ABSTRACT
The main aim of this study was to assess the multidimensional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on heritage conservation and management and the possible strategies as a way out of the corona pandemic in North-Central Ethiopia. The study was conducted by using a descriptive study design. The study found that: 60.9 % of the heritage sites in the study area were forced to close due to the sudden outbreak of the Coronavirus. And, 71.7 % of staff who worked in the conservation and custodian was not able to work during the pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic has affected by delaying heritage conservation projects works especially in Lalibel, Dessie Museum, and Mereho Palace. 63 % of the heritage collections were not monitored during Corona time. Disruption of community life in and around heritage properties was also one of the major impacts of the Coronavirus. Communication and social mobilization, fast decision making, inviting partners to participate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, institutional Cooperation and using social media as a platform were identified as the possible strategies for heritage conservation during and post crisis. © 2022 Editura Universitatii din Oradea. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Air pollution, particularly in urban areas, puts human health in danger and has adverse impacts on the built environment. It can accelerate the natural corrosion rate of cultural heritages and monuments, leading to premature aging and lowering their aesthetic value. Globally, at the beginning of 2020, to tackle the spread of novel COVID-19, the lockdown was enforced in the most hard-hit countries. Therefore, this study assesses, as a first time, the plausible benefits of traffic and urban mobility reductions on the natural process of deterioration of materials during COVID-19 lockdown in twenty-four major cities on five continents. The potential risk is estimated based on exceeding the tolerable degradation limits for each material. The notable impact of COVID-19 mobility restrictions on air quality was evidenced in 2020 compared to 2019. The introduced mobility restrictions in 2020 could decrease the surface recession rate of materials. Extremely randomized trees analysis showed that PM10 was the main influencing factor for corrosion of portland, copper, cast bronze, and carbon steel with a relative importance of 0.60, 0.32, 0.90, and 0.64, respectively, while SO2 and HNO3 were mainly responsible for corrosion of sandstone and zinc with a relative importance of 0.60 and 0.40, respectively. The globally adverse governed meteorological conditions in 2020 could not positively influence the movement restrictions around the world in air quality improvements. Our findings can highlight the need for additional policies and measures for reducing ambient pollution in cities and the proximity of sensitive cultural heritage to avoid further damage.