Vulnerability of the Persepolis Site to Climate Change and the Role of Local Community Participation in Its Reduction

Document Type : Original

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Research Center for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural and Historical Objects, Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism

2 PhD Candidate, Roma Tre University, Italy; Member of the ICOMOS International Working Group on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change

Abstract

The World Heritage site of Persepolis has faced increasing exposure to climate change-related threats over the past few decades, highlighting the urgent need to reassess conservation approaches and develop effective adaptation strategies. This study examines the dimensions and impacts of climate change on the Persepolis site and analyzes the role of local community participation in formulating and implementing adaptation strategies. The main research problem concerns the site’s increasing vulnerability to climate-related hazards, particularly prolonged droughts and intense rainfall events, and their effects on water resources and local livelihoods, especially among farmers in the Marvdasht Plain. These processes have created management challenges and tensions between site authorities and local residents. Methodologically, the research identifies causal links between climate change, groundwater depletion, the persistence of traditional agricultural practices, and the development of hazards such as land subsidence in the region. The study adopts a qualitative, participatory approach and uses the inSIGHT game as the primary tool for collecting social, perceptual, and experiential data. The theoretical framework draws on community-based participation theories, environmental sociology, and climate change risk management, all of which regard local communities as active agents in knowledge production and decision-making processes. The findings show that climate-related hazards, particularly long-term droughts and heavy rainfall events, pose direct threats to the structural stability of the ancient monuments of Persepolis and increase pressure on water resources and local livelihoods. This, in turn, intensifies management conflicts and reduces the effectiveness of conservation measures. The results also show that the vulnerabilities of the heritage site and surrounding communities are closely interconnected and mutually reinforcing, meaning that neglecting either one weakens the sustainability of the other. The study concludes that sustainable adaptation strategies require a comprehensive vulnerability assessment and the active participation of local communities. Accordingly, improved regional infrastructure, sustainable agricultural practices, continuous monitoring systems, and community capacity-building are proposed as key measures. Coordinated collaboration among local communities, governmental bodies, and international organizations is identified as an essential condition for safeguarding cultural heritage, the environment, and local livelihoods in the face of increasing climate change impacts.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies
Volume 14, Issue 28
March 2026
Pages 153-169

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