We are living with significant changes driven primarily by climate and demographic needs. Awareness of the need for behavioral adaptations is growing, but it still requires attention. Scholars are asked to identify sustainable solutions to adapt to ongoing changes. During this phase of change there are some sites that remain and that are the witness of “other evolutions” that made the world we are living today. The traces of the organisms, the body fossils and the environments of the past that the Earth preserves are a precious form of cultural heritage for understanding climate change and the evolution of the natural and anthropogenic environments. Nevertheless, they still fail to obtain adequate attention except from experts. It is still hard to accept that such sites are part of the territorial history and as such they represent a real resource to promote change in understanding and relating with the territory itself.

This special session aims to stimulate debate on balancing the need for change with the preservation of heritage.

How can we preserve these sites without turning them into mere museums? How can we effectively communicate their significance to new generations? How can we raise awareness in local communities? Contributions that address or challenge these questions are welcome to enrich the discussion on cultural heritage in a changing world.