WMF 2025 Watch List Highlights 25 Endangered Cultural Sites, Includes Moon and Two Indian Heritage Sites.
International
In January 2025, the New York-based World Monuments Fund (WMF), a non-profit organization, released its "2025 World Monuments Watch List," highlighting 25 endangered cultural heritage sites across 29 countries on 5 continents.
- Notably, the 2025 list went beyond traditional landmarks such as temples and cemeteries, including the Moon for the first time.
- Other significant endangered cultural sites on the list include the Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery (Mongolia), Noto Peninsula Heritage Sites (Japan), and the Ruins of Old Belchite (Spain), among others.
- Two Indian sites were featured on the list: the Bhuj Historic Water Systems (Gujarat) and the Musi River Historic Buildings (Telangana).
Main Point :- (i) The World Monuments Watch List, launched in 1996 and released biennially, highlights sites facing threats from climate change, conflict, natural disasters, and more, with nominations coming from individuals and community-based organizations worldwide.
(ii) A division of the Paris-based International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) dedicated to aerospace heritage nominated the Moon for the WMF Watch List, highlighting concerns over increasing human activity in space and its potential risks to historical landmarks.
(iii) The organization cautioned that over 90 significant sites on the Moon are at risk of potential damage in the coming years.
About World Monuments Fund (WMF)
President & CEO : Bénédicte de Montlaur
Headquarters : New York
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