Moon added to endangered heritage sites list for the first time
The Moon has been included in the World Monuments Fund’s (WMF) 2025 Watch List for the first time, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports, citing The Art Newspaper.
The decision reflects growing concerns over increasing activity on Earth’s only natural satellite. The rise of space tourism, private and governmental missions, and efforts by nations and companies to exploit lunar resources have raised fears about the preservation of historic sites, such as the footprints and objects left behind by the Apollo 11 mission, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first set foot on the Moon.
There are currently no universal regulations for preserving cultural heritage sites in space. The inclusion of the Moon in the 2025 Watch List serves as a call to action for the development of international agreements aimed at protecting space objects of historical significance.
“As we enter a new era of space exploration, establishing international mechanisms to protect this cultural landscape is crucial. Safeguarding lunar heritage will prevent damage from accelerating private and governmental activities in space, ensuring these artifacts endure for future generations,” says president and chief executive of WMF Bénédicte de Montlaur.
The World Monuments Fund is an international non-profit organization established in 1965. Its mission is to preserve historical architecture and cultural heritage worldwide while raising awareness about sites that lack global recognition. Since its founding, WMF has completed over 600 projects across 91 countries, including Cambodia’s Angkor temples, the Aqueduct of Segovia in Spain, and the cultural treasures of Easter Island.
In addition to the Moon, the 2025 Watch List includes sites such as the historic urban landscape of Gaza in Palestine, the Teacher’s House in Kyiv, the Historic Lighthouses of Maine in the U.S., the Swahili Coast in Africa, the Old City of Antakya in Türkiye, and the Sorbonne Chapel in France, among others. The list features a total of 25 sites across 29 countries on five continents, including the Moon. It was compiled from over 200 nominations reviewed by an independent panel of international heritage experts.
Earlier, Kazinform News Agency reported that a Japanese university and construction company have partnered on research to develop a lunar habitat capable of generating artificial gravity, enabling people to live on the Moon under conditions similar to those on Earth.
