Cultural Heritage and Urban Resilience: Integrating Sustainable Conservation

Dear Colleagues,

Urban areas are increasingly challenged by the pressures of rapid development, socio-economic transformation, and the growing impacts of climate change. Within this context, the conservation of cultural heritage—both tangible and intangible—has emerged as a critical dimension of urban resilience. This Special Issue explores how cultural heritage can be integrated into strategies for urban modernization while addressing vulnerabilities posed by climate-related risks.

We invite interdisciplinary contributions that examine how heritage assets can be preserved, adapted, and leveraged to strengthen urban resilience in the face of environmental stressors. Key themes include the climate vulnerability of historic sites and traditional practices, adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, the role of heritage in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, participatory and community-based approaches to heritage governance, and the integration of digital technologies for risk assessment and preservation.

By fostering dialogue between urban studies, heritage conservation, environmental planning, and policy, this Special Issue aims to present innovative frameworks and case studies that demonstrate how cultural heritage can serve as both a foundation for identity and a resource for building resilient, sustainable urban futures.

This Special Issue will address a critical gap in the existing literature by explicitly connecting the fields of cultural heritage conservation and urban resilience, with particular attention to the accelerating impacts of climate change. While significant bodies of work exist independently on heritage preservation (e.g., Avrami et al., 2019) and urban resilience (e.g., Meerow et al., 2016), integrated approaches that examine their intersection—particularly within the context of climate adaptation—remain underexplored.

Recent global frameworks, such as the UNESCO World Heritage and Climate Change Policy Document (2021) and IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2022), highlight the urgent need for adaptive strategies that protect cultural assets from intensifying climate hazards. Yet, scholarly and policy discourses often treat heritage as static, overlooking its dynamic role in enhancing urban resilience, social cohesion, and sustainable development (Labadi & Logan, 2015; Fatorić & Seekamp, 2017).

This Issue aims to supplement existing research by proposing heritage not only as a subject of preservation but as an active resource in shaping resilient urban futures. It will foreground interdisciplinary methodologies, participatory governance models, and emerging digital tools in risk management and conservation. Contributions should aim to enrich current debates on sustainability, urban planning, and cultural policy by offering empirical case studies and theoretical advancements that bridge heritage and resilience in a climate-challenged era.

• Avrami, E., Macdonald, S., Mason, R., & Myers, D. (Eds.). (2019). Values in Heritage Management: Emerging Approaches and Research Directions. Getty Publications.
• Fatorić, S., & Seekamp, E. (2017). Are cultural heritage and resources threatened by climate change? A systematic literature review. Climatic Change, 142(1-2), 227–254.
• IPCC. (2022). Sixth Assessment Report: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.
• Labadi, S., & Logan, W. (Eds.). (2015). Urban Heritage, Development and Sustainability: International Frameworks, National and Local Governance. Routledge.
• Meerow, S., Newell, J. P., & Stults, M. (2016). Defining urban resilience: A review. Landscape and Urban Planning, 147, 38–49.
• UNESCO. (2021). Policy Document on the Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage Properties.

Prof. Dr. Ester Alba Pagán
Dr. Álvaro Solbes García
Prof. Dr. Cristina Portales
Dr. María del Mar Gaitán Salvatella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• cultural heritage
• urban resilience
• climate change adaptation
• heritage conservation
• community education and sustainability for urban resilience
• adaptive reuse
• community-based planning