International Heritage Organization warns the Moon is under threat.

(CLO) The Moon has just been added to the 2025 World Monuments Watchlist, according to an announcement by the World Monuments Fund (WMF) on January 15th.

This is the first time an extraterrestrial location has been included on the list, alongside 25 other locations across five continents. These locations face threats from climate change, tourism, human conflict and political crises, natural disasters, rapid urbanization, or a lack of funding and resources.

Although the Moon might seem like an unusual choice on the list, it is home to many historical sites from the space exploration era, including Tranquility Base – the landing site of the Apollo 11 mission.

Illustration: Pexel

"The first moonwalks captivated humanity's imagination and undoubtedly constitute one of the most important historical milestones of the 20th century."

"Today, the Moon is home to 90 historical sites, including Tranquility Base and hundreds of artifacts left by humans... including the Apollo 11 lander, a silicon disk preserving goodwill messages left by world leaders, several flags, a golden olive branch, and Neil Armstrong's first footprints on the Moon, among many other artifacts," shared Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of WMF.

According to de Montlaur, the Moon needs protection from threats such as uncontrolled exploitation, looting of artifacts, and the impact of emergency landings in the context of increasing space exploration .

The inclusion of the Moon on the list aims to call 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 "Watchlist" also includes cultural heritage sites affected by serious conflicts and crises, such as the historic urban structures of Gaza, and many valuable cultural buildings such as mosques, churches, traditional markets, and historical structures that have been destroyed or severely damaged.

Since its inception in 1996, the WMF's "World Heritage Watch" program has supported more than 700 projects in 112 countries, with a total funding of over $420 million. Projects on the "Watchlist" alone have attracted over $120 million from the WMF, and an additional $300 million has been raised from the international community.

President de Montlaur emphasized that heritage preservation not only honors the past but also actively contributes to building a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.

With its 2025 "Watchlist," WMF expects cultural heritage to be preserved not only on Earth but also beyond our planet, demonstrating its 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