World Heritage in Danger: Case Studies About Some of the Factors that Threaten Cultural Sites

Abstract

The selection of World Heritage in Danger as a theme, more specifically, the factors of risk that threaten Cultural sites, derives from the understanding that the sense of loss is a strong promoter of heritage safeguard. With the present article, we have as main goal the realization of a critical reflection on endangered world heritage sites through a multinational perspective, based on the analysis of three case studies that can illustrate some of the main threats that harm cultural sites. For that end, several sources will be addressed from international documents like Conventions and national decrees, but also the documentation available on UNESCO’s Official Website. The essence of the research will focus on the evolution of heritage safeguard mainly from the 70s of the 20th century, and until the 2nd decade of the 2000s. The present text aims to contribute to a global and more humanized perspective on World Heritage in peril. It also intends to innovate through the recognition that the sense of loss is a major promoter of the protection of endangered sites.

This investigation was developed in the scope of the master’s degree in art history, heritage, and visual culture (2018–2020) attended at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Porto’s University (Portugal). It consists of an adaptation of part of the Dissertation entitled O Sentimento de perda. Património Mundial—Casos de estudo dos principais riscos para os Bens Culturais (2020), oriented by Prof. Dr. Maria Leonor Botelho and argued by Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Christofoletti. The dissertation proposes a diachronic and multinational analysis of the subject matter since the fourteenth century and until the second decade of the 2000s.

Inês de Carvalho Costa—Master’s in art history, heritage, and visual culture at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Porto’s University (Portugal).