Search Results (108)

Lion Grove was established in 1342 during the Yuan Dynasty and is one of the four most famous classical gardens in China. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Although Lion Grove is now regarded as a private garden representing the culture of Confucian scholars, it was originally a Chan Buddhist garden during its inception in the Yuan Dynasty. This study examines the natural landscapes of Lion Grove at its inception, focusing on four main aspects: the philosophy of nature, planning intent, creators, and the philosophical ideas they represent. Key findings include the following: Firstly, Lion Grove’s attitude towards nature is rooted in China’s indigenous culture, making it both a physical expression of Chan philosophy and a space reflecting the scholar–bureaucrats’ vision of an ideal landscape. Secondly, from the perspective of landscape planning, the Lion Grove of the Yuan Dynasty placed greater emphasis on natural elements compared to its modern counterpart, with rock landscapes serving as the core element throughout the garden. Thirdly, hermitic philosophy emerged as a significant cultural theme alongside Chan Buddhism during the Yuan Dynasty. Fourthly, the landscape elements of Lion Grove symbolize Chan Buddhist wisdom and the hermit’s idealism, with poetry playing a key role in conveying these cultural ideals, preserving the site’s early philosophical significance. Full article

Typo-morphology, as interpreted by the Italian School of Planning, provides an approach to investigate the relationship between built form and socio-cultural patterns in vernacular settlements. This study examines Harran, a heritage site in southeastern Türkiye known for its distinctive conic domed dwellings, to explore how typo-morphological analysis can inform culturally sensitive design and adaptive reuse approaches. Despite its historical significance and inclusion in the UNESCO tentative list, Harran faces insufficient documentation, fragmented governance, limited conservation, and increasing pressure from urbanization and natural disasters. Using multiple sources and fieldwork, the research reconstructs the morphological evolution of Harran through diachronic maps across compound, district, and town scales. Reflections from Alberobello, Italy, i.e., the sister city of Harran and a UNESCO-listed town with a similarly unique vernacular fabric, provide a comparative view to explore different heritage management approaches. Harran evolved through informal, culture-driven growth, whereas Alberobello followed a regulated path. While Alberobello benefits from planned development and institutional preservation, Harran faces partial abandonment and neglect. By positioning typo-morphology as a conceptual planning tool, this paper emphasizes the need for context-responsive, ethically grounded, and inclusive approaches to heritage planning and conservation. It argues for planning practices that are not only technically competent but also attuned to place-based knowledge, local identities, and the long-term sustainability of living heritage. Full article

In water-scarce regions, natural ecosystems and agriculture increasingly compete for limited water resources, intensifying stress during periods of drought. To assess these competing demands, we applied a modified PT-JPL model that incorporates the thermal inertial approach as a substitute for relative humidity (RH) in estimating soil evaporation—a method that significantly outperforms the original PT-JPL formulation in Mediterranean semi-arid irrigated areas. This remote sensing framework enabled us to quantify spatial and temporal variations in water use across both natural and agricultural systems within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Doñana. Our analysis revealed an increasing evapotranspiration (ET) trend in intensified agricultural areas and rice fields surrounding the National Park (R = 0.3), contrasted by a strong negative ET trend in wetlands (R < −0.5). These opposing patterns suggest a growing diversion of water toward irrigation at the expense of natural ecosystems. The impact was especially marked during droughts, such as the 2011–2016 period, when precipitation declined by 16%. In wetlands, ET was significantly correlated with precipitation (R > 0.4), highlighting their vulnerability to reduced water inputs. These findings offer crucial insights to support sustainable water management strategies that balance agricultural productivity with the preservation of ecologically valuable systems under mounting climatic and anthropogenic pressures typical of semi-arid Mediterranean environments. Full article

In recent years, Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a powerful tool for disseminating Cultural Heritage (CH), often incorporating Virtual Humans (VHs) to guide users through historical recreations. The advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) now enables natural, unscripted communication with these VHs, even on limited devices. This paper details a natural interaction system for VHs within a VR application of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our system integrates Speech-to-Text, LLM-based dialogue generation, and Text-to-Speech synthesis. Adhering to user-centered design (UCD) principles, we conducted two studies: a preliminary study revealing user interest in historically adapted language, and a qualitative test that identified key user experience improvements, such as incorporating feedback mechanisms and gender selection for VHs. The project successfully developed a prioritized user experience, focusing on usability evaluation, immersion, and dialogue quality. We propose a generalist methodology and recommendations for integrating unscripted VH dialogue in VR. However, limitations include dialogue generation latency and reduced quality in non-English languages. While a formative usability test evaluated the process, the small sample size restricts broad generalizations about user behavior. Full article

As a core structure within the Qing Changling Mausoleum, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, Long’en Hall preserves a relatively complete set of Qing dynasty imperial lacquered furniture. These furnishings provide critical physical evidence for studying Qing dynasty sacrificial rituals and the craftsmanship of court lacquerware. However, limited research has been conducted on the surface finishing techniques of such furnishings, posing challenges to their conservation and accurate restoration. This study focuses on representative furnishings from Long’en Hall—including an offering table, an incense pavilion, a throne, and a poke lamp—and employed a multi-method analytical approach comprising fluorescence microscopy (FM), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The analysis was conducted on the following two levels: the lacquer layer structure and material composition. The results show that the furnishings in the Long’en Hall adopt the typical structure of “lacquer ash layer–color lacquer layer”, and the color lacquer layer is composed of raw lacquer, tung oil, animal glue, and other natural organic ingredients as film-forming materials, supplemented with inorganic mineral pigments such as red lead (Pb₃O₄) and Au metal, which constitutes a stable organic–inorganic composite structure with the lacquer ash layer. The multi-analysis results show a good complementary and cross-corroboration relationship, providing the necessary technical support and a theoretical reference for Qing dynasty palace lacquer wood furniture as cultural relics worthy of scientific protection and imitation. Full article

The Dolomites (European Alps) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known to harbor distinctive communities of carabid beetles adapted to high-altitude environments, whose composition is shaped mainly by landform and habitat type. We aimed to assess the conservation priority of carabid beetle communities in the Brenta mountain group (Italy). We used the Index of Natural Value (INV), based on the relative frequencies and abundances of highly specialized Alpine species, as a proxy of the sensitivity to disturbance, and, thus, to the vulnerability of the carabid beetle communities to extinction. We used information on Natura 2000 habitat cover to produce a map for identifying areas of the Brenta Dolomites inhabited by the carabid beetle communities most relevant for conservation. We also report on the main differences in terms of species composition between the investigated communities. We found a positive correlation between vulnerability and altitude. Specifically, the most vulnerable communities were recorded in high-altitude habitat types (limestone cliffs and pavements, calcareous and calcschist screes, and alpine calcareous grasslands). Alkaline fens resulted in having the least vulnerable community, while those in all other habitats (bush and forests) were found to have intermediate levels of vulnerability. Full article

This study explores spiritual resilience as a mechanism for sustaining cultural landscapes, focusing on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Studenica Monastery (Serbia). By analysing the monastery’s sacred network, which includes monasteries, hermitages, and churches, the study demonstrates how material heritage (architecture, art), intangible practices (monastic life, liturgy, traditional crafts), and the natural environment (UNESCO MaB Golija–Studenica Biosphere Reserve) form a cohesive system of resilience. The concept of spiritual resilience is examined as a dynamic process that links sacred architectural structures and enduring religious practices with authentic land use preserved over centuries. We have utilised a methodological framework combining historical mapping, GIS viewshed analysis in spatial planning, and multidisciplinary data synthesis (historical, architectural, artistic, ecological, ethnographic) with resilience indicators aligned with the UNESCO’s Cultural Landscape approach. The findings reveal that Studenica’s sacred network operates as a coupled socio-ecological system. Spiritual practices, including annual processions and land stewardship rituals, have been identified as key factors in enhancing biodiversity conservation while mitigating land-use conflicts. Historical mapping has been used to highlight the overlap between sacred sites and protected ecological zones, reflecting traditional stewardship practices. By reframing heritage as an adaptive process where spirituality serves as a conduit between tradition and innovation, the study proposes replicable strategies for UNESCO sites worldwide. The concept of sacred landscapes as resilience hubs is furthered by alignment with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Full article

The Yancheng coastal wetlands serve as a crucial stopover site along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. The rapid expansion of aquaculture has led to a significant decline in natural wetlands, impacting both the distribution and quality of waterbird habitats. Following the designation of the region as a World Natural Heritage site in 2019, the local government has prioritized the protection of waterbird habitats, leading to the large-scale withdrawal of aquaculture from the region. Nevertheless, the impact of the fishing withdrawal on waterbird habitat selection and the ecological benefits it brought remain unknown. In this study, based on the identification of fishing withdrawal zones in the Yancheng coastal area, six waterbird groups, Anatidae, Ardeidae, Charadriiformes, Laridae, Gruidae and Ciconiidae, were selected to construct an evaluation index system for habitat suitability. The Biomod2 ensemble model was employed to analyze the spatial differences of suitable habitats for waterbirds within the fishing withdrawal zones. The result revealed the following: (1) As of 2022, the area of fishing withdrawal zones had reached 2.23 × 10⁴ ha, primarily distributed in Beihuan and Nanhuan. Among these, the area of fishing withdrawal zones in Nanhuan was the largest, reaching 6.78 × 10³ ha. (2) Unsuitable area for waterbirds was largest in the fishing withdrawal zones, with a proportion of 60% and 58% for Gruidae and Ciconiidae, respectively. (3) The rich nutrients, high coverage and tall stature of emergent vegetation in the fishing withdrawal zones led to a reduction in water surface area, resulting in significant adverse effects on the suitable habitats for Charadriiformes and Gruidae. Therefore, the results suggest that most areas after fishing withdrawal were still not suitable habitats for waterbirds. The implementation of scientific fishing withdrawal practices, along with ecological restoration and management, is crucial for improving the habitat suitability in fishing withdrawal zones. This study provides valuable insights for more purposeful selection of fishing withdrawal sites, and more scientific management and restoration of these areas to enhance their ecological benefits. Full article

Underground mining workings represent a valuable cultural, industrial, and civilizational heritage, serving as a testament to the history of human labour. The protection of old historical underground sites is an element of protecting mankind’s cultural heritage, a vital component of sustainable development. Supporting and adapting underground sites involve aesthetics, environmental issues, urban development, and natural and social aspects. Many of these sites, such as the salt mines in Bochnia and Wieliczka, are designated as nature reserves or UNESCO World Heritage sites. The preservation of these spaces requires a balanced approach that integrates their original function with new forms of usage, such as tourist routes or museums. The authenticity of these objects enhances their value as unique tourist products, supporting the conservation of heritage while addressing contemporary needs. In the adaptation process of underground sites, it is crucial to consider their specific characteristics, influenced by geological conditions, and to adapt them to new functions. A detailed analysis of geological, social, political, and landscape values is necessary to ensure that the adaptation process aligns with heritage protection principles. Several successful examples of such adaptations already exist in Poland, demonstrating their potential to bridge the past with the future, creating valuable functional programs. The article undertakes an analysis of the functional and spatial characteristics of underground mining workings in the context of selecting new uses, considering both their historical value and the needs of modern users. The impact of adaptation on the integrity of these objects is evaluated, and an approach is proposed that combines cultural heritage preservation with the possibility of utilising it for a new function. Full article

Since ancient times, the community of Xochimilco in the south of Mexico City has provided vegetables for the entire city. Today, Lake Xochimilco is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is the last remaining bastion of Aztec culture and preserves the extraordinary ecological landscape of chinampas, a system of arable islands that has endured for over 1000 years. Here, we report on the microbiological communities currently existing in the lake. This is relevant since the water irrigates crops on the islands, known as chinampas. To achieve this, samples from the lake were collected at two different sites, and metagenomics analysis of the 16S gene was conducted. The results indicate the presence of five dominant bacterial phyla: Actinobacteria (44.5%), Proteobacteria (22.5%), Firmicutes (13%), Bacteroidota (6%), and Chloroflexi (4.6%). The most abundant families were Micrococcaceae, Intrasporangiaceae, and Rhodobacteraceae. The results correlate with current anthropogenic activity, indicating a moderate problem associated with contamination. Our findings suggest that immediate actions and increased awareness are necessary to preserve this cultural and natural heritage site and to take steps to comply with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Furthermore, this is the first report to characterize microbial communities in the water of Lake Xochimilco using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Full article

Urban mass tourism and rural depopulation increasingly threaten heritage sites worldwide, leading to socio-economic and environmental challenges. This study adopts a holistic approach to sustainable tourism planning by examining 84 cultural and natural heritage sites in and around Safranbolu and Amasra, two cities in Türkiye that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Tentative List. Inspired by historical travelers’ itineraries, it proposes an eco-cultural tourism route to create a resilient heritage network. A participatory methodology integrates charettes within Erasmus+ workshops, crowdsourcing, various analysis methods while engaging stakeholders, and AI-powered clustering for route determination. The study follows a four-stage framework: (1) data collection via collaborative GIS, (2) eco-cultural route development, (3) stakeholder participation for inclusivity and viability, and (4) assessments and recommendations. Results highlight the strong potential of heritage assets for sustainable tourism while identifying key conservation risks. Interviews and site analysis underscore critical challenges, including the absence of integrated site management strategies, insufficient capacity-building initiatives, and ineffective participatory mechanisms. Moreover, integrating GIS-based crowdsourcing, machine learning clustering, and multi-criteria decision-making can be an effective planning support system. In conclusion, this study enhances the sustainability of heritage and tourism by strengthening participatory eco-cultural development and mitigating mass tourism and abandonment’s negative impacts on the heritage sites. Full article

The “Gutâi-Maramureș” UNESCO Global Geopark project is to be realized in the Gutâi Volcanic Zone in the northwestern part of the East Carpathians (Romania), an area with long-lasting and complex Miocene volcanic activity and a centuries-long mining history. In order to identify the volcanism and mining-related patrimonial values, in combination with other natural and cultural assets able to support the establishment of a UNESCO geopark, and to develop a sustainable tourism in the area, this paper presents the main objectives of the adopted research methodology, namely to realize (1) a geological synthesis of the area, (2) an inventory and assessment of geological and mining heritage sites, (3) a synthesis of local biodiversity, and (4) documentation of the cultural, historical and archaeological values. Furthermore, we conducted a SWOT analysis to help define the optimal territory for the geopark, to establish the core values for a strong brand identity, and to develop educational and sustainable tourism activities. This paper presents all the significant heritage values located within the future geopark area: geosites of international scientific significance, sites related to centuries-long mining of precious metals, natural protected areas, including European Natura 2000 sites, important cultural heritage sites such as old wooden churches (five of them included in the UNESCO World Heritage List) and museums. The promotion of sustainable tourism in the area by harnessing all these patrimonial values could be realized by the implementation of the geoeducation and geotourism concepts during the project development based on previous experiences/activities in the area involving local people, NGOs and institutions. Full article

Urban flooding presents acute challenges in heritage cities, where dense populations and valuable cultural assets coexist. While Nature-Based Solutions (NbSs) have been widely studied, their implementation in heritage cities remains underexplored due to spatial constraints and cultural sensitivities. This study develops a quantitative evaluative framework integrating the Spatial Multi-Criteria Evaluation (SMCE) and NbSs to address urban flooding in Quanzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In GIS-based spatial analysis, the framework prioritizes high-risk zones by synthesizing hydrological and socio-economic factors. The analysis reveals that the Surface Runoff Coefficient (SRC) contributes 30% to urban flooding exposure, with high building congestion and elevated PM2.5 levels exacerbating risks by 17% and 16.8%, respectively. Vulnerability mapping underscores the critical role of cultural heritage, accounting for 71.1% of the vulnerability index, and highlights priority townships such as Linjiang, Kaiyuan, and Lizhong, with integrated exposure and vulnerability rates of 11.8%, 10.3%, and 9.5%, respectively. This study proposes four NbS models tailored to heritage urban landscapes, with Solution I—direct surface infiltration—identified as the most applicable, covering 170.9 ha, followed by Solution II—subterranean stormwater infiltration—at 52.3 ha. Despite limited spatial feasibility (1.3–33.5% of township areas), the framework demonstrates significant potential for integrating NbSs with existing grey infrastructure, contributing to flood risk mitigation and broader sustainability goals. The findings provide actionable insights for urban planners and policymakers, offering a replicable methodology for the deployment of NbSs in heritage-rich urban contexts worldwide. By bridging flood risk management with cultural preservation, this work advances the discourse on resilient and sustainable urban planning. Full article

Species knowledge of local animal species is of great importance for one’s own environmental awareness and is a major component for managing present and future crises in education for sustainable development. For this reason, this study is the first to survey the species knowledge of visitors to the UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site the Wadden Sea of the North Sea, which is the largest mudflat area in the world. In this context, the self-assessment of the respondents and the extent of their connectedness with nature are also examined. To answer the research questions, a questionnaire survey was carried out to determine the species knowledge and degree of connectedness with nature. For data analysis, various statistical methods such as t-tests and correlation analyses were used. The results show that the 126 visitors to the Wadden Sea Visitor Centre have a rather low level of species knowledge. In this regard, the European Herring Gull is the only very well-known species among the respondents. In addition, a further construct was investigated in the form of connectedness with nature, between which a significant positive correlation was found with species knowledge. Full article

Invasive species are a major driver of environmental change and pose a significPant threat to native biodiversity due to their ability to invade and establish themselves in natural or semi-natural ecosystems. This study analyzed the presence, abundance, and distribution of invasive alien plant species in a Mediterranean urban area, the municipality of Córdoba (Andalusia region, southern Spain). It includes an important historic city center, urbanized areas but also peri-urban natural and semi-natural sites around. A detailed review of bibliography and computerized botanical databases was conducted prior to an extensive fieldwork and GIS analysis carried out during 2021, 2022, and 2023. Our research identified 227 populations of 17 invasive plant species from 10 different families. These species represent 35% of the invasive plant species reported in the Andalusia region and 27% of those reported in Spain. In total, 53% of the species were introduced from America, especially South America, but no alien invasive species from other European regions were detected. The highest concentrations were found in ruderal areas, followed by abandoned fields, but also in urbanized areas, including the UNESCO World Heritage historic city center. Seven invasive herbaceous species were identified (perennial herbs), compared to 10 invasive tree species, with phanerophytes being the most abundant life form. This likely reflects the predominant use of alien woody species for ornamental and reforestation purposes, as well as the greater resilience of woody and perennial species to the increasingly warm and dry conditions of the Mediterranean climate—a phenomenon exacerbated in recent years by climate change. Our findings suggest that the use of non-native species as ornamentals is the primary driver of the establishment, spread, and ecological impact of invasive plants in the study area. This study provides valuable insights into the current situation and the potential future trajectory of invasive species, facilitating the development of management strategies and restoration efforts to address the growing issue of biological invasions in the Mediterranean region. Full article