The Moon has become one of the 25 sites of concern in 2025, according to the World Monuments Fund (WMF). This organization has included it in its annual World Monuments Watch review. This is the first time an object located outside of Earth has been added to the list.

Why is the Moon on the list?
WMF President Bénédicte de Montlaur explains that the inclusion of the Moon marks the importance of preserving artifacts that reflect humanity’s first steps beyond Earth. Such historical items include the camera that broadcast the Apollo 11 landing, the memorial disk left behind by the astronauts, and many others. But due to the rapid development of space missions without proper preservation protocols, these facilities have been jeopardized.

There are over 90 historical sites on the Moon, including the footprints of all the astronauts of the Apollo missions. To avoid the loss of these unique monuments, WMF calls for international agreements to protect them. The organization is also calling for a broader discussion on the impact of the new era of space exploration on the Moon’s cultural heritage.
Current plans for lunar exploration
The Moon is gaining attention because of plans to explore it. NASA’s Artemis program envisages landing astronauts by 2027. In addition, private space companies such as SpaceX are actively involved in missions to the Moon. SpaceX has recently launched landing vehicles for Firefly Aerospace and iSpace.

The private sector also plans to use the Moon to extract valuable resources such as water ice and helium-3. However, these initiatives carry risks to the preservation of historic sites and artifacts. WMF warns that without proper regulation, the Moon’s unique cultural heritage could disappear.
Other facilities are at risk
In addition to the Moon, WMF’s list includes objects on Earth that are affected by conflict, natural disasters and climate change. For example, the historic city of Antakya in Turkey, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 2023, and the city of Gaza, which is constantly under military attack.
Other sites include the Swahili Coast of Africa, lighthouses in Maine, monasteries in the Drino Valley in Albania, the Chapel of the Sorbonne in Paris, and buildings on the Musi River in India. All of these places require attention and resources to preserve them.
Challenges for the preservation of cultural heritage
Damage to cultural heritage sites is becoming an increasingly acute problem. For example, 4th century Buddhist murals in China are being destroyed due to high humidity, and archaeological sites in Ukraine are being damaged due to the war unleashed by Russia.

WMF calls for a global effort to protect heritage, because sites are being lost due to both natural and man-made factors. The full list of sites included in WMF’s 2025 survey is available on the organization’s website. At the same time, many monuments from the previous list remain under threat, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions to preserve them.
According to Gizmodo