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Showing 521 – 540 of 15962 publications

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump: The durative power of keystone institutions and embedded knowledge

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump — 2026 — WHE1E3ED65AEC

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump demonstrates remarkable cultural continuity over at least 6,000 years, with its use as a buffalo jump remaining consistent despite technological and environmental changes. The site's durative power is attributed to its role as a keystone institution, where embedded knowledge acted as a social surplus, reflecting the heterarchical social complexity of its users. This study applies theoretical models used elsewhere in North America to understand HSIBJ's long-term significance, highlighting its unique cultural resilience and the preservation of knowledge across generations.

Heat on fragile wings: evaluation of the risk of extinction of the Egyptian endemic butterfly Satyrium jebelia (Nakamura 1975) due to climate change

Saint Catherine Area — 2026 — WHED9E5443C64

Climate change poses severe threats to the survival of Satyrium jebelia, Egypt's only endemic butterfly, with projections indicating a 50% loss of suitable habitat by 2050 and near-total extinction by 2070 under high-emission scenarios. This study used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to assess habitat suitability across the Saint Catherine Area in Sinai, identifying mean temperature of the coldest quarter and precipitation of the driest quarter as critical factors shaping its distribution. The model's high accuracy (AUC = 0.99) revealed that S. jebelia currently occupies less than 5% of the peninsula, with highly fragmented habitats vulnerable to rapid decline under both moderate and severe climate change scenarios. Given an projected 80% population reduction over three generations, urgent conservation action—including ex-situ breeding and IUCN Red List evaluation for Critically Endangered status—is recommended.

Heritage as Economy: Socioeconomic Dimensions of Mughal Heritage Tourism in Agra, India

Agra Fort — 2026 — WHE083621A742

Heritage tourism in Agra, India, driven by Mughal architecture such as the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, generates significant employment but also creates economic vulnerability due to informality and seasonality. The study, based on fieldwork including surveys, expert interviews, and participant observation, reveals that while tourism sustains livelihoods for guides, vendors, artisans, and transport workers, these jobs often lack security, fixed wages, or benefits. Tourist flows, concentrated in cooler months, lead to unstable incomes, and economic benefits are unevenly distributed, favoring large hotels and organized businesses over small-scale operators. The research highlights the need for sustainable tourism planning to address labor insecurity, support local artisans, and diversify the economy to mitigate dependency on heritage-based visitor flows.

Heritage at Risk and Pedagogical Approaches: Training Professionals in Digital Documentation for UNESCO World Heritage Sites Under Threat at the Saint-Sophia Cathedral Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine

Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — 2026 — WHE86A70DAB94

A tailored pedagogical approach for digital heritage documentation in high-risk environments, developed during the 2024 UNESCO/ICOMOS mission to Kyiv's Saint-Sophia Cathedral Complex, demonstrates that integrating training into active documentation workflows can significantly enhance both immediate data utility and long-term professional capacity. The study, conducted as part of a broader emergency response initiative for Ukraine's cultural heritage, highlights five interconnected components—pre-mission preparation, session structure, training activities, learning outcomes, and adaptive responses to conflict—that collectively strengthen conservation efforts at threatened World Heritage Sites. By embedding education within real-world documentation tasks, the approach not only supports urgent damage assessment but also equips local professionals with critical skills for ongoing monitoring and risk preparedness.

Heritage Conservation and Tourism Development at Hampi: A Historical and Empirical Assessment, 1950–2025

Group of Monuments at Hampi — 2026 — WHE6EFDF568EB

Hampi's UNESCO World Heritage inscription in 1986 significantly bolstered its conservation framework, but subsequent tourism pressures led to its temporary inclusion on the 'World Heritage in Danger List' (1999–2006). A comprehensive analysis of secondary data from 1950 to 2025 reveals that while tourist arrivals surged during this period—driven predominantly by domestic visitors—conservation investment showed no statistically significant correlation with tourism performance (r = -0.244; p = 0.756). This suggests that factors beyond conservation spending, such as infrastructure development and policy measures, play a critical role in shaping Hampi's tourism dynamics. The study underscores the need for an integrated approach to heritage management, balancing conservation with community-sensitive tourism to ensure long-term sustainability.

Heritage Conservation Policies in Spain and World Heritage Sites: An Evaluation through the Case of Granada

Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada — 2026 — WHEC0A4D77245

Spain's heritage conservation approach, exemplified by the Alhambra Conservation Area, integrates monumental architecture with its environmental context, cultural landscape, and historic urban fabric. This multi-level governance system ensures coordination between central and local authorities, aligning with UNESCO World Heritage principles. The study highlights that cultural heritage should be viewed not just as a physical asset but as a carrier of collective memory, cultural identity, and continuity. The research employed qualitative methods, including literature reviews, international convention analyses, conservation legislation assessments, and case studies, to evaluate Spain's conservation policies and their effectiveness in preserving World Heritage Sites.

Heritage Decorative Wooden Flooring Restoration—Systemotechnical Approach and Risk Analysis

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park — 2026 — WHE286F2C0128

A structured risk analysis approach significantly enhances the restoration of historic wooden floors, enabling the retention of approximately 85% of original material while ensuring technical reliability and environmental sensitivity. The study, conducted on a late nineteenth to early twentieth-century parquet floor in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska's Monastery, demonstrates that phase-based, risk-informed decision-making can effectively mitigate risks such as moisture variability and material compatibility. This systemotechnical framework integrates diagnostic investigations, workshop renovation, subfloor reconstruction, reinstallation, and post-intervention monitoring, offering a sustainable model for heritage conservation applicable across diverse cultural and climatic contexts.

Heritage Impact Assessment concerning Meridian House, Royal Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8RD

Maritime Greenwich — 2026 — WHE3E7B14E55C

A Heritage Impact Assessment for Meridian House, Royal Hill, Greenwich, concludes that proposed telecommunications antennae installations will have minimal visual impact on the surrounding World Heritage Site and designated heritage assets. The study finds that while the Clock Tower of Meridian House—a Grade II-listed Art Deco landmark—holds high significance as a 1930s civic complex, its setting within Maritime Greenwich and Greenwich Park (a Conservation Area) will experience only slight changes due to the lightweight, camouflaged design of the equipment. Similarly, impacts on nearby Grade I-listed Flamsteed House and the Church of St Alfege are deemed negligible, preserving key views from riverside and park vantage points. The assessment cross-references asset significance with impact magnitude, confirming that the proposed works will not compromise the integrity of these internationally important heritage sites.

Heritage Management and Early Human Evolution: Melka Kunture as a Model for In Situ Musealisation in the Eastern African Rift

Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia — 2026 — WHEFFC48B8429

Melka Kunture and Balchit, Ethiopia, exemplify successful in situ musealisation for Pleistocene archaeological sites, offering a model that balances conservation, research, and public access. Unlike earlier experimental approaches at other eastern African sites—often characterized by direct exposure of surfaces and limited planning—this complex integrates landscape-scale interpretation, controlled visitor routes, multilingual outreach, high-resolution documentation, and strategic use of replicas. The site's recent UNESCO World Heritage inscription underscores its potential to make early human evolution heritage accessible without compromising scientific integrity.

Heritage Tourism Beyond World Heritage Sites: Urban Development of Al-Diriyah Through the Lens of the Experience Economy Model

At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah — 2026 — WHE44761B8F86

Al-Diriyah's urban development, following its 2010 World Heritage Site inscription, exemplifies a balanced integration of the Experience Economy Model (EEM), with Wadi Safar poised to become the first heritage-led district globally to encompass all four experiential dimensions. This study reveals that while At-Turaif engages two EEM realms and broader Al-Diriyah incorporates three, Wadi Safar's planned luxury-driven mixed-use development aims for full immersion, blending active/passive participation and absorption. Employing a qualitative-case study methodology from 2010 to 2030, the research demonstrates how heritage-oriented experiences can drive economic diversification, aligning with KSA Vision 2030 goals.

Heritage under Siege: Comparative Perspectives on Vandalism, Climate Change and Global Inequality in Nigeria and Iran

Sukur Cultural Landscape — 2026 — WHE0F728F423C

Heritage sites, often celebrated for their cultural significance and historical depth, are increasingly under threat from overlapping pressures of climate change, insecurity, vandalism, urban development, and global inequality. A comparative study of the Sukur Cultural Landscape in Nigeria and other heritage sites in Iran reveals that these challenges are not merely environmental or political but also deeply intertwined with issues of memory, power, ownership, and survival. The research, combining qualitative fieldwork, interviews, observations, document analysis, and critical discourse analysis, argues that heritage protection cannot be reduced to technical conservation alone; it requires ecological care, cultural justice, and more democratic participation. Local communities play a crucial role as both witnesses to heritage loss and custodians whose knowledge challenges the limitations of global heritage regimes.

Heritage Values and Research Agendas of the Routes to Mount Kumgang : An Approach from the Perspective of Cultural Routes

Mount Kumgang – Diamond Mountain from the Sea — 2026 — WHEC1F846315E

Mount Kumgang’s heritage extends beyond its scenic beauty to include the complex network of historical routes that shaped its cultural significance. This study identifies three major route systems—Gyeongheung-ro, East Coast, and Yeongseo Inland—that functioned as linear heritage systems, integrating physical, historical, social, and cultural dimensions. These routes, documented through Joseon-period travel records, old maps, and modern tourism materials, mediated emotional experiences, literary memories, and artistic representation, offering a distinctive Korean form of route heritage. The research highlights the potential of these routes as a national heritage resource while addressing the impact of Korea’s division on place memory and cultural continuity. Future heritage efforts should focus on empirical investigation, integrated interpretation of diverse sources, and phased fieldwork.

Heritage-led gentrification in Southeast Asian historic cities: A comparative analysis of Chiang Mai Old City and Hue Citadel

Complex of Hué Monuments — 2026 — WHEB954D8E0C1

Heritage-led gentrification in Southeast Asian historic cities follows distinct trajectories shaped by governance regimes, revealing a paradox where preservation often erodes everyday cultural practices. A comparative analysis of Chiang Mai Old City and Hue Citadel demonstrates that market-driven tourism economies in Chiang Mai lead to incremental commercial conversion and cultural displacement, while state-led conservation policies in Hue result in large-scale relocation to create monumental landscapes. Despite these differences, both cases show how governance regimes influence heritage transformation beyond classical gentrification models. The study proposes a typology distinguishing between market-mediated living-heritage gentrification and state-led monumental-heritage gentrification, contributing to debates on Global South urbanism.

Hero City and Tourist City: Memory of the Homeland War in Dubrovnik

Old City of Dubrovnik — 2026 — WHEF12A3C2B6D

Dubrovnik's post-war memorial culture uniquely integrates tourism and historical memory, contrasting with other Croatian sites. During the 1991–1992 siege, Dubrovnik leveraged its international fame to highlight humanitarian conditions and cultural heritage damage, aiding Croatia's recognition. Unlike other war-affected areas, Dubrovnik's monuments within the Old Town are designed for tourists, featuring foreign-language text and photographs, blending remembrance with visitor engagement.

Herpetofaunal richness and beta diversity between an offshore archipelago of the Eastern Tropical Pacific and adjacent mainland

Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection — 2026 — WHE1818E886E8

Coiba Island National Park (CNP), an offshore archipelago separated from the mainland around 12,000–14,000 years ago, exhibits distinct herpetofaunal communities compared to adjacent mainland Panama. While reptile richness is similar between CNP and the mainland (maximum 21 vs. 25 species), amphibian diversity is notably lower in CNP (maximum 5 spp.) than on the mainland (maximum 13 spp.). The study, combining visual surveys, pitfall traps, and existing data, suggests that reptile richness may be underestimated due to limited sampling. Two new records—Oscaecilia sp. and the Turniptail gecko Techadactylus rapicauda—were identified for CNP. The findings imply that herpetofaunal diversity in CNP is influenced by heterogeneous vegetation, small-island effects, and possibly historical anthropogenic factors, warranting further investigation.

Hidden Gems to Sinking Cities: The Local Consequences of UNESCO World Heritage Site Management

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu — 2026 — WHE3938798C0F

Research reveals that UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) designation, while beneficial globally, often leads to the exclusion of local communities from economic participation due to tourism management policies. A longitudinal case study comparing Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia and Machu Picchu in Peru over 20 years found that as tourism intensifies, local management practices actively marginalize communities, contributing to issues like overtourism and 'UNESCO-cide.' The study maps the evolution of site management phases and UNESCO's prioritized concerns, highlighting the unintended consequences of heritage designation on local economies.

Hidden Smoke: Air Pollution, Agrarian Change, and Governance Gaps in Luang Prabang, Laos

Town of Luang Prabang — 2026 — WHEDAE3DB81E9

Air pollution in Luang Prabang, Laos—despite its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and major tourist destination—is driven less by traditional swidden cultivation than by commercial agrarian changes, including cassava expansion, grass cultivation, and cattle pasture growth, exacerbated by urban landfill fires. This study, combining semi-structured interviews, field observations, and satellite data, reveals that labor shortages, economic pressures, and inadequate waste management contribute to prolonged haze, which has severe health, livelihood, and tourism impacts. Despite these consequences, air pollution remains underappreciated due to weak monitoring infrastructure, fragmented governance, and administrative silence, perpetuating a 'slow violence' model that prioritizes agriculture and tourism over environmental protection.

High intragenotypic diversity, serogroup heterogeneity, and recombination of African swine fever virus strains circulating in sylvatic and domestic hosts

Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls — 2026 — WHE8DC7904CEF

African swine fever virus (ASFV) exhibits high intragenotypic diversity, serogroup heterogeneity, and recombination among sylvatic and domestic hosts in Zambia. While genotype I viruses dominate in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, genotypes XII and XIV were detected in South Luangwa and Kafue National Parks, respectively, with lower ASFV detection rates in ticks compared to previous reports. Warthogs showed high seroprevalence but no detectable viral DNA. Genotype I viruses displayed marked heterogeneity, including multiple p54/CVR variants and seven CD2v lineages, suggesting recombination-driven diversification contributing to genotypes II, XII, and XIV. These findings underscore the need for broadly protective vaccines that account for intragenotypic diversity, antigenic heterogeneity, and recombination in endemic regions.

High resolution thermal and multispectral remote sensing for detecting devitalized trees in Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve — 2026 — WHE044B424B4C

Researchers successfully demonstrated the use of high-resolution thermal and multispectral drone imaging to distinguish between healthy, devitalized, and dead oyamel trees (Abies religiosa) within the core zone of Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. By integrating normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), surface temperature (ST), and temperature-vegetation dryness index (TVDI) with field data, the study achieved statistically significant differentiation among tree health levels. This marks the first application of such technology in Mexico for monitoring forest decline symptoms in oyamel populations, setting a methodological precedent for conservation efforts.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) — 2026 — WHE9DB7451F7B

Hiroshima, a publication by Renzo and Sayoko Kinoshita, explores the intersection of personal grief and collective memory through the lens of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome). The work employs animation as a medium to depict atrocity without softening its impact, using painstaking research and survivor testimonies. It delves into the emotional and ethical dimensions of tourism at sites of historical catastrophe, particularly focusing on the A-Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum. The narrative structure contrasts personal suffering with public memory, highlighting the physical and emotional weight of confronting such sites. The publication serves as a poignant example of how animation can convey the complexities of historical trauma while demanding collective remembrance.