Intervening in sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List demands a highly qualified technical and conceptual framework, underpinned by rigorous methodologies and the normative principles of the World Heritage Convention, adopted in 1972. This Convention defines the typology of properties with Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), recognising in their singularity, authenticity and integrity the fundamental references for any action involving conservation, restoration or adaptation to new uses. Encompassing monuments, built ensembles, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes and natural formations, these properties require informed processes of analysis and decision-making, capable of balancing safeguarding, contemporary use and resilience in the face of growing pressures, without compromising their OUV.

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The protection of these values entails adherence to the international heritage instruments that regulate intervention in properties recognised as the shared heritage of all Humankind. These instruments underpin the assessment, management and decision-making concerning any interventive action, ensuring that no adverse impacts are incurred upon listed properties. Responsibilities are shared between the States Parties — upon whom falls the duty to identify, protect and transmit these sites to future generations — and the international community, whose cooperation is essential for the preservation of a heritage that transcends national boundaries.

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In a rapidly transforming global context, World Heritage sites face increasingly demanding challenges: urban pressures, mass tourism, climate change and growing needs for adaptation to new uses and functions. These realities call for integrated, interdisciplinary management strategies oriented towards sustainability and resilience, acknowledging the interdependence between nature and culture and the dynamic character of listed heritage.

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It is within this framework that this congress seeks to open a space for critical reflection and the sharing of experiences on decision-making processes, the principles that ought to guide interventions, and the responsibilities incumbent upon States Parties, professionals, institutions and communities alike. We invite researchers, practitioners and decision-makers to contribute papers that explore, question and enrich the debate surrounding the protection and valorisation of World Heritage.

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