Ahead of a major United Nations summit on global heritage, preservationists from around the world convened in the southeastern port city of Busan Thursday to confront a shifting landscape of threats to historical sites, arguing that local communities must play a central role if modern conservation is to survive. The gathering of more than 80 international experts and site managers at the Bexco convention center marks the launch of the eighth World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum. The eight-day event serves as the official curtain-raiser for the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, which is scheduled to begin in Busan on July 19. Against a backdrop of rapid urbanization, climate change and regional development, this year's forum focuses on "Connection and Communication." The core objective is to move away from top-down, state-centric preservation models and instead establish sustainable, community-driven frameworks. "Site managers are the first line of defense in preserving our shared human history," said Lim Jong-deock, director general of the National Research Institute of Cul