For the first time, a location not on Earth has been listed as vulnerable by the World Monuments Fund, an international non-profit organization that highlights 25 heritage sites at risk every two years.
The organization included the Moon on Your Watch List 2025 due to the beginning of a new space age and the fact that the Moon is home to more than 90 historic lunar sites related to the presence of humanity, according to a statement from the group. The landing site preserves astronaut Neil Armstrong’s footprint, as well as more than 100 other artifacts from the Apollo 11 mission, according to the Fund.
“For the first time, the Moon is included in the Watch to reflect the urgent need to recognize and preserve the artifacts that bear witness to humanity’s first steps beyond Earth — a defining moment in our shared history,” said President and CEO Bénédicte de Montlaur in the statement.
“Items like the camera that captured the televised lunar landing; a memorial disk left by astronauts Armstrong and (Buzz) Aldrin; and hundreds of other objects are emblematic of this legacy. However, they face increasing risks amid the acceleration of lunar activities carried out without adequate preservation protocols,” she continued.
“The inclusion of the Moon highlights the universal need for proactive and cooperative strategies to protect heritage — whether on Earth or beyond — that reflect and safeguard our collective narrative,” he added.
Since the organization launched its Watch list in 1996, it has contributed more than US$120 million (about R$725 million at current exchange rates) to projects at almost 350 Watch locations, with the visibility provided to the locations generating US$300 million additional amounts (around R$1.8 billion), according to the statement.
Other places listed face major challenges such as climate change, overtourism, natural disasters and conflicts.
Those that made this year’s list include Gaza’s historic urban fabric, with Israel’s war in the Strip devastating many lives, as well as the region’s culture and historic buildings such as mosques and churches. Also on the list is the Kyiv House of Teachers, a heavily damaged former legislative headquarters that highlights the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Ukraine’s communities and heritage.
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This content was originally published in Lua is included for the first time in the list of world heritage sites at risk on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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