World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 14821 – 14840 of 15962 publications

The taste of tea: Material, embodied knowledge and environmental history in northern Fujian, China

Mount Wuyi — 2016 — WHE8E29E9478A

Mount Wuyi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Fujian, China, is renowned for its superior tea production, particularly rock tea, which has been cultivated for over 1500 years. The study reveals that the quality of tea in this region is not solely determined by environmental factors such as terrain but also by the embodied cultural knowledge and skills of specialist tea workers. This includes a unique vocabulary used to evaluate taste and fragrance. Recent efforts to establish national tea quality standards have had to reconcile commercial interests with traditional ecological and cultural practices, highlighting the significance of both human expertise and natural environment in tea appreciation.

Tour guides in nature-based tourism: Perceptions of nature and governance of protected areas, the case of Skaftafell at the Vatnajökull National Park

Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice — 2016 — WHEF1BB208088

Tour guides at Skaftafell, a key site within Vatnajökull National Park, play a pivotal role in shaping tourists' perceptions of nature and influencing the governance of protected areas. The study, conducted collaboratively by the University of Gdańsk (Poland) and the University of Iceland, reveals that guides significantly impact how visitors engage with and understand the dynamic landscapes characterized by fire and ice. By analyzing guide narratives and tourist experiences, researchers identified a gap between official conservation policies and the practical governance observed in nature-based tourism. This highlights the need for more integrated approaches to balancing ecological preservation with visitor education and sustainable tourism practices.

Tourism employment and local residents’ engagement in the conservation of the built heritage in Zanzibar Stone Town in Tanzania

Stone Town of Zanzibar — 2016 — WHE2C93D7974B

Tourism employment significantly influences local residents' engagement in conserving Zanzibar Stone Town's built heritage, acting as a key moderator between attitudes toward conservation and the intention to conserve. This finding extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by integrating tourism factors, revealing that employed residents are more likely to engage in conservation efforts when they perceive social pressure or feel in control of their actions. The study, based on surveys of 208 households, underscores the importance of situational factors like employment in shaping conservation behavior. These insights have implications for both policy and management strategies aimed at preserving UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Tourists’ walking rhythms: ‘doing’ the Tunis Medina, Tunisia

Medina of Tunis — 2016 — WHE740AD9E1ED

Tourists' walking rhythms in the UNESCO-listed Medina of Tunis play a crucial role in shaping the city's urban experience. The study reveals that tourists engage in diverse, situation-dependent walking patterns—shifting between performances, body language, pauses, and visual interactions—that dynamically intersect with the medina's physical structure. Inspired by Lefebvre’s rhythmanalysis, this research combines mobile methodologies, interviews, and online comments to highlight how embodied movement contributes to the city's construction. Unlike traditional trajectory mapping, it emphasizes the qualitative, situational nature of tourist mobility in complex urban spaces.

Toward Decolonization in Tourism: Engaged Tourism and the Jerusalem Tourism Cluster

Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls — 2016 — WHE07B2544B04

Tourism in Jerusalem, particularly through the lens of the Old City, serves as a tool that perpetuates colonial narratives and power imbalances between Israelis and Palestinians. This study highlights how different tour guides—one Israeli and one Palestinian—present contrasting narratives about the city's religious and political landscape, revealing the embedded colonial dynamics in tourism practices. The research demonstrates that tourism normalizes dominant, often Orientalist, narratives while erasing Palestinian perspectives, thereby reinforcing colonial structures. By comparing two distinct tours, the study exposes how power relations shape historical and contemporary perceptions of Jerusalem, suggesting that engaged tourism can challenge and decolonize these narratives.

Towards a new definition of ancient Akragas' urban grid. Preliminary contribution for a new image of the city

Archaeological Area of Agrigento — 2016 — WHE02DCB9EBAF

A groundbreaking redefinition of ancient Akragas' urban grid challenges the long-standing 1958 model proposed by Griffo and Schmidt. Through collaborative research involving the Archaeological Park of Agrigento, Politecnico di Bari, University of Catania, and Kore University of Enna, scientists E. Brienza and M. Liuzzo analyzed ancient street patterns in the upper Agora, reconstructing the city's lost architectural landscape. This preliminary study introduces a novel planning scheme that significantly differs from previous interpretations, offering fresh insights into the spatial organization of this UNESCO-listed archaeological site.

Turismo y patrimonio: un plan integral para La Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala — 2016 — WHE86908035F7

La Antigua Guatemala faces significant challenges due to population growth, increased tourism, traffic congestion, inadequate monument protection, and environmental pollution. A Master Plan, financed by the Government of Canary Islands (Spain), was developed to address these issues. The study proposes La Antigua as a 'creative city,' aiming to diversify economic activities beyond tourism while mitigating urban speculation on agricultural land. The research reflects on methodological approaches, noting the lack of reliable urban planning information and cartography. It updates previous analyses on La Antigua's role as a tourist destination, highlighting its challenges, opportunities, and risks.

Two new Bent-toed Geckos of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus complex from Peninsular Malaysia and multiple instances of convergent adaptation to limestone forest ecosystems

Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley — 2016 — WHE16999A8079

Researchers have identified two new species of bent-toed geckos, Cyrtodactylus hidupselamanya and C. lenggongensis, within the C. pulchellus complex from Peninsular Malaysia. Both species exhibit unique adaptations to limestone ecosystems, with C. hidupselamanya facing imminent extinction due to habitat destruction from quarrying, while C. lenggongensis is protected under UNESCO’s Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley. The study used molecular evidence (mitochondrial gene ND2) and morphological traits to distinguish these species, revealing at least four independent instances of convergent adaptation to limestone habitats over 26.1–0.78 million years. This discovery underscores the evolutionary significance of limestone forests in driving speciation and highlights critical conservation concerns for C. hidupselamanya.

Two new Ediacaran small fronds from Mistaken Point, Newfoundland

Mistaken Point — 2016 — WHEF9C78F7940

Research at Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, has uncovered two new Ediacaran small fronds, Plumeropriscum hofmanni and Broccoliforma alta, revealing greater diversity in the low epibenthic tier than previously recognized. These taxa, characterized by unique morphologies—one mop-like with a three-dimensional petalodium structure and the other flabellate with lobate features—challenge earlier assumptions about the simplicity of small-frond body plans during this period. The study taxonomically describes these fossils, which were informally referred to as 'dusters,' highlighting convergent evolution in stemmed fronds. This finding expands our understanding of Ediacaran biodiversity and ecological complexity.

Two new species of Erythromelana Townsend, 1919 (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica

Area de Conservación Guanacaste — 2016 — WHE1FE4472E3A

Scientists have identified two new species of the fly genus Erythromelana within the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. These discoveries, Erythromelana jimmychevezi and Erythromelana glenriverai, were made by rearing flies from wild-caught caterpillars of the moth family Geometridae. The research integrates morphological descriptions, life history observations, molecular data, and photographic documentation to characterize these species. This study highlights the biodiversity of ACG and contributes new insights into the taxonomy of Tachinidae flies, which are important predators in ecosystems.

Ultraviolet radiation at Isla del Coco (Cocos Island) National Park, Costa Rica.

Cocos Island National Park — 2016 — WHE347B01EAFA

Research at Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica, reveals significant variations in ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, critical for understanding ecosystem dynamics and protecting coral reefs. The study found that UV index (UVI) averages ranged from 14 to 3 on sunny versus cloudy days in Chatham Bay, and 12 to 4 in Wafer Bay, with the sunniest conditions peaking at UVI 16. High UV exposure occurred between 9:00–15:00 in Chatham and 9:00–14:30 in Wafer during sunny periods. The study used automatic Davis weather stations to measure UV radiation over multiple expeditions (2008–2012), providing valuable data for modeling ecosystem impacts, ranger operations, and tourism planning.

Understanding geohazards in the UNESCO WHL site of the Derwent Valley Mills (UK) using geological and remote sensing data

Derwent Valley Mills — 2016 — WHE50459B9C81

A comprehensive analysis of geohazards in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Derwent Valley Mills (UK) reveals that flooding, both from fluvial water flow and groundwater emergence, poses significant risks across over 50% and 40% of the Core Area, respectively. Slope instability along the steep sides of the Derwent river valley, notably a 1.4 km² landslide deposit in Cromford within the Buffer Zone, further exacerbates these challenges. The study utilized key hazard datasets from the British Geological Survey, including GeoSure, DiGMapGB, and the National Landslide Database, to provide baseline geohazard characterization. Projections under a medium greenhouse gas emission scenario suggest drier summers, wetter winters, and increased annual temperatures, which could intensify these hazards. This research contributes to the PROTHEGO project, aimed at mapping geohazards across 400+ European UNESCO sites using satellite radar interferometry and geological data.

UNESCO World Heritage „Prehistoric pile-dwellings around the Alps“: Chances and Challenges for Management and Research of Cultural Heritage Under Water

Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps — 2016 — WHE9C0EC2981A

The UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Prehistoric pile-dwellings around the Alps' presents a unique opportunity for long-term cultural heritage preservation, particularly for organic materials like wood and plant fibers that survive exceptionally well in waterlogged environments. These sites offer high scientific potential due to their precise dating capabilities through dendrochronology, enabling researchers to study artifacts spanning hundreds or thousands of years. However, managing public access and maintaining public interest pose significant challenges. The site, recognized in 2011 after an initiative by Switzerland, involves six Alpine countries collaborating to protect this 'invisible' yet invaluable heritage.

UNESCO World Heritage and Kosovo Towards a Tentative List for Kosovo

Medieval Monuments in Kosovo — 2016 — WHE332BD7206F

Kosovo's bid for UNESCO World Heritage recognition faces significant challenges, primarily due to its lack of systematic inventory and management structures for medieval monuments. Despite having a rich architectural heritage, Kosovo has not yet established the necessary frameworks to compile a tentative list for UNESCO consideration. This study highlights the urgent need for Kosovo to develop national expertise, engage international stakeholders like ICOMOS, and create a comprehensive inventory of its historical sites. The proposed preliminary tentative list serves as a starting point for discussion, balancing potential candidates against practical and cultural criteria.

Unexpectedly High Levels of Cryptic Diversity Uncovered by a Complete DNA Barcoding of Reptiles of the Socotra Archipelago

Socotra Archipelago — 2016 — WHEFA0511E6F9

A comprehensive DNA barcoding study of Socotra Archipelago's reptiles reveals unexpectedly high levels of cryptic diversity, suggesting species richness may be underestimated by up to 54.4%. The research, the most extensive of its kind on an island group, successfully barcoded all 31 recognized reptile species (94% endemics) and found moderate to high specimen identification success rates with clear local barcoding gaps. The study highlights the utility of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene in detecting intra-specific diversity and supports conservation planning by indicating potential misclassifications in species ranges and statuses. These findings align with other phylogenetic studies using mitochondrial and nuclear markers, reinforcing the need for integrative taxonomic approaches to flag species discovery efficiently.

Urban Autonomy in Medieval Islam

Ancient City of Damascus — 2016 — WHE6384DE7E7E

Medieval Islamic cities, including Damascus, exhibited significant autonomy from the late 10th to early 12th centuries, marking a pivotal shift in urban governance and economic development. This study reveals that these cities—spanning regions like Aleppo, Cordoba, and Tunis—operated independently for extended periods, transforming from ancient political or agricultural centers into dynamic hubs of commerce and industry. Unlike earlier civilizations, the Islamic world pioneered this transition, later influencing China and parts of Western Europe. The research employs a comparative approach, analyzing each city separately to establish its autonomy through factual evidence.

Urban development and visual culture: Commodifying the gaze in the regeneration of Tigné Point, Malta

City of Valletta — 2016 — WHE6A08279831

Panoramic views, when commodified within neoliberal capitalism, serve as powerful tools for urban regeneration and elite spatial differentiation. This study reveals how architects and developers appropriate, reimagine, and rescript panoramas to create high-status residential and commercial spaces in Tigné Point, Malta—the largest recent regeneration project on the island. The research demonstrates that such commodification accelerates capital accumulation while reinforcing spatial inequalities, bridging gaps between urban development, planning, and visual culture literatures. By analyzing the political-economic and cultural dimensions of view commodification, this work offers a critical lens for understanding neoliberal urban transformation.

Urban growth and cultural identity; fractures and imbalances in heritage values: A case study of the island of Saint-Louis, Senegal

Island of Saint-Louis — 2016 — WHE7005DEAC40

The island of Saint-Louis, Senegal, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, faces significant fractures and imbalances in its heritage values due to rapid, unplanned urban growth and the overshadowing influence of Dakar. This study identifies key morphological and functional factors that have shaped the city's evolution, revealing how its unique French-influenced gridiron structure and cultural identity persist despite current decline. The research employs a case study approach, analyzing the island's development within its broader territorial context—including the mainland island of Sor and La Langue de la Barberie—to justify its enduring prestige as a heritage site. Findings underscore the tension between historical significance and contemporary urban challenges.

Values and Conservation of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces System as a GIAHS Site

Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces — 2016 — WHEFF3129D7E0

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces System (HHRTS), a 1300-year-old traditional agricultural system, demonstrates significant economic, ecological, aesthetic, cultural, and research values. Designated as both a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in 2010 and a World Heritage Site in 2013, the HHRTS highlights unique features such as distinctive rice varieties, ecologically clean production systems, and sustainable water and soil management practices. While traditional farming methods face challenges like low efficiency and single-industry dependency, these constraints create ideal conditions for green agriculture, organic farming, and ecological food production due to the pristine farmland environment. The study proposes that protecting this system requires multi-faceted economic compensation strategies, including ecotourism development and policy coordination among governments, corporations, and local communities.

Valuing World Heritage Cities

Old Rauma — 2016 — WHEB36DEAEA89

Heritage value is not intrinsic but constructed through discursive processes, as demonstrated by the first in-depth historical analysis of World Heritage site valuation in urban contexts. Using Old Rauma, Finland, as a case study, the research examines how ICOMOS's universal standards interact with local perspectives, revealing tensions between global heritage narratives and localized interpretations. The study critically assesses ICOMOS's role in determining 'outstanding universal value' and contributes to broader debates on the discursive nature of heritage, offering insights for scholars in Heritage Studies, Cultural Geography, Urban Studies, and Tourism.