(CLO) The Moon has just been added to the World Monuments "Watch" list 2025, according to the announcement of the World Monuments Fund (WMF) on January 15.
This is the first time an extraterrestrial site has been included on the list, along with 25 other sites on five continents. These sites face threats from climate change, tourism, human conflict and political crisis, natural disasters, rapid urbanization or lack of funding and resources.
While the Moon may seem like an unusual choice on the list, it is home to many historic sites from the era of space exploration, including Tranquility Base - the landing site of the Apollo 11 mission.
Illustration photo: Pexel
"The first moonwalks captured the imagination of mankind and they certainly constitute one of the great historical milestones of the 20th century."
“Today, the Moon is home to 90 historical sites, including the Tranquility Base and hundreds of artifacts left by humans… including the Apollo 11 lander, a silicon disc containing goodwill messages left by world leaders, several flags, a golden olive branch and Neil Armstrong’s first footprint on the Moon, among many other artifacts,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of WMF.
The Moon needs to be protected from threats such as uncontrolled mining, looting of artifacts and impacts from emergency landings as space exploration increases, according to de Montlaur.
The Moon's inclusion on the list calls for the establishment of an international framework to preserve these heritage sites, protecting them from unintended damage by governments or private companies in the new era of space exploration.
In addition to the Moon, the 2025 "Watch" list also includes cultural heritage sites that are affected by serious conflicts and crises, such as Gaza's historic urban structure, many valuable cultural structures such as mosques, Christian churches, traditional markets and historical buildings that have been destroyed or severely damaged.
Since its inception in 1996, WMF's World Monuments Watch programme has supported more than 700 projects in 112 countries, with a total budget of more than US$420 million. Projects on the Watch list alone have attracted more than US$120 million from WMF and raised an additional US$300 million from the international community.
President de Montlaur emphasized that heritage conservation not only honors the past but also contributes positively to building a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.
With the 2025 “Watch List”, WMF expects cultural heritage to be preserved not only on Earth but also beyond our planet, demonstrating a commitment to protecting heritage for future generations.
Hoai Phuong (according to Newsweek, Telegraph)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/to-chuc-di-tich-quoc-te-canh-bao-mat-trang-dang-bi-de-doa-post330662.html
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