance between the observation point along the church's vertical axis and the actual summer solstice sunrise point on the horizon—approximately 1.5 degrees apart. A field check on June 21, 2011, validated the method's accuracy, suggesting that the protomaster intentionally designed the church to mark this celestial event.

Soundscape variation in a historical city centre due to new traffic regulation

Historic Centre of Naples — 2012 — WHE327DEEDE0A

A new traffic regulation in Naples' historic center, the largest restricted traffic area (ZTL) in Europe, significantly altered the city's soundscape. This study found that while the ZTL aimed to improve sustainable mobility and quality of life, it also impacted auditory perception—an aspect often overlooked in urban renewal processes focused on tangible heritage. Through soundwalks conducted before and after implementing the ZTL, researchers analyzed variations in acoustical and environmental parameters, revealing how traffic restrictions can shape the intangible cultural soundscape of a World Heritage Site. These findings underscore the need to integrate auditory preservation into Management Plans for historic city centers, ensuring that interventions maintain both visual and sonic authenticity.

Sources and sinks of nitrogen and phosphorus to a deep, oligotrophic lake, Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park — 2012 — WHE18419F0CBA

A significant anthropogenic source of nitrogen, particularly from diesel truck traffic on U.S. Highway 101, has been identified in the oligotrophic Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park. This finding challenges the perception of pristine water quality in this deep-water lake, renowned for its low nutrient levels. The study, conducted over 14 months, measured nitrogen and phosphorus loads from five major inflow streams, the Lyre River outlet, and multiple lake stations, while also estimating contributions from sources like leaf litter, pollen, and vehicle exhaust. Unlike other potential sources such as onsite septic systems, highway traffic emerged as a dominant contributor to nitrogen compounds in the lake's ecosystem.

Sources of volatiles for a subduction zone volcano: Mutnovsky volcano, Kamchatka

Volcanoes of Kamchatka — 2012 — WHE66C95054AD

Mutnovsky volcano, located in Kamchatka's subduction zone, exhibits a complex fluid system dominated by slab-derived fluids from the Pacific Plate, accounting for up to 73% of its volatile emissions. Mantle contributions are minimal, not exceeding 2.1%, while crustal inputs range from 0.5 to 5%. This study reveals that Mutnovsky's gas composition aligns with typical subduction volcanoes but suggests the presence of two independent magma bodies, explaining observed variations in fumarole chemistry. Researchers used mass balance calculations comparing gas emissions with geochemical reservoir compositions to uncover these insights.

Space and Muslim Urban Life: At the Limits of the Labyrinth of Fez By SIMON O'MEARA

Medina of Fez — 2012 — WHE45ABA00905

Simon O'Meara's study reveals how the walls of premodern Fez (1400–1800) shaped its urban space and influenced social norms within Muslim society, offering a comprehensive contextualization of early Islamic medina history. By analyzing architectural boundaries and their interplay with behavioral norms, the research advances beyond prior scholarship, including works by Ali Djrebi and Abdelwahab Bouhdiba, to explore the enduring impact of walls on urban life and legal discourse in Arab-Muslim cities. The study also examines 'the Book of Walls,' a regulatory framework governing wall construction, providing timely insights as Fez celebrates its 1200th anniversary.

Space and Political Pedagogy at the Gardens of Versailles

Palace and Park of Versailles — 2012 — WHE4372FEEE1F

The gardens of Versailles served as a powerful pedagogical tool during seventeenth-century France, shaping political power dynamics by associating the French monarchy with Rome's imperial legacy. Through immersive classical art, architecture, and engineering, the gardens created an Olympian fantasy world that drew nobles into the 'figured world' of the French empire while legitimizing state centralization over nobility. This study demonstrates how spatial design can exert political influence, reinforcing royal authority by equating France with Rome's grandeur.

Space‐geodetic evidence for multiple magma reservoirs and subvolcanic lateral intrusions at Fernandina Volcano, Galápagos Islands

Galápagos Islands — 2012 — WHE8D12BAFA52

Research using InSAR data reveals Fernandina Volcano, Galápagos Islands, possesses multiple magma reservoirs and subvolcanic lateral intrusions. The study identifies two persistent magma storage zones beneath the summit and southern flank: a flat-topped reservoir at approximately 1.1 km below sea level and an oblate-spheroid cavity at around 4.9 km below sea level, both hydraulically connected. Additionally, it provides the first geodetic evidence for lateral intrusions in December 2006 and August 2007, potentially explaining historical volcanic events like the 1927 uplift at Punta Espinoza and the 1968 caldera collapse without significant eruption. The findings align with previous geodetic and petrological studies.

Spatial and Chronological Sketch of the Ancient City of Sambor Prei Kuk

Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura — 2012 — WHE1DC1395936

Recent archaeological investigations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sambor Prei Kuk, identified as the ancient capital of the Chenla kingdom (Īśānapura), reveal previously unknown urban features that challenge and expand our understanding of its chronological occupation. While the 'Temple Zone' has been extensively studied since the early 20th century, new discoveries in the 'City Zone'—including brick sanctuaries, moats, ramparts, roads, basins, and dams—suggest that this area was not only occupied as early as the 7th century but also remained a significant regional center throughout the Angkorian period (until at least the 10th century). These findings, supported by epigraphic analysis of inscriptions, statues, lintels, and spatial distributions, indicate that Sambor Prei Kuk functioned as a dual-purpose site: a religious complex and an urban hub, bridging the gap between its early capital phase and its later role within the Angkorian empire. This recontextualizes the site's significance in Southeast Asian political and cultural history.

Spatial distribution of aquatic Oligochaeta in Ilha Grande National Park, Brazil

Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity — 2012 — WHE43B3447804

A preserved aquatic ecosystem in Ilha Grande National Park, Brazil, supports a higher richness of Oligochaeta (Annelida) species compared to long-term studies with more frequent sampling. The study recorded 13 species from two families (Naididae and Tubificidae) across five floodplain lakes, revealing distinct spatial patterns linked to abiotic variables such as granulometric texture. These findings underscore the park's role in preserving benthic invertebrates, offering insights into the ecological dynamics of freshwater environments within UNESCO-listed sites.

Spatial modelling of benthic cover using remote sensing data in the Aldabra lagoon, western Indian Ocean

Aldabra Atoll — 2012 — WHE434B61B392

Neighborhood context interactions significantly enhance the predictive power of benthic cover models, with spatial autoregression improving accuracy from R² = 0.25 to 0.79 compared to ordinary least-squares methods. This study leveraged remote sensing and GIS techniques to map the distribution of live coral, carbonate sand, macroalgae, and dead coral across Aldabra Atoll's lagoon (174 km²), providing high-resolution data for conservation efforts. By integrating water depth and level variation with benthic cover records, researchers established a synoptic model applicable to broader lagoon ecosystems, offering critical insights for resource management in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.