How Can Climate Change Affect the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites in Panama?

Climate change is projected to significantly accelerate the deterioration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Panama, particularly those constructed with vulnerable materials. Research using high-resolution climate models (EC-Earth) predicts increased surface recession, biomass accumulation, and salt crystallization damage by midcentury (2039–2068), compared to recent decades (1979–2008). The study analyzed construction materials and local meteoclimatic conditions at Panamá Viejo and the Fortresses of Portobelo-San Lorenzo, combining historical data with future projections under a high greenhouse gas emission scenario. These findings highlight urgent conservation challenges for Panamanian heritage sites facing intensified environmental stressors.

Ciantelli, C., Palazzi, E., Von Hardenberg, J., Vaccaro, C., Tittarelli, F., & Bonazza, A. (2018). How Can Climate Change Affect the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites in Panama? Geosciences, 8(8), 296. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8080296