Overview
The 2024 International Congress on Sustainable Development and Energy Transition: Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage in the Yucatán Peninsula brought together leading scholars, students, and community leaders to explore how sustainable practices can safeguard both cultural and natural heritage. Held in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, the event continued the long-running Archaeologists Without Borders of the Maya World initiative, expanding its focus to include the intersections between archaeology, environmental stewardship, and energy transition.
Organized by the Maya Heritage Center, Instituto Tecnológico de México (Campus Mérida), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, and Universidad de Oriente, this year’s congress emphasized integration, participation, and sustainability as core values guiding the preservation of heritage amid rapid ecological and economic change.
Main Topics
The 2024 Symposium focused on developing practical and interdisciplinary approaches for managing archaeological and environmental heritage within the framework of sustainable development. Participants discussed strategies for balancing preservation with progress and for integrating community participation into decision-making processes.
Key topics included:
Sustainable Archaeological Management: exploring policies for site conservation, heritage tourism, and environmental protection.
Energy Transition and Heritage: understanding how renewable energy and infrastructure projects can align with cultural preservation goals.
Community Engagement: promoting education and local participation in heritage stewardship.
Legal and Institutional Frameworks: advancing the proposed Law on Sustainable Archaeological Sites and the Comprehensive Archaeological Administration (AAI) model.
Technological Innovation: using digital tools and open-access platforms for documentation, monitoring, and public outreach.
Outcomes
The 2024 Symposium focused on developing practical and interdisciplinary approaches for managing archaeological and environmental heritage within the framework of sustainable development. Participants discussed strategies for balancing preservation with progress and for integrating community participation into decision-making processes.
Key topics included:
Sustainable Archaeological Management: exploring policies for site conservation, heritage tourism, and environmental protection.
Energy Transition and Heritage: understanding how renewable energy and infrastructure projects can align with cultural preservation goals.
Community Engagement: promoting education and local participation in heritage stewardship.
Legal and Institutional Frameworks: advancing the proposed Law on Sustainable Archaeological Sites and the Comprehensive Archaeological Administration (AAI) model.
Technological Innovation: using digital tools and open-access platforms for documentation, monitoring, and public outreach.