Stone monument ensambles and the climate change impact

ongoing

Given the fast pace of climate change there is an urgent need to address the threats it poses on cultural heritage (CH) by a holistic framework that will engage scientists, conservators, citizens, creative industries and decision-makers to develop and act on new, sustainable strategies of long-term preservation of CH, as proposed by this project. For the first time, the future of stećci - a tangible phenomenon included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and similar limestone monuments will be assessed under 2 high resolution climate scenarios in three periods: 2021-2040, 2041-2060 and 2081-2100. In situ condition assessment supported by comprehensive scientific analyses will be followed by remedial conservation on selected sites to develop best practice and to produce efficient monitoring and conservation guidelines coupled to economic analyses and climate scenarios. Such an output will accentuate the need of timely and appropriate interventions and facilitate the decision-making process of authorities. Digitization methodologies will be also explored. Basic and high-end techniques will be mutually compared in order to simplify and amplify the digital recording of cultural heritage in Europe. Further on, the project aims to turn the potential of necropoles into new opportunities and resources for socio-economic and creative entrepreneurship developments of local communities. Work on valorization of cultural heritage and social labs with a series on events on citizen science, story telling and place-making activities will precede the development of sustainable cultural tourism strategies that can be implemented across Europe. Art, tools of creative industries and cultural values will thus be used as powerful engines of regeneration, economic growth and sustainable protection of CH in times of a rapidly changing climate. The project will also illustrate a successful collaboration of previously conflicted countries and thus aim to reduce radicalism in Western Balkans.