World Heritage Sites and Environmental Changes: A Construction Project

This report examines the significant impact of environmental changes, particularly climate change, on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, encompassing both cultural and natural sites. The report delves into the causes and effects of environmental degradation, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the consequences of tourism and construction projects. It explores intervention and mitigation strategies at local, national, and international levels, emphasizing the importance of protocols, international agreements, and organizational documents in heritage conservation. The report also discusses key issues related to dam safety, including emergency preparedness and response plans, and the potential impacts of dam failures on human safety, infrastructure, and the environment. The analysis considers the vulnerability of specific sites, such as the Taj Mahal and the Great Barrier Reef, and highlights the need for sustainable practices and proactive measures to protect these invaluable sites for future generations. The report underscores the interconnectedness of environmental factors, construction practices, and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, advocating for comprehensive strategies to mitigate risks and ensure the long-term sustainability of these irreplaceable treasures.

CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Cause and effect of environmental changes on UNESCO World heritage sites....................3
Intervention and mitigation at local, national and international level....................................5
Appropriate reference to protocols, International agreements, organisations documents and
relevant legislation and its application to the World Heritage Site under investigation........6
Consider three world heritage sites that may be at risk of losing their status, due to
environmental degradation through inappropriate development, human intervention or
consumption or natural deterioration of fabric and material..................................................9
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................11
Discuss key issues associated with the safety of dams.........................................................11
Discuss the importance of developing on-site and off-site emergency preparedness and
response plan in the case of emergency or a dam failure.....................................................12
Elements of emergency action plan......................................................................................15
Impacts of failure of a dam on safety of the people living downstream, damages to properties
and infrastructure and the environment................................................................................16
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

INTRODUCTION
This report revolves around impact of environmental issues on world heritage sties and
impact of climate change on these heritage at local, national and international level.
Environmental issues such as Global warming, ozone depletion etc. are factors which have
affected climate across the globe. Climate change become major threat for several cultural sites
and natural world heritage site. This report focuses on impact of climate on world heritage sites
and how climate change can also increase the other effects such as urbanization, natural
resources, pollution etc. There are more than 1000 world heritage sites in 163 countries as some
of them are considered as important tourist destinations across the globe. Tourism have also
affected world heritage site in negative manner, tourism which is considered beneficial for
economic development of economy and help in bringing financial stability to economy but there
are some negative effects of tourism such as tourism development and excessive visitors.
Climate change have affected existing issues which are affecting world heritage sites and factors
such as sea-level rise, higher temperatures, shift in habitat and different weather conditions such
as storms, floods and droughts etc. have affected world heritage site and these factors are
affecting attributes of world heritage sites which is considered as serious issue.
This report focus on identifying and resolving environmental issues which are affecting
world heritage sites which includes cultural heritage site are vulnerable to climate change and
tourism sector also is considered vulnerable to climate change (Ahmed, 2018). Threats to
cultural heritage site includes extreme weather which increases costs related to insurance and
concerns related with safety and damages to premises of heritage site. This report focuses on
issue related with disruption to natural and cultural heritage site in world due to climate change
and it can also affect the tourism sector and reduce the attractiveness of heritage sites.
TASK 1
Cause and effect of environmental changes on UNESCO World heritage sites
Environmental changes have affected heritage sites all across the globe and UNESCO as
a body is focusing on maintaining values within those properties and help in maintaining heritage
properties for future generation. World heritage sites which should be preserved and maintained
in order to promote tourism sector (Burger and Zulch, 2018). Environment changes have made
its impact on world heritage site as impact of change in temperature, rise in sea level, greenhouse

gas emission have made its impact on several world heritage sites. World heritage sites are also
affected by unplanned tourism development and poor management of visitors. Some of the well
known heritage sites in world are Taj Mahal in India, the great Barrier reef in Australia and
Grand Canyon in United States. It has been shown by UNESCO report that many heritage sites
are facing effects of climate change and it have affected the structure of heritage sites. Australia
great barrier reef have faced coral bleaching which occurs due to warmer water which can be
linked with change in temperature at global level. High sea level in Venice have caused damage
to properties in Venice. Heritage sites are considered as important sites due to their uniqueness
and connection to past entities (Callistus and Clinton, 2018).
Heritage help in bringing great amount of revenues for government by encouraging
tourism industry. World heritage sites are considered as one of the valuable tourist destinations
all across the globe and many people livelihood is dependent on their existence as it help in
attracting tourist. UNESCO focuses on developing appropriate plans and strategies which can
help in adopting climate changes and reduce the emission rate in nature. Coral reefs are
considered as example to understand problem of climate change as coral reefs are considered as
world heritage site and most vulnerable to change in environment and other issues related to
climate change. Figures shows that more than half of world reefs are considered at risk of
degradation and it can affect several countries as several countries tourism is associated with
reefs and tourism revenue contributes in GDP of several economies. Reefs in worldwide are
affected by several issue related to environment and climate changes as warm waters and ocean
acidification played vital role in degradation of coral reefs. Coral are important part of marine
environment as its existence is from several million years and temperature change in recent years
have affected adaptability of coral reefs and that's why climate change is considered as threat to
coral reefs (Erdogan, Šaparauskas and Turskis, 2019). Climate change have made its impact on
world heritage sites and it also exacerbate other issues such as lack of management of tourist,
poverty, urbanization etc. Higher temperature helped in influencing changes in environment such
as meting of glaciers, floods and droughts etc.
Protecting world heritage site is considered as priority and it can be possible by
protecting ecosystem. In order to protect world heritage sites focus should be on expanding and
managing buffer zones which help in ensuring connectivity between sites and protected areas.
Monuments, Building and archaeological monuments of cultural world heritage sites and

buildings are affected by climate related changes such as damage from extreme wind and heavy
rainfall events as well as coastal erosion, flooding and damp. Building foundation can be
destabilized by increase or decrease in moisture of soil. Climate change does affect temperature
inside buildings as it can cause infestations. Change in temperature and water interaction are
important for architecture as example in this context can be taken about Djenne Mosque in Mali
which is vulnerable to climate change. UNESCO have focused on understanding the cause and
effects on environment and climate change on world heritage sites and UNESCO is focusing on
developing appropriate plan and strategies to tackle these environmental issues. Degradation of
world heritage sites affected tourism sector as it also contributes in GDP of economy.
Environmental factors have made its major impact on several world heritage site in terms of
structure. Climate change have affected cultural and natural world heritage site and it also
affected their sustainability in future (Galagali, 2017).
Intervention and mitigation at local, national and international level
Intervention and mitigation options can help in addressing climate change and its
effective implementation depends on coordination at high scale and implementation of policies
depends on outcomes with achieving other goals and objectives. Innovation and investment help
in bringing change in environment by reducing greenhouse gas emission and it can help in
enhancing resilience to climate change as innovation and change can help in bringing
effectiveness of intervention and mitigation points. Intervention and mitigation at local, national
and international level can help in reducing greenhouse gas emission and environment issues
which are affecting environment in long-term. New technology and infrastructure can help in
reducing effect on natural ecosystem. Intervention and mitigation focuses on innovation and
changes. Example of this can be considered as investment in low carbon and carbon neutral
technology as it can help in reducing intensity of economic development in terms of energy. In
terms of climate change, greenhouse gas emission and capacity of intervention and mitigation is
influenced by livelihood and behaviour.
Energy intensive lifestyle can affect higher energy contribution and high energy
production and GHG emission have increased mitigation costs. Intervention and mitigation is
considered as capacities to adapt and mitigate to manage the climate change risks. These
capacities are considered in context of place and there is no risk reduction is considered
appropriate for all settings (Giao, 2020). Potential implication for mitigation can be explained as

focus on driving economic growth and demand of energy and its consumption which results in
increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
In terms of deficit of knowledge and human capital there are various implications under
mitigation as reducing individual risk perception and to focus on adapting social and
technological innovations which helps in reducing emissions. Another point in implication of
mitigation is related with challenge in governance and institutional agreements which is related
with policies and related with development and incentives and coordination related to
development of policies and implementing effective and efficient carbon-neutral and renewable
energies (Górecki and Bizon-Górecka, 2017). Government and people are now starting to adapt
with climate changes as there are various components included in approaches related to
adaptation planning and disaster risk management. There are points included in this which are
mentioned below:
 Social and infrastructure development
 Technological process optimization
 Effective management of natural resources
 Financial services which includes risk transfer
There are several range of options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as emission can be
reduced in terms of emission intensity and energy intensity can help in bringing efficiency in
terms of resource availability. There is different approaches to mitigation which can help in
bringing benefits in land use sector. Mitigation and Intervention is are two approaches to
minimize the risk of climate change on ecosystem and on humans. It also focuses on reducing
the greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas emission sinks, several approaches is needed
to avoid negative impacts of such issues. Developing countries are facing heavy challenges of
climate change and GHG emissions (Ha and Tran, 2017).
Appropriate reference to protocols, International agreements, organisations documents and
relevant legislation and its application to the World Heritage Site under investigation.
There are several protocols and agreements made by countries with help of UNESCO
which focuses on conserving cultural and natural world heritage sites by implementing effective
change in ecosystem. Implementation of world heritage convention is also part of this as there
are operational guidelines for implementation of world heritage convention and in order to

protect world cultural and natural heritage site and setting procedures for implementation of it
and it includes points such as:
 List of world heritage which are in danger
 Protecting and conserving World heritage sites
 Funds for international assistance in conserving world heritage sites
 Support from countries to implement world heritage convention
Cultural and heritage sites are considered as assets which are irreplaceable and it is
property of humanity as a whole. Loss of world heritage site is considered a loss to universal
value and loss to humanity and it need protection from threats such as climate change, human
intervention etc. UNESCO have adopted World heritage convention in 1972 as it focuses on
protecting and conserving heritage site from issues related to environment and other issues
related with human intervention (Hargaden and et. al., 2019). Convention focuses on identifying
issues related protection and conservation of cultural and natural heritage sites. Implementation
of convention has focused on concept of sustainable development and protecting world heritage
sites from climate change and environmental issues.
There are several advisory ICCROM (the International Centre for the study of the
preservation and restoration of cultural property), ICOMOS (the International council on
monuments and sites) and IUCN( the International Union conservation for nature). These three
advisory bodies focuses on implementation of World heritage sites in field of their expertise.
ICCROM is an international intra governmental organisation and its headquarters situated in
Rome, Italy. ICCROM was established by UNESCO in 1956 and its functions is to carry out
research, documentation and technical assistance. It focuses on spreading awareness among
public and focuses on conserving cultural heritage sites. Role of ICCROM in context of
convention is to provide information and training to conserve cultural heritage sites and
providing support to assist in building capacity activities. ICOMOS is non-governmental
organisation with its Charenton, France. ICOMOS founded in 1965 and its role is to evaluating
properties related to cultural heritage sites and focus on providing theories and scientific
techniques to support in conserving archaeological and architectural heritage (JuneKarimi and et.
al., 2018). Role of ICOMOS related to evaluating properties which are listed on World heritage
list and properties which need to monitored and it also assist in input and support for building
capacity activities. IUCN was founded in 1948 and focuses on bringing together national

governments. IUCN headquarters are situated in Gland, Switzerland. IUCN focuses on
influencing and encouraging society to conserve and saving nature as it help in sustainability of
natural resources in ecosystem (Kim, Chang and Castro-Lacouture, 2020). Role of IUCN in
context to convention includes assistance in requests submitted by state parties and also assist in
building capacity activities.
There are different conventions and programmes held by UNESCO in order to conserve heritage
sites which are mentioned below:
 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and
Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970)
 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)
 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001)
 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)
 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
(2005)
 International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP)
 International Whaling Commission (IWC) (1946)
 Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
(Ramsar) (1971)
 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) (1973)
 Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) (1979)
 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (New York, 1992)
 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2001)
International assistance Purpose Budget ceilings per request Deadline for submission of
request Authority for approval Emergency Assistance This assistance may be requested to
address ascertained or potential threats facing properties included on the List of World Heritage
in Danger and the World Heritage List which have suffered severe damage or are in imminent
danger of severe damage due to sudden, unexpected phenomena. Such phenomena may include
land subsidence, extensive fires, explosions, flooding or human-made disasters including war
(Levy, 2018). This assistance does not concern cases of damage or deterioration caused by
gradual processes of decay, pollution or erosion. It addresses emergency situations strictly

relating to the conservation of a World Heritage property It may be made available, if necessary,
to more than one World Heritage property in a single State Party . The budget ceilings relate to a
single World Heritage property. The assistance may be requested to : (i) undertake emergency
measures for the safeguarding of the property; (ii) draw up an emergency plan for the property.
Up to US$ 5.000 Between US$ 5.001 and 75.000 At any time At any time Director of the World
Heritage Centre Chairperson of the Committee Preparatory assistance This assistance may be
requested to (in order of priority): (i) prepare or update national Tentative Lists of properties
suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List; a commitment will be required from the State
Party to nominate in priority on these lists sites recognized in approved thematic advice, such as
the thematic studies prepared by the Advisory Bodies, as corresponding to gaps on the List; (ii)
organize meetings for the harmonization of national Tentative Lists within the same geo-cultural
area (Luo and et. al., 2017).
Consider three world heritage sites that may be at risk of losing their status, due to environmental
degradation through inappropriate development, human intervention or consumption or
natural deterioration of fabric and material.
There are several world heritage sites which is on the edge of extinction due to climate
change and other issues related to environment as rise in sea-level, deforestation, soil erosion etc.
Aside from environmental issues there are several issues related with urbanization an
development of buildings etc. This part of report focuses on heritage sites which are facing issues
due to climate change, inappropriate development, human intervention etc. Climate change and
inappropriate development has increased the risk of losing value of heritage sites. Three heritage
sites which are at risk of losing their status are mentioned below:
Taj Mahal
Taj mahal is one of the most admired heritage sites across the globe and it attracts
millions of tourists every year to India. Taj mahal plays vital role in attracting millions of tourist
which help in boosting revenues for tourism sector of India. White marble in Taj mahal gives
iconic look but there are some issues related to its colour and its credibility. Its colour is now
started to turn into brown-yellow colour and it is altering feature of monument and climate
change is considered as reason behind this alteration in its colour (Nazarko, 2018). Studies
showed that air pollution is the cause of this alteration and pollution from fuels, residues from
open stoves etc. This is not a new problem as concern regarding discolouration of Taj mahal was

raised in 1970s as emission of pollutant near oil refinery. Air pollution has relationship with
climate change as it increases by greenhouse gas emission and it is considered as major issue in
context of discolouration of Taj mahal mausoleum. Change in climate and increasing
environment issues have raised this issue and government of India is focusing on taking
necessary steps to reduce air pollution which can help in retaining the status of Taj Mahal
(Nguyen, 2019).
Venice
Venice which is known as City of Canals and The floating city is Italy's one of most
picturesque cities and it is considered as beautiful and attractive destination for travelling. This
city attributes are also affected by climate change as rise in sea levels has affected Venice city.
Rise in water level have damaged building of Venice city and it also caused highest tide in 50
years. Studies showed that storms to Italian coast and strong winds are caused due to cyclonic
circulation over continental Europe. These storms and winds are reason behind heavy rainfall
which caused floods in many regions of Italy. Global warming is also considered as reason
behind storms and rise in sea level as it caused sinking of Venice city and construction activities
and coastal erosion have increased the probability of such events. Government is focusing on
implementing necessary measures to reduce the issues which can help in saving Venice city
status as world heritage site.
Sundarbans
Sundar bans national park situated in West Bengal is listed as famous world heritage site
in the world by UNECO. But in current scenario, it has adversely affected due to climate changes
and results in decline in their beauty. Global warming has majorly affected the environment as it
leads to poor climatic condition and this result in gradually affecting the mangrove forest of
Sundarbans National Park. Due to frequent occurrence of cyclones, flood and increasing sea
levels it affects the fertility of soil leads to imbalances. It become challenging to do fishing and
farming in such soil. Due to deforestation there are many species which are dying as it is not a
suitable environment for them to survive. Erosion due to intense storms damages the mangrove
forest (Ogunde and et. al., 2017). Disrupted weather condition, increasing temperature affects the
life of tiger. There is a huge decline in the population of tiger as the temperature was hot it is
impossible for them to survive in that weather. Seawater and fresh water get mixed up because of

high rise of ocean water this lead to increase the percent of salty water which infects the body of
animals of forest and even damage the forest.
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TASK 2
Discuss key issues associated with the safety of dams
Dams are considered as one of the effective and efficient way of water fu and it is
considered as effective aspect of modern infrastructure. Dams have played vital role in growth
and expansion of civilization as it help in funnelling water to various areas. Dams are used to
control amount of water flow and to store water for future use. Floodwater provides nutrients to
soil and it increases water supplies but overflow of water sometimes creates disaster which can
destroy property and homes. Dams are these days used as tool to generate power which is
explained as hydroelectric power and dam is considered as potential tool for hydroelectric power.
Process of creating hydroelectric power is that it is created when water passes through turbine.
Hydroelectric plants are considered as reliable and efficient in term of cost. Dam also help in
controlling waterways as flooding can be disastrous for the communities. Dams help in keeping
communities safe from flood and it also focuses on storing water which can be used for several
purposes. Dam these days used as source of irrigation for crops and plants. Dam is a great source
of water to complete farm and industrial activities. Dams also help in protecting environment as
it traps hazardous materials in water and focuses on capturing sand and contain harmful and
toxic substance of water. It help in reducing risk of water-borne accidents. Dams are considered
as tool for benefits as it help in providing water for livestock, irrigation, flood control etc. There
are some risk which are associated with dams and to reduce the chances of risk and failure
regular maintenance is required (Raj and Wadsamudrakar, 2018).
There are several issues related to safety of dams such as inadequate vegetation and
erosion which includes overgrazing and wave erosion which is the cause for poor vegetation and
soil erosion on a dam. Vegetative cover and soil erosion are some major factors related to
inadequate vegetation and erosion. This issue includes several other factors such as heavy
rainfall, high winds and events which can cause damage and it leads to costly repairing of dams.
In spillways, lack of grass cover, obstructions and runoff can lead to soil erosion. Inadequate
vegetation and erosion can cause the unprotected slopes which can affect the structure of dam
(Sarkar, Jha and Patel, 2021). This issue can cause the leak in dams which can result in leakage
of water and damaging structure of dam. These issues can be addressed through by utilising dam
break modelling which help in analysing issues related to dam. This report help in adopting
appropriate design to face any type of hazard and focuses on structure of dam which can face any