Nature and Cultural Heritage | How to Conserve These Sources of Inspiration

Scientific Concepts, Discoveries, and Nature Phenomena Presented

• Heritage and Conservation Concepts:
  • Heritage defined by UNESCO as a legacy from the past, encompassing both cultural and natural heritage, which are irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.
  • Conservation involves managing change in significant places to sustain, reveal, or reinforce cultural and natural heritage values.
  • The interrelationship between landscape (physical environment), nature (biological elements), and culture (human activities and artifacts) forms a system affected by environmental change.
  • Conservation aims to improve resilience of these interconnected systems.
• Research Focus and Methodology (OxRUBBLE Lab):
  • Interdisciplinary approach including geographers, archaeologists, conservation scientists, chemists, engineers, and architects.
  • Three broad research strands:
    • Learning from past conservation practices.
    • Biogeomorphology: interaction between rocks and living organisms.
    • Working with nature to better conserve cultural heritage.
  • Use of long-term, interdisciplinary studies to understand friend/foe roles of nature in heritage conservation.
• Integration of Nature and Culture in Conservation:
  • Nature can be both a friend (bioprotection) and foe (biodeterioration) to cultural heritage.
  • Culture can be both a friend (providing habitats for species) and foe (restricting natural processes like rewilding) to nature.
  • The concept of “Green Conservation” aims to integrate nature and culture for improved resilience and human well-being.
  • Nature-based solutions (e.g., reintroduction of beavers) can benefit both natural and cultural heritage.
• Hierarchy of Conservation Focus:
  • Biodiversity (biological diversity)
  • Cultural diversity
  • Geodiversity (diversity of geological features)
  • Conservation areas include geoparks, nature reserves, and cultural sites.
• Policy Developments:
  • National Trust’s new strategy emphasizes the need for both nature (survival) and culture (identity and connection).
  • English Heritage’s 2023 sustainable conservation principles include integrating nature for the benefit of natural and historic environments.
  • Collaborative statements by Natural England, Historic England, and National Lottery Heritage Fund highlight integrated management of natural and historic environments.
• Case Studies Illustrating Nature-Culture Interactions:
  1. Lichens on Cultural Heritage:
     • Lichens can cause biodeterioration but also provide bioprotection.
     • Cultural heritage sites provide unique habitats for lichens.
     • Example: Rock art in the Côa Valley, Portugal, where lichens and microbes colonize carved schist surfaces.
     • Use of digital twins and photogrammetry to monitor changes without touching the rock art.
  2. Grasses and Small Plants on Ruins:
     • Plants like sedums and grasses colonize ruined walls, potentially protecting masonry by reducing water ingress.
     • “Soft” or “natural” wall capping uses vegetation to protect wall heads.
     • Example: Hailes Abbey, where turf and sedums have been used successfully.
     • Climate change poses challenges to the effectiveness of natural capping.
  3. Trees and Woody Plants on Cultural Heritage:
     • Trees can damage ruins with root systems but also create microclimates that protect stonework.
     • Example: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, where removal of trees led to increased deterioration from microbes.
     • The famous “root-covered” ruins (e.g., Ta Prohm) represent a novel heritage form blending nature and culture.
  4. Mixed Heritage Sites:
     • Sites like the Lake District combine extensive natural and cultural heritage.
     • The SYN network studies sites at the intersection of natural and cultural heritage globally, promoting interdisciplinary research and management.
• Challenges and Opportunities:
  • Balancing conservation of nature and culture, especially where they may conflict.
  • Need for interdisciplinary, long-term research to understand complex interactions.
  • Potential for nature-based solutions to improve resilience and human well-being.
  • The concept of “Green Conservation” as a middle ground between fully managed cultural sites and wild natural sites.

Key Researchers and Sources Featured

• OxRUBBLE Lab (Oxford Resilient Buildings and Landscapes Lab):
  • Lead speaker (unnamed in transcript but affiliated with OxRUBBLE)
  • Nick Carter (coined the term “bioprotection”)
  • Martin Kum (colleague who used ChatGPT for imagery)
  • Shadrach Chirikure (archaeologist working in Zimbabwe)
  • Yan Wu Wang (Chinese colleague advocating “natural wall capping” term)
  • Katherine Bhel and Martin Mett (leaders of the SYN network)
• Collaborators and Organizations:
  • English Heritage
  • Historic England
  • National Trust
  • Natural England
  • National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • University of Porto (Dr.