World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 18141 – 18160 of 30345 publications

Compréhension expérimentale et numérique des chemins de l'eau sur l'ensemble du champ captant de la Métropole de Lyon

Historic Site of Lyon — 2018 — WHED482C73AA2

A study on the Historic Site of Lyon reveals that artificial recharge basins, used to create hydraulic barriers for contamination protection, only maintain their effect for 1-2 days after cessation. This finding underscores the transient nature of such protective measures and highlights the need for continuous monitoring. The research employed a multi-faceted approach combining in-situ observations, experimental infiltration tests, thermal tracing, and 3D hydro-thermal modeling to characterize groundwater flow and heat transfer within Lyon's 375-ha aquifer system. Key insights include the identification of an infiltrability index that tracks basin performance over time, revealing progressive clogging due to sand layer compaction. The study also confirmed the presence of unsaturated zones and complex 3D flow dynamics beneath the Vieux-Rhône river, providing critical data for managing water resources under potential climate change scenarios.

Concerning the Plan and the Design Concept of the flagpoles on the Halls of State in FUJIWARA Palace Site

Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara — 2018 — WHED46BB130F4

A groundbreaking discovery at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fujiwara Palace reveals that flagpoles erected for a New Year's Day ceremony in 701 were arranged based on right triangles, a design concept rooted in ancient astronomical knowledge. The layout, centered around the south gate of the Imperial Audience Hall compound, utilized multiples of 40 shaku (a unit considered lucky) to create regular, ordered patterns, mirroring the precision of planetary motions. This finding suggests a fusion of scientific astrology and advanced surveying techniques in the planning of the ancient capital. The study highlights the symbolic implications of this geometric design, linking it to broader cultural and astronomical practices of the time.

Conclusion: A lived Neolithic

Heart of Neolithic Orkney — 2018 — WHE90523AA805

The Neolithic period in Britain, exemplified by UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Stonehenge and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, continues to captivate global interest due to its enigmatic legacy. This fascination drives questions about the origins, motivations, and cultural connections of Neolithic societies, while also offering insights into modern environmental and societal challenges. The adoption of farming during this era, for instance, is linked to enduring impacts on landscapes and perceptions of 'nature,' reflecting a process that shaped contemporary British identity—evidenced in language and land references despite urbanization. Academic interpretations have evolved over generations, transitioning from mythological narratives (e.g., giants' graves) to sophisticated analyses involving priestly astronomers or societal structures. The study synthesizes these perspectives, highlighting how Neolithic Britain serves as both a mirror for contemporary issues and a catalyst for redefining our relationship with history.

Conclusions: Appropriating the Inca

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu — 2018 — WHE154AED6DE6

Inca identity has evolved through cycles of natural disasters and political upheaval, becoming a powerful symbol for indigenous resistance during colonial rule and national identity post-independence. Machu Picchu, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, exemplifies how Inca heritage is globally appropriated to shape diverse performances of indigeneity and national belonging. The study explores the persistence of Inca identity through historical ruptures, revealing its role in sustaining rebellions and serving as an aspirational ancestor for identity-building across scales.

Connecting water science and policy in India: lessons from a systematic water governance assessment in the city of Ahmedabad

Historic City of Ahmadabad — 2018 — WHE9A145583A1

A systematic assessment of water governance in Ahmedabad, India, reveals critical gaps in learning capacity, stakeholder engagement, and implementation, hindering effective management of water scarcity, pollution, and heat risks. The study found that while the City Blueprint Approach (CBA) offers potential for bridging science-policy divides, its effectiveness depends on addressing these limiting conditions. By analyzing Ahmedabad's Heat Action Plan as a case study, researchers demonstrated how targeted improvements in governance can enhance urban resilience. This work underscores the need for interactive approaches to foster meaningful collaboration between scientific insights and policy-making, particularly in vulnerable cities of the Global South.

Conservation of paleolithic cave art in the Capova cave

Rock Paintings of Shulgan-Tash Cave — 2018 — WHEF2FDFF52D6

Paleolithic cave art in the Kapova Cave (Shulgan-Tash), located in Bashkortostan, Southern Urals, offers unique insights into ancient human culture. The cave preserves approximately 19,000-year-old drawings, including realistic zoomorphic images, abstract geometric figures, and ochre spots, totaling around 200 known images. Unlike its Western European counterparts, the art exhibits distinct features, suggesting the existence of a cultural center in the Southern Urals during the Paleolithic era. This study focuses on the conservation challenges posed by these ancient drawings, highlighting their significance for understanding prehistoric human behavior and artistic expression.

Conservation Planning Guidelines and Design of Melaka Heritage Shophouses

Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca — 2018 — WHEC4E7CBA4A7

Melaka’s historic shophouses, integral to the UNESCO-listed Straits of Malacca heritage, face increasing threats from urban development that alter their architectural character and urban fabric. A critical insight from this study is that effective conservation requires a dual focus: preserving facade typology while addressing environmental factors causing building defects. The research proposes comprehensive guidelines for conservation planning and design, emphasizing detailed articulations to safeguard the shophouses' cultural and structural integrity. By integrating site-specific design considerations with environmental resilience strategies, these guidelines aim to mitigate degradation risks and maintain the authenticity of Melaka’s heritage landscape.

Constraining Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Magma Migration at Piton De La Fournaise Volcano From Pre‐eruptive Seismicity

Pitons Management Area — 2018 — WHEAAB6FD71BB

Research at Piton de la Fournaise Volcano reveals that pre-eruptive seismicity occurs along a specific ring structure, with only a portion activated before each eruption. This activation pattern indicates the future direction of eruptive fissures. Additionally, the delay between the onset of seismic swarms and the actual eruption is proportional to the distance of the eruptive fissures from the summit cone, suggesting that early intrusion phases can predict eruption locations. The study used template matching and relocation techniques on five years of pre-eruptive seismicity data to produce a refined image of seismic activity, providing new insights into magma migration dynamics.

Constructing heritage, shaping tourism

Group of Monuments at Hampi — 2018 — WHEC623824ECD

Heritage construction at Hampi, India's UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflects limited official understanding of visitor experiences and site usage. Despite being marketed as a 'group of monuments,' the site encompasses diverse layers including archaeological parks, cultural landscapes, embodied spaces, and living heritage. Ethnographic research at Jathre (the chariot festival) and Utsav (a government-sponsored cultural event) reveals that official narratives often serve electoral, identity, and cultural politics rather than fully capturing the site's dynamic realities.

Construction Sequence of the Koh Ker Monuments Constrained by the Chemical Composition and Magnetic Susceptibility of Its Bricks

Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar — 2018 — WHE295E589076

Researchers have determined the construction sequence of Koh Ker's brick monuments, revealing that the Northern Libraries were likely added after their Inner Enclosures. By analyzing the chemical composition (Ti, Fe, Rb, Y, Zr) and magnetic susceptibility of bricks from nine temples using portable X-ray fluorescence and a magnetic susceptibility meter, the team identified four distinct construction stages (A-D). These findings align with earlier laterite building stages, suggesting a chronological relationship where Stage A preceded Stages B & ①, which in turn preceded Stages C & ②, and so on. This study provides new insights into the architectural development of this ancient Cambodian site.

Contemporary dingo management on K’gari (Fraser Island, Great Sandy National Park) under the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

K’gari (Fraser Island) — 2018 — WHEF0B5DCB32D

A comprehensive dingo management strategy on K’gari (Fraser Island) has been implemented to balance human safety and dingo welfare, integrating risk intervention and public education. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service's Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy (FIDCRMS), introduced in 2013, combines four key programs: Risk Intervention, Communication and Education, Research, and Review. This summary focuses on the practical execution of the first two programs, which aim to mitigate risks while fostering community engagement and compliance. The approach leverages data-driven risk assessment, public awareness campaigns, and stakeholder collaboration to ensure sustainable coexistence between dingoes and humans in this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site.

Contested Conquests:African Maroons and the Incomplete Conquest of Hispaniola, 1519–1620

Colonial City of Santo Domingo — 2018 — WHEDDD4649DDC

A re-evaluation of Spanish anti-maroon campaigns on Hispaniola reveals that these actions were integral to the prolonged and often incomplete process of Spanish conquest, challenging the dominant narrative of post-conquest colonial order. The study highlights that African maroons, traditionally seen as resistors, were also active 'conquerors' in their own right. This insight emerges from an analysis of a 1571 royal decree authorizing the 'conquest' of maroon communities, a term rarely used for anti-maroon campaigns, which typically employed euphemistic language like 'reduce,' 'pacify,' or 'dislodge.' The research approach involves examining the linguistic and historical context of this decree, linking it to broader patterns of resistance and conquest in Spanish America from 1519 to 1620.

Contested heritage in Luang Prabang

Town of Luang Prabang — 2018 — WHED58EB96BB9

Heritage in Luang Prabang is carefully managed to align with official political narratives while balancing the expectations of tourists and locals. The site's unique fusion of traditional Lao architecture and colonial European structures presents both opportunities and challenges for its presentation. Authorities must navigate ideological constraints within a nominally socialist society, aiming to create an engaging experience that resonates with visitors and gains local support. This study highlights the dynamic nature of heritage interpretation in Luang Prabang, where the targets of heritage presentations are not static, nor are their expectations consistent.

Contrasting shrub species respond to early summer temperatures leading to correspondence of shrub growth patterns

Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek — 2018 — WHE74EC58F223

Research in the Kluane region reveals that early summer temperatures are a key driver of growth for both tall deciduous shrubs (Salix pulchra) and evergreen dwarf shrubs (Cassiope tetragona), despite their contrasting traits. This finding suggests that warming trends in Arctic-alpine environments may lead to synchronized vegetation changes across different habitats. The study used growth chronologies and NDVI data to demonstrate strong climate-vegetation relationships, indicating that regional temperature shifts could reshape tundra ecosystems more uniformly than previously understood.

Contrasting streamflow regimes induced by melting glaciers across the Tien Shan – Pamir – North Karakoram

Western Tien-Shan — 2018 — WHE267DCF5B41

A new study projects contrasting streamflow regimes across the Tien Shan–Pamir–North Karakoram mountain complex, which supplies water to 42 million people. By the late 21st century, eastern slope basins are expected to see a 28% increase in streamflow (range: 9–44%), driven primarily by ice melt (39%, range: 25–65%). In contrast, western slopes may experience a 5% decrease (−24 to 16%) due to reduced precipitation and higher evapotranspiration. The findings, derived from CMIP5 climate projections integrated into a hydrological model, highlight divergent water availability impacts—potential benefits for degraded ecosystems in Xinjiang, China, but risks for Central Asian rivers, necessitating adaptive management strategies.

Contribution of Community Conservation and Ecotourism Projects on Improving Livelihoods and Sustainable Biodiversity Conservation in and around Nyungwe National Park (NNP)

Nyungwe National Park — 2018 — WHE708654A93C

Over half of community conservation projects funded through Rwanda's Revenue Sharing Scheme have collapsed due to lack of monitoring and impact evaluation, with no significant reduction in biodiversity threats observed around Nyungwe National Park. The study, analyzing data from 152 projects receiving RwF 1,133,195,986, found that the scheme's effectiveness is hindered by insufficient focus on community conservation compared to law enforcement. Recommendations include strengthening community-based initiatives and revising the revenue-sharing model, set to increase to 10% in fiscal year 2018-2019.

Contribution of Ecotourism to the Conservation of Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park — 2018 — WHED105A697E9

Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda, despite efforts to integrate local communities into conservation and revenue-sharing programs through ecotourism, faces persistent threats such as poaching, illegal logging, and mining. While tourism numbers have surged recently, community-based initiatives remain underdeveloped, failing to fully address poverty alleviation goals. The study, based on interviews, questionnaires, Range-Based Monitoring (RBM) data, and tourism unit records, highlights the need for improved revenue-sharing mechanisms to enhance conservation participation and community development.

Contribution to the flora of great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya-II

Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area — 2018 — WHE1D96D939D3

Researchers have documented 48 previously unreported species of seed plants within the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya. This contribution significantly expands the known flora of the region, offering new insights into its biodiversity. The study enumerates these species alphabetically, providing brief descriptions based on field characters, phenology, and local distribution patterns. By building upon earlier work, this research enhances our understanding of the GHNP's ecological richness and supports conservation efforts in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Control of source fertility on the eruptive activity of Piton de la Fournaise volcano, La Réunion

Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island — 2018 — WHE8F0ADBB017

Research on Piton de la Fournaise volcano, Réunion Island, reveals that its eruptive activity is directly linked to the fertility of its mantle source. The study demonstrates that decadal-scale eruptive sequences are initiated by melt extraction from fertile, incompatible element-enriched veins within the plume source, while reactive flow of enriched melts increases mantle porosity, promoting further melt extraction. This dual control mechanism led to a fourfold increase in magma supply between 1998 and 2014, offering insights into similar surges at other hotspot volcanoes like Kilauea, Hawaii. The findings highlight the critical role of lithological heterogeneities in mantle plumes in regulating short-term eruptive activity.

Control territorial indígena y gestión turística de áreas silvestres protegidas: experiencia atacameña y Rapa Nui, Chile = Indigenous territorial control and tourism management of protected wild areas: experience atacameña and Rapa Nui, Chile

Rapa Nui National Park — 2018 — WHE5B71B341BE

Chilean indigenous communities have successfully achieved co-administration or autonomous management of key National Parks and Reserves, significantly advancing their rights to self-determination. The study highlights two notable cases: the Atacameño communities' co-management of the Los Flamencos National Reserve in the Salar de Atacama and the Rapanui people's transfer of administration for Rapa Nui National Park. These achievements emerged from a broader process of ethnic mobilization, territorial demands, and legal recognition over three decades. The research compares these experiences, emphasizing their implications for indigenous autonomy and tourism management in protected areas.