In a groundbreaking development, the World Monuments Fund has for the first time listed a location beyond Earth as vulnerable. This international nonprofit organization highlights 25 heritage sites at risk every two years, and the moon has made its 2025 Watch list due to the onset of a new Space Age and the presence of over 90 historic lunar sites that relate to humanity’s journey beyond our planet.
Among these significant sites is Tranquility Base, the historic location where humans first set foot on the moon.
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The landing site is preserved with astronaut Neil Armstrong’s boot print and over 100 other artifacts from the Apollo 11 mission, according to the Fund.
President and chief executive Bénédicte de Montlaur stated, “For the first time, the Moon is included on the Watch to reflect the urgent need to recognize and preserve the artifacts that testify to humanity’s first steps beyond Earth— a defining moment in our shared history.”
She emphasized the importance of items like the camera that captured the televised moon landing, a memorial disk left by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and hundreds of other objects that symbolize this legacy. However, these artifacts are facing increasing risks due to accelerating lunar activities that lack proper preservation protocols.
Montlaur further noted, “The inclusion of the Moon underscores the universal need for proactive and collaborative strategies to protect heritage— whether on Earth or beyond— that reflect and safeguard our collective narrative.”
Since launching its Watch list in 1996, the Fund has contributed over $120 million (AUD208 million) to projects at nearly 350 Watch sites, with the visibility generated by the list resulting in an additional $484 million for the sites, according to the release.
Other sites listed are confronting significant challenges, including climate change, excessive tourism, natural disasters, and conflict.
This year’s list also includes Gaza’s historic urban fabric, which has been devastated by Israel’s conflict in the Strip, impacting many lives and the region’s cultural heritage, including historic buildings like mosques and churches.
Also featured is Kyiv’s Teacher’s House, a heavily damaged former legislative seat that highlights the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on communities and heritage in Ukraine.
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