1. Science and conservation
From ancient monuments to
wilderness landscapes
Prof Heather Viles, University of Oxford

2. Synopsis
• Conserving our heritage
• Bioconservation
– What can science contribute?
• Geoconservation
– What can science contribute?
• Cultural heritage conservation
– What can science contribute?
• Integrating heritage conservation

3. Cultural heritage
- material (monuments, buildings, sites) and intangible
Mixed heritage
- cultural landscapes, cultural routes
Natural heritage
- biological and ‘earth’
Heritage conservation

4. Great Wall of China Acacus rock art, Libya
Image credit:
Luco Galuzzi
St Catherine’s Venice
Monastery, Egypt
Colossi of
Memnon,
Egypt

5. Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles Lulworth Cove, Dorset, England
Guilin Karst, China
Wadden Sea (Wattenmeer),
Germany and the Netherlands Surtsey, Iceland

6. St Kilda, UK Drakensberg
Mountains, South Africa
Image credit: Sea Harris
Machu Picchu, Peru
Cappadocia, Turke
y

7. Evidential value
For interpreting the past
Historical value
For connecting with the past
Aesthetic value
For the enjoyment of beauty
Communal value
For meanings and identities
Economic value
Questions of
Why conserve heritage? value

8. Natural processes and changes
Gradual change
Extreme events
Human impacts
Pollution (air/water/land)
Abandonment, neglect, changing use
Bad management and restoration
War
Identifying the
Why conserve heritage? major external
threats

9. 38 WHS ‘in danger’ in 2012
Abu Mena, Egypt
Galapagos Islands
Image credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS,
NASA
Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Belize barrier reef
Image credit: Landsat NASA Image credit: Nebedaay
Image credit: UNESCO

10. Heritage science
http://www.heritagescience.ac.uk/
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/nhss/server/show/nav.19891

11. Landscape as an integrating concept
Human impacts
Culture
Biology
ecology
Biogeomorphology
Cultural
landscapes Geomorphology
geology

12. • Identification of species, sites and habitats
requiring conservation
• Establishment of the natural ‘baseline’ –
what are we working toward conserving?
• How to conserve – application of ecological
theories (e.g. Norman Myers’ ‘hotspots’)
• Monitoring the success of conservation
schemes
Role of science in Mainly ecologists
bioconservation and biogeographers

13. • Identification of species, sites and habitats
requiring conservation
• Establishment of the natural ‘baseline’ –
what are we working toward conserving?
• How to conserve – application of ecological
theories (e.g. Norman Myers’ ‘hotspots’)
• Monitoring the success of conservation
schemes
Role of science in Mainly ecologists
bioconservation and biogeographers

14. ALDABRA ATOLL, INDIAN OCEAN

15. Aldabra Atoll: a World Heritage Site and
ecological ‘natural laboratory’
Aldabrachelys gigantea – the
Aldabran giant tortoise

16. What WAS I doing?

17. • Identification of species, sites and habitats
requiring conservation
• Establishment of the natural ‘baseline’ –
what are we working toward conserving?
• How to conserve – application of ecological
theories (e.g. Norman Myers’ ‘hotspots’)
• Monitoring the success of conservation
schemes
Role of science in Mainly ecologists
bioconservation and biogeographers

18. NAMIB DESERT, NAMIBIA

19. Lichen fields – biodiversity and
surface stabilization
See: Lalley and Viles 2008 Biodiversity
100m and Conservation, 17, 1-20

20. • Identification of landforms, sites and
geomorphic systems worthy of
conservation
• Understanding the dynamics of conserved
areas (development over time, functioning
today)
• Aiding management in the face of threats
such as climate change
• Interpretation/ public understanding
Role of science in Mainly geologists &
geoconservation geomorphologists

21. • Identification of landforms, sites and
geomorphic systems worthy of
conservation
• Understanding the dynamics of conserved
areas (development over time, functioning
today)
• Aiding management in the face of threats
such as climate change
• Interpretation/ public understanding
Role of science in Mainly geologists &
geoconservation geomorphologists

22. ZHANGJIAJIE GEOPARK, CHINA

23. What’s in a name? International Workshop on
Zhangjiajie Geomorphology 2010

24. See also: Brierley et
al., 2011 ESPL, 36, 1981-
1984

28. • Identification of landforms, sites and
geomorphic systems worthy of
conservation
• Understanding the dynamics of conserved
areas (development over time, functioning
today)
• Aiding management in the face of threats
such as climate change
• Interpretation/ public understanding
Role of science in Mainly geologists &
geoconservation geomorphologists

29. Giant’s Causeway, N Ireland: Dynamic
landscape
See: Smith et al, 2010 Geoheritage

30. • Understanding site and environmental
context of cultural heritage
• Prospecting/ survey for archaeological sites
• Understanding deterioration
• Identifying ‘hotspots’ at risk from
environmental threats
• Applying geomorphic theory to
conservation
Science and cultural heritage
conservation

31. • Understanding site and environmental
context of cultural heritage
• Prospecting/ survey for archaeological sites
• Understanding deterioration
• Identifying ‘hotspots’ at risk from
environmental threats
• Applying geomorphic theory to
conservation
Science and cultural heritage
conservation

32. ACACUS MTS AND MESSAK SETTAFET, LIBYA

33. Libyan rock art: Geological and
geomorphological settings

34. Rock art research team

39. Monitoring colour, hardness and
microclimate at rock art sites

40. • Understanding site and environmental
context of cultural heritage
• Prospecting/ survey for archaeological sites
• Understanding deterioration
• Identifying ‘hotspots’ at risk from
environmental threats
• Applying geomorphic theory to
conservation
Science and cultural heritage
conservation

41. GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA

42. Fading heritage? Understanding rock
art deterioration

43. Golden Gate
Highlands, South Africa
Badly deteriorating
rock art

44. Viles et al., (2010) ESPL; Mol and Viles (2010) Geomorphology
Monitoring micro-climate, rock
hardness and internal moisture
regimes

45. Integrating heritage conservation:
Roles of science
Angkor
Wat, Cambo
dia
Image credit: Dave’sTravelCorner
Rathbarry, Ireland

46. Green ruins: Developing new
conservation methods

47. Can soft capping help conserve ruined
walls?

48. 16
15cm + slate 15cm
14
10cm + slate 10cm
12
5cm + slate 5cm
10
Hard cap
8 November 2005 Byland
deg C
6 Abbey
4
2
0
01/11/2005 06/11/2005 11/11/2005 16/11/2005 21/11/2005 26/11/2005 01/12/2005
00:00
-2 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00
-4

49. See also:
Viles & Wood, 2007, Geol Soc Spec Pub 271, 309-322
Lee et al 2009 English Heritage Research Report
http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/arid-environments/rubble/swc/resources.html