The Moon’s artifacts must be treated with same care as heritage sites on Earth - Bénédicte de Montlaur in an exclusive interview

In an exclusive interview with Kazinform News Agency, President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Monuments Fund, Bénédicte de Montlaur, spoke about the decision to include the Moon in the list of heritage sites.

She explained the reasoning behind this move and shared insights into the urgent need for international cooperation to develop enforceable preservation protocols.

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has included the Moon in the list of cultural heritage sites at risk of disappearance. What specific facts led to this decision?

The Moon is home to over 90 historic sites, including Tranquility Base, the Apollo 11 landing site, which marks one of humanity’s greatest achievements. As space exploration accelerates—with private companies and governments planning new lunar missions—the potential for unintentional damage to these fragile artifacts has grown. This inclusion highlights the urgent need to establish preservation protocols to safeguard these irreplaceable milestones of human ingenuity.

Despite this, space tourism is currently very popular. Will any guidelines or laws be developed for tourists who wish to visit the Moon?

Preserving the Moon’s heritage will require international cooperation to develop clear guidelines for lunar activities, including tourism. Existing frameworks like the Artemis Accords are a starting point, but we need enforceable protocols to ensure historic sites are respected and protected. The Moon’s fragile artifacts must be treated with the same care as we would for heritage sites on Earth.

Will protocols be developed for the preservation of human artifacts beyond Earth? Currently, none exist.

This decision underscores the need for comprehensive preservation protocols for human artifacts in space. While treaties like the Outer Space Treaty and the Artemis Accords touch on heritage preservation, they lack enforceable measures. WMF hopes this inclusion will spur international dialogue and cooperation to create binding agreements that protect humanity’s shared heritage beyond Earth.

The 2025 #WorldMonumentsWatch is here! 🎉 From the Middle East to the Moon, discover the 25 #heritage sites in need of #protection or urgent action: https://t.co/9R21k8HtjF pic.twitter.com/5ryPiFESNq

— World Monuments Fund (@WorldMonuments) January 15, 2025

Could this decision impact future lunar missions, such as NASA's Artemis III mission to the Moon, scheduled for mid-2027?

We view this inclusion as an opportunity to work with space agencies, governments, and private companies to ensure that future missions, including Artemis III, consider heritage preservation as part of their planning. By taking proactive steps now, we can protect these historic sites while continuing to embrace the excitement of lunar exploration.

This is the first site on the WMF list that is not located on Earth. Are there any prerequisites for including other "beyond Earth" sites in the list?

The Moon was included because of the significant risks its historic sites face and the importance of preserving humanity’s shared legacy. Any future nominations for sites beyond Earth would need to meet the same criteria we use for Earth-based sites, including cultural significance, the risks they face, and the potential for global cooperation to safeguard them. This inclusion sets a precedent for heritage preservation wherever human achievement has left its mark.

Earlier Kazinform reported that the Moon has been included in the World Monuments Fund’s (WMF) 2025 Watch List for the first time.