Exploring the Lighthouse of El Morro in San Felipe: Professional Practice and Academic Collaboration for the Conservation of Immovable Cultural Heritage in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

PurposeThe study explores the nexus between Ibu-Ubu boyhood initiation and the conservation of cultural heritage in Afikpo, Southeast Nigeria. The study is motivated by the rarity of such cultural conservation through initiation rites in an age of Christian-inspired culture terrorism against Igbo traditional religion, arts and relics.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted cultural anthropological research method. The boyhood initiation rite was studied through participant observation of the initiation between September and November 2017. As a cultural anthropological study, oral evidence was derived from the men who had undergone the rite. Through the oral evidence, interpretations were given to the material culture, monuments and heritage that have been conserved through Ibu-Ubu initiation rite.FindingsThe study discovered that amid the deluge of Christian-motivated culture terrorism and erosion of Igbo cultural arts, relics and heritage, the people of Afikpo have preserved most of their tangible and intangible heritage through the Ibu-Ubu boyhood initiation rites.Originality/valueThis study will assist in the reinvigoration of campaigns on environmental and heritage conservation in Igboland. It is sufficient to posit that Igboland is ridden with myriads of environmental and cultural terrorism, perpetrated by some Christian fanatics. The study reveals the relevance of the boyhood initiation rites in ensuring the preservation and conservation of Igbo cultural heritage in a century marked with fanatical Christian evangelism, culture-terrorism and destruction of both tangible and intangible heritages, which the Christians have labelled evil, barbaric and fetish.

Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical and moral components of societies that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and transfered for the benefit of future generations. As the spoiling of cultural heritage-partly or wholly- will be a harmful impoverishment for all nations' heritage, it is material to take subject as a whole for all nations. Universal characteristics of cultural heritage point out the necessity of strengthening of culturel dialogue for conservation of this heritage. Nowadays there exists losts of constitutions supporting the studies for conservation of cultural and natural heritage. Among them, Europen Union's performance rewarding the example project, application and other researches designed on the conservation of cultural heritage draws attention. One of the important supports of European Union for conservation of cultural heritage are Europa Nostra awards. During the study Turkey's awards captured from Europa Nostra are analysed.

Reconciling the Conservation of Cultural Heritage with Rural Development

Attention to the condition assessment and conservation of cultural heritage is increasing due to growing sensitivity to the preservation of the built and natural environment and awareness of the risks associated with natural hazards. In this context, a comprehensive approach to the conservation and valorization of cultural heritage requires the combined action of different skills to achieve reliable assessment of the conditions of valuable assets and sites based on qualitative and quantitative indicators. This paper explores the issues of conservation and sustainable management of archaeological sites, considering humanistic and technical aspects. It reviews the current rules and practices concerning the maintenance and administration of archaeological heritage and outlines the implementation of a novel procedure, based on low-cost tools, to assess and describe the current condition of archaeological assets. Specific attention is paid to the interaction between experts and researchers operating in both humanistic and technical fields and to the knowledge and data contribution available on modern web-based platforms to implement reliable and low-cost data acquisition for the development of worthwhile plans for the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. The Samnite complex of Pietrabbondante, Molise, South Italy, is employed to apply and check the proposed tools in the real world.

A specific European standardisation activity in the field of conservation of cultural heritage is essential to acquire a common unified scientific approach to the problems relevant to the preservation and conservation of the cultural property. A scientific approach is essential for the conservation of cultural heritage as a preliminary basis that will ensure effective planning of ordinary and extraordinary maintenance works, as well to assure their efficacy and durability. The scope of CEN TC 346 is to establish standards in the field of the processes, practices, methodologies and documentation of conservation of tangible cultural heritage to support its preservation, protection and maintenance and to enhance its significance. This includes standardization on the characterization of deterioration processes and environmental conditions for cultural heritage and the products and technologies used for the planning and execution of conservation, restoration, repair and maintenance. Up to now seventeen EN standards were published according to a matrix-based method in which three main topics have been developed. In 2014 seven more standards will be published.

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The objective of this study is to evaluate how students’ level of awareness of cultural heritage differs in Amasya University based on several variables including sociodemographic structure and field of study. This study uses the data obtained from a total of 719 students attending Amasya University in the spring semester of the 2021–2022 academic year. Data were collected using the questionnaire form of the cultural heritage scale developed by the researchers. Independent sampling t test and ANOVA technique were used for the variables that assume normal distribution. Tukey HSD test was used to determine differences between groups. The study findings demonstrate that cultural heritage awareness level of undergraduate students was higher than those in associate degree programs; students whose families live in the city centre have higher cultural heritage awareness than those whose families live in districts and villages; 4th year students had higher cultural heritage awareness than 3rd, 2nd and 1st year students; the students in the Department of Teacher Education and Religious Studies Department had higher cultural heritage awareness than the students in Architecture and Engineering Departments. The study findings underline the importance of improving usage awareness, conservation awareness and responsibility awareness regarding cultural heritage. Therefore, educational institutions at all levels should develop solid policies and action plans to promote and protect cultural heritage assets. This study emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage awareness, encouraging relevant parties to take concrete steps for conservation and management of cultural heritage.

At present, incorrect or aggressive conservation efforts harm not only the building heritage, but also its cultural significance and authenticity. There is an urgent need to investigate existing studies that utilise proper methods and processes of the digital economy and technology to promote sustainable architecture and building heritage conservation and heritage tourism development and management to achieve the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). Hence, this paper aims to explore the role of digital economy technology, i.e., building information modelling (BIM), in promoting the harmonious development of cultural architectural and building heritage conservation and sustainable cultural heritage tourism, as well as to reveal the current state of the research and hotspots in BIM-driven cultural heritage conservation for sustainable cultural heritage tourism. A mix of a macro-quantitative bibliometric method and a follow-up micro-qualitative content analysis method has been employed to highlight the significance and promise of the interdisciplinary domains of BIM, cultural heritage conservation, and sustainable cultural heritage tourism to the attainment of SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) focused on three specific goals, i.e., enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation (SDG 11.3), strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage (SDG 11.4), and reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities (SDG 11.6); and SDG 17 (partnerships) regarding four issues, i.e., stakeholder relationships, public participation, heritage conservation experts, and management. Additionally, three categories of research themes have been identified: cultural heritage conservation, heritage and tourism management, and support of emerging technology. Furthermore, the relationships between BIM and sustainable cultural heritage tourism from the last 26 years (1997 to 2022) have been revealed with visualisations of future research trends in BIM, cultural heritage conservation, and sustainable cultural heritage tourism.

The atmosphere plays a pivotal role in modulating the interactions between microorganisms and their surrounding environments, influencing ecological cycles, heritage conservation, and providing opportunities for novel applications. Recent studies have highlighted the role of microbial responses to atmospheric conditions as indicators of environmental change. This study highlights the role of climate change, particularly rising temperatures, on the growth of cyanobacteria and, consequently, the impact of this on the conservation of cultural heritage, as in the case study of the rock paintings of the Majella Massif (Lama dei Peligni—Abruzzo Region, central Italy). The region’s rock art, characterized by red and black schematic motifs, is increasingly impacted by microbial colonization, driven by climate-induced temperature variations. These impacts are consistent with broader research demonstrating the link between microbial growth patterns and climatic factors. Laboratory analyses were carried out on cyanobacteria samples collected near the rock paintings at the study site in the Majella National Park. Results revealed a significant increase in growth rates at the higher temperature, demonstrating their sensitivity to climatic shifts. These findings underscore the dynamic role of atmospheric factors in shaping microbial survival and propagation. Consequently, certain atmospheric parameters appear to play a crucial role in the deterioration of fragile cultural assets. Indeed, the enhanced growth of cyanobacteria due to rising temperatures also poses a challenge: their proliferation can degrade cultural heritage sites, threatening their preservation. This research advocates for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate atmospheric sciences, microbial ecology, and heritage studies to explore the role of temperature in affecting cyanobacteria growth and the conservation of a peculiar cultural heritage in the Majella Massif. By leveraging their biological traits, cyanobacteria can provide valuable insights into climate dynamics while emphasizing the urgency for proactive strategies to mitigate environmental impacts on vulnerable ecosystems and heritage sites.

Nanocellulose is a nanostructured form of cellulose, which retains valuable properties of cellulose such as renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and sustainability and, due to its nano-sizes, acquires several useful features, such as low density, high aspect ratio and stiffness, a high specific surface area, easy processing and functionalisation, and good thermal stability. All these make it a highly versatile green nanomaterial for multiple applications, including the conservation of cultural heritage. This review provides the basic characteristics of all nanocellulose forms and their properties and presents the results of recent research on nanocellulose formulations applied for conserving historical artefacts made of wood and paper, discussing their effectiveness, advantages, and disadvantages. Pure nanocellulose proves particularly useful for conserving historical paper since it can form a durable, stable coating that consolidates the surface of a degraded object. However, it is not as effective for wood consolidation treatment due to its poor penetration into the wood structure. The research shows that this disadvantage can be overcome by various chemical modifications of the nanocellulose surface; owing to its specific chemistry, nanocellulose can be easily functionalised and, thus, enriched with the properties required for an effective wood consolidant. Moreover, combining nanocellulose with other agents can also improve its properties, adding new functionalities to the developed supramolecular systems that would address multiple needs of degraded artefacts. Since the broad use of nanocellulose in conservation practice depends on its properties, price, and availability, the development of new, effective, green, and industrial-scale production methods ensuring the manufacture of nanocellulose particles with standardised properties is necessary. Nanocellulose is an interesting and very promising solution for the conservation of cultural heritage artefacts made of paper and wood; however, further thorough interdisciplinary research is still necessary to devise new green methods of its production as well as develop new effective and sustainable nanocellulose-based conservation agents, which would replace synthetic, non-sustainable consolidants and enable proper conservation of historical objects of our cultural heritage.

Abstract. Islands represent complex cultural landscapes shaped by unique nature–culture interactions and the communities that inhabit them. Bozcaada (Tenedos), one of Turkey’s largest inhabited islands, exemplifies this complexity through its rich multicultural history, distinctive architecture, and traditional practices such as viticulture and fishing. However, increasing tourist pressure since the 2000s has led to the commodification of the island’s physical and cultural environment. This transformation has disrupted local production systems, altered spatial patterns, and undermined the balance between natural, built, and social elements.Recognizing Bozcaada as a living heritage site, this study proposes an integrated conservation strategy rooted in participatory and interdisciplinary methods. Conducted within the framework of the Middle East Technical University Graduate Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage in 2023, the research draws on expertise from urban planning, architecture, and history to analyze Bozcaada’s transformation and to develop tools for its sustainable management.At the core of the study is Bozcaada▪GIS, a Geographic Information System-based platform created to compile and analyze spatial and social data. By integrating land use records, architectural documentation, visual materials, and oral histories, Bozcaada▪GIS enables multi-scalar analysis of the island’s evolving structure. In-depth interviews and community engagement further enrich the system by offering insights into human–space–nature relations. More than a technical tool, Bozcaada▪GIS functions as a living archive that documents and visualizes cultural memory while remaining open to continuous updates.Through participatory mapping and open data access, the project fosters local awareness, ownership, and involvement in conservation planning. It reflects a holistic approach that integrates physical, social, and historical values into a dynamic and adaptive framework. The study demonstrates how GIS can support cultural heritage conservation in island contexts by enhancing knowledge sharing, guiding policy-making, and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration. Bozcaada▪GIS offers a replicable model for managing culturally significant and environmentally sensitive landscapes.

Changsha（长沙）, as a famous historic city in the midland of China, bears a long history of urban development and has experienced twists and turns in conservation of immovable cultural relics. As a result, a number of immovable cultural heritages have remained. In recent years, just like other major cities in China, Changsha has been brought into a critical moment when its urban renewal threatens the existence and prospect of immovable cultural heritage, especially in the inner city. Seemingly, sustainable developments in the urban and in the conservation of immovable historic relics are incompatible. Based on the understanding of the background concerning the territory, the context and the basic related information to conservation, this thesis has made a survey of the status including entities that perform conservation, objects and main measures of conservation for immovable cultural heritage in the inner city of Changsha. Combined with the understanding of sustainable development and application of its theories in conserving immovable cultural heritage, the materials from the survey are analyzed, from the perspectives of conservation methodologies, urban planning and other significant issues. The thesis tries to bring up several proposals on strategies concerning the sustainable development of immovable cultural heritage for the specific case of inner city of Changsha. Finally it is mentioned in the conclusion that, in Changsha, to fulfill the sustainable development in urban growth and cultural heritage conservation, the cultural resources shall be preserved and exploited at maximum in an active and adaptive way. In this phase of society development, conserving immovable cultural heritage shall make efforts in sustaining in economy, society and environment and even contributing to them, yet it absolutely needs supports from the city in these three aspects

Digital documentation technologies combined with innovative analytical techniques and digital tools can be an effective strategy supporting multidisciplinary documentation and modelling aimed at conservation, enhancement and preservation of Cultural Heritage. New technologies and digital devices should play an important innovative role to understand, access, enhance and preserve Cultural Heritage.

The safeguarding of cultural heritage is a fundamental duty of the Ecuadorian State, is enshrined in the Constitution of Ecuador and has an established legal and institutional framework. The Internet has become an essential ally for the protection, conservation and dissemination of cultural heritage. The fundamental purpose of this work is to identify in the network the relevant aspects and the theoretical-methodological approaches in the main instruments governing the protection of heritage in the country. Through the bibliographic review and content analysis, the main documents establishing policies on the preservation of the material and intangible cultural heritage have been examined and evaluated. In the context of the new trends in economic and tourist characterization of the heritage, this research criticized the legal regulations of a legal nature responsible for managing and preserving the assets via the Internet; it also contributes to the systematization and dissemination of these instruments.

In this review we report the most recent applications of nanotechnology to the conservation and restoration of the world's cultural heritage. Nanoparticles of humble calcium and magnesium hydroxide and carbonate can be used to restore and protect wall paints and to de-acidify paper and wood. We highlight the synthetic pathways that can be used to produce nanoparticles, and some applications for the conservation of Maya wall paints in Mexico and to the de-acidification of paper documents and wood.