Summary of "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.