The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has unveiled its biennial Watch List, highlighting some of the world’s most endangered sites, some of which face threats from climate change, human conflict, and overtourism. The list serves to raise awareness and garner support for the preservation of these crucial cultural landmarks.
Among the expected additions are sites imperiled by environmental factors, including Africa’s Swahili Coast and 66 historic lighthouses along the coast of Maine, both vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The historic Turkish city of Antakya also makes the list, devastated by earthquakes in 2023.
Human conflict plays a major role in endangering cultural sites, with several locations in Ukraine, including Teacher’s House in Kyiv, suffering significant damage. This building, a symbol of Ukrainian independence, was hit by a Russian missile strike in 2022, resulting in shattered windows and structural damage. The WMF has partnered with the U.S. State Department and local agencies to help restore it.
Bénédicte de Montlaur, president and CEO of the WMF, emphasized the widespread destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage, noting that Teacher’s House is just one example of many that have been targeted since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Another war-torn location on the list is Gaza, which has been under heavy siege by Israel’s military since October 7, 2023, following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel. Gaza’s cultural heritage, including ancient buildings and religious sites, has suffered immensely from the conflict.
De Montlaur highlighted the destruction of a thousand-year-old hammam built by the Samaritan community, as well as the partial destruction of the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, the oldest active church in Gaza. This Greek Orthodox church, dating back to the 1100s, was bombed during an Israeli airstrike in 2023, killing more than a dozen people who were sheltering inside. The Israel Defense Forces clarified that the airstrike targeted militants, not the church itself.
“The Middle East is the cradle of civilization, and Gaza holds significant historical and cultural heritage,” said de Montlaur. “We hope that once peace is restored, we can collaborate with all parties involved to preserve and restore this invaluable heritage.”
In addition to conflict-related sites, the WMF also highlighted places endangered by overtourism, such as the Maijishan and Yungang Buddhist grottoes in China. These ancient mountain shrines saw a significant surge in visitors in 2023, with 3 million people visiting compared to 2 million in 2019. This spike can partly be attributed to the shrines’ portrayal in the popular video game Black Myth: Wukong.
The list also includes a highly unexpected addition: the moon. Though it has only been visited by a handful of individuals, the WMF recognizes the fragility of the first footprints on the lunar surface, especially as renewed interest in space exploration brings more attention to the celestial body.
“This is unprecedented and very timely,” said de Montlaur. “As we enter a new era of space exploration, it’s crucial to protect the moon’s historic landmarks, such as the first footsteps left by astronauts.”
As the WMF continues its efforts to protect the world’s cultural and historical treasures, these sites represent a global call for preservation, awareness, and restoration amid growing environmental and geopolitical challenges.
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