In January 2025, New York (the United States of America, USA)-based World Monuments Fund (WMF), a non-profit organisation released its “2025 World Monuments Watch List”. The list includes 25 endangered cultural heritage sites spanning 29 countries across 5 continents.
- This year’s list has gone beyond the usual landmarks such as temples, cemeteries and has added Moon on the list for the 1st time.
- Other than Moon, the list features notable endangered cultural sites like: Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery (Mongolia), Noto Peninsula Heritage Sites (Japan), Ruins of Old Belchite (Spain), among others.
- The list features two Indian sites namely, Bhuj Historic Water Systems (Gujarat) and Musi River Historic Buildings (Telangana).
About World Monuments Watch:
i.The World Monuments Watch List was launched in 1996. The list is released every two years (biennial).
- It includes sites, which face threats from climate change, conflict, natural disasters, among others, are nominated by individuals and community-based organisations that span the globe.
ii.Till date, WMF has issued a call to action for nearly 900 sites through the World Monuments Watch.
iii.So far, WMF has contributed over USD 120 million toward projects at nearly 350 Watch sites. The list is helping communities leverage an additional USD 300 million from other sources.
Key Concerns related to Moon:
i.A division of the Paris (France)-based International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)dedicated to aerospace heritage nominated the Moon for WMF’s watch list.
- The inclusion of Moon on the list reflects the increasing human activity in space and the potential risks posed to its historical landmarks.
ii.The organisation has warned that over 90 important sites on the Moon could be harmed in the coming years.
iii.The report highlighted that Tranquility Base, the landing site of Apollo11 where astronaut Neil Armstrong 1st stepped on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, could be at the most risk due to rising exploration missions to the Moon.
iv.The report noted that since 2020, the USA and 51 other countries (including India) have signed the Artemis Accords, a non-binding agreement which aimed to preserve space heritage including robotic landing sites, artifacts, spacecraft and other evidence of activity on celestial bodies.
Indian Sites on WMF’s 2025 Watch List:
i.Bhuj Historic Water Systems: It is located in Kutch district of Gujarat, includes iconic Hamirsar Lake. It was nominated by the Center for Heritage Conservation (CHC) of CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) at CEPT University in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
ii.Musi River Historic Buildings: The historic buildings along the Musi river bank is located in Hyderabad, Telangana. It includes famous landmarks like the High Court(HC), State Central Library, Osmania General Hospital (OGH), City College (now a women’s university).
- Musi river, originating from the Anantagiri hills, is a key tributary of Krishna river which flows through Telangana and divides Hyderabad into its old and new parts.
About World Monuments Fund (WMF):
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Bénédicte de Montlaur
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established– 1965
