Italian archaeological World Heritage Sites: disaster risk reduction in the management plans

In recent decades, the interaction of multiple factors has steadily increased the intensity and frequency of natural disasters affecting our heritage, adding to the already existing risk factors. The need to improve disaster risk reduc-tion practices is more urgent every day. In 2010 UNESCO remarked that the number of WH properties incorporat-ing risk management actions in their management plans was still surprisingly low. The paper examines the man-agement plans of Italian WH sites hosting archaeological remains and traces of ancient civilizations. On the one hand, the contribution provides a recognition of management strategies for disaster risk in existing plans. On the other, it highlights gaps and weaknesses in the plans on the matter, with reference also to the risk management guidelines published by international bodies on the matter. The aim is to stimulate a reflection over the need of risk management elements integration in these documents in the interests of greater sites protection.