Gardens constantly change during their lifetime due to the growth and death of plants and to the effects (or lack) of management activities. The loss of garden areas, as well as the building’s collapse, can drastically impact the view and understanding of archaeological areas. The study and reconstruction of ancient lost gardens is a complex topic, and it seems that there is a lack of a general methodological approach for assessing the revitalization and valorization activities of these gardens, especially when considering the floristic features. Here, we discuss the required steps for developing the various intervention components for achieving a deep knowledge and understanding of natural, historical, and philosophical features of the place and its culture, from the past to the current conditions. Considering this knowledge, we propose a revitalization and a cultural valorization approach of the natural elements, and we discuss the limitations and issues arising in lost garden studies.

Plant colonization on archaeological structures is limited by the substrate conditions of stone surfaces. Despite its relevance for ecological studies and the management plans of archaeological sites, the knowledge on monuments substrate (e.g., stones, microhabitats, microsites), which could be suitable sites for plant establishment, is an underestimated topic. Here, we aim to identify the substrate preference of plants in colonizing stone surfaces as a first step in evaluating the biodeterioration risk. We selected the Pasargadae World Heritage Site (WHS) for its variety of different conditions, and we assessed the substrate preference of 142 ruderal plants occurring on nine monuments, two types of stones, and eight microsites. Our data indicated that stone typology and microsite conditions affected species composition, diversity, and richness. The porosity of the different limestone and the progressive weathering phenomena resulted as relevant factors in plant colonization. Significantly, microsites as a junction of two stone blocks (M1a) and big fractures covered by soil (M3) hosted the most favorable conditions, which needed periodic monitoring during the maintenance activities of the site. Evaluating the substrate preference of ruderal plants can contribute to the identification of the high-risk areas for plant colonization, which need to be considered in the management plans of archaeological sites.

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The tourism industry has high potential and nowadays it is being categorized as one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Sustainable tourism is the concept of visiting some place as a visitor and trying to make a positive impact on the environment, society, and economy and tourism development must be based on sustainability principles. Understanding the potential of each region allows the researcher and planner to identify the development way in accordance with the current situation. This study is aimed at developing sustainable tourism in Pasargad region with planning and definition of strategies. Appropriately, to achieve this goal SWOT analysis is used for conducting a comprehensive assessment for development. Effective factors in sustainable development are evaluated. As a result, for sustainable tourism development, an offensive/ competitive strategy (SO) should be the priority of these programs using internal strength to realize the external opportunity in Pasargad region. Keywords: sustainable tourism, SWOT analysis, sustainable development, Pasargadae, Pasargad region

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