Preservation challenges in tropical climates

Discussion
90
Kwame Asante
Feb 18, 2026 11:18 AM

Preserving archival materials in tropical West Africa presents unique challenges that European and North American standards don't fully address.

Issues we face:

  • Humidity consistently above 70% even with AC (power outages are common)
  • Insect and mold damage accelerated by climate
  • Limited access to conservation supplies
  • Born-digital materials on degrading media (CDs from the 1990s)

I'd love to hear from other institutions in similar climates. What practical solutions have you found?

preservation tropical climate africa mold

2 Replies

James O'Brien Feb 19, 2026 11:18 AM

While Ireland's climate is quite different, we've consulted for a project in Lagos. Some practical solutions:

  • Silica gel in storage boxes — cheap and effective for microclimate control
  • Solar-powered dehumidifiers for when mains power fails
  • Vacuum-sealed bags for particularly vulnerable materials
  • For digital media: migrate everything to hard drives ASAP
Sarah Mitchell Feb 20, 2026 11:18 AM

The ICCROM Resource Centre has excellent guides for preservation in tropical climates. Also check out the "RE-ORG" methodology from ICCROM/UNESCO — it's designed for resource-constrained institutions.

For the born-digital CDs, I'd prioritize migration to a server-based storage system.