Heritage management and sustainability of heritage sites. The case of ancient Greek theatre of Dodoni, Epirus, Greece

Abstract

Heritage is composed of tangible and intangible assets, as well as cultural and natural sites threatened by the effects of climate change. The sustainability of heritage is significant for its transmission to the next generations, future progress, cultural development and diversity. Thus, this paper is focused on the protection and management of heritage, presenting as case study the ancient Greek Theatre of Dodoni, located in Epirus. Stakeholders are related to scientists for climate change, heritage managers, society (including educational organizations), local community as well as the visitors. The interaction of these groups offers a management plan focused on the needs of the place. Moreover, the research of the local identity of the landscape should be combined with climatic data showing the course of the climate change and its effects on the site of study. This information of climate indices is retrieved by meteorological stations in North-Western Greece. In particular, we analyze climatological data of temperature, humidity and precipitation, collected by the meteorological station of Ioannina (Hellenic National Meteorological Service) for the period 1956-2022. Therefore, the assessment of measurements and extremities can be combined with the vulnerability approach and the risk assessment for the structure of heritage management and the dissemination.