2025 World Monuments Watch

A constellation of Orthodox monasteries, once vital to Albania’s social fabric, needs reinvestment after decades of abandonment—but could be a model for sustainable tourism via preservation.

Fifty years after its construction was abruptly halted, this modernist cinema lies in a state of decay, but a community effort could breathe new life into an unfinished landmark.

An extraordinary pre-Hispanic road network is facing development pressure and environmental degradation, but local and international advocacy could achieve socially sustainable management.

Two breathtaking collections of rock-cut cave temples are feeling the impact of mass tourism, underscoring the need for innovative visitor management strategies.

East Africa’s distinctive heritage reflects centuries of African, Arab, and European cultural exchange, but storm surges and coastal erosion are threatening these sites and the communities that keep them alive.

In Paris’s Latin Quarter, this jewel of French architecture at the Sorbonne has suffered decades of conservation issues that must be addressed before it can reopen after years of closure.

The rising Cycladic beach destination of Serifos possesses an irreplaceable record of Greece’s industrial past, but comprehensive protections and conservation are needed to prevent imminent loss.

Ingenious water management systems have fallen out of use in favor of modern infrastructure—but as India's water crisis deepens, revitalizing this heritage technology could foster resource security.

Hyderabad’s Musi River corridor, rich in history, faces mounting challenges from pollution—but as the city pursues its revitalization, heritage can provide a sense of continuity and other community benefits.

After a devastating earthquake in January 2024, restoring historic buildings in this hard-hit region can spur cultural, social, and economic recovery.

Addressing climate impacts at one of the few Buddhist sites to survive Mongolia’s decades of anti-religious crackdowns can help train the country’s future heritage experts.

In Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, documentation and advocacy are crucial for the survival of historic Jewish sites, which testify to an inspiring tradition of multi-faith respect and coexistence.

This millennium-old earthen structure faces an uncertain future as critical maintenance skills are lost, highlighting the need to preserve local building traditions.

Unprecedented destruction of heritage sites has severed vital connections between the people of Gaza and its urban fabric.

An ancestral agricultural system offers a pathway to resilience and food security in the Lake Titicaca floodplains as local communities face climate change-induced droughts and migration.

As environmental changes damage traditional terracotta sculptures, training local artisans to conserve these baroque masterpieces can help revive a local arts tradition.

Conservation of a historic village left in ruins by the Spanish Civil War and neglected in the decades since can ensure that its remains endure as a site of memory and reconciliation.

Preserving traditional Tunisian water infrastructure, much of which has been forgotten or destroyed in favor of modern piping, can help the country weather increasingly severe droughts.

Preservation efforts in the ancient city of Antakya are desperately needed to address devastation from 2023 earthquakes and support the return of displaced residents.

The former legislative seat of a newly independent Ukraine, this national icon was severely damaged by a missile blast in 2022, highlighting war’s impact on heritage and the power of preservation to catalyze healing.

Local advocates aim to repair and repurpose one of Belfast's oldest civic buildings, transforming it into a museum encouraging reflection on Northern Ireland’s Troubles.

Preserving a historic trail can strengthen Indigenous links to ancestral lands, even as poor recognition of its significance and a need for more meaningful participation in decision-making leaves the site vulnerable.

Facing rapidly intensifying coastal climate threats, Maine’s historic lighthouses can catalyze development of coastal adaptation strategies.

Western Zambia is home to a remarkable landscape whose inhabitants have built their culture around seasonal river flooding, but erosion, droughts, and other climate effects are threatening these living traditions.

As a new era of space exploration dawns, international collaboration is required to protect the physical remnants of early Moon landings and preserve these enduring symbols of collective human achievement.

Data analysis of nominated sites reveals several trends related to heritage and heritage conservation.

Conservation in Action

Over the next two years, WMF’s global team will work with the 2025 Watch sites to evaluate local needs and co-design strategies for advocacy, preservation, and fundraising. 

As funds are raised, WMF will also support its local partners in developing a preservation project at the site, which can include targeted advocacy campaigns, planning, research, education, and physical conservation. To date, WMF has secured US $2 million in funding towards new projects at the 2025 sites.

Forging International Partnerships

Global hospitality leader Accor will join WMF as its Sustainable Tourism Partner for the 2025 Watch cycle. Over the next three years, Accor will support projects at select 2025 Watch sites that offer meaningful connections with communities, enrich visitor experiences, and foster long-term destination management.

Engaging Communities

A key component of the World Monuments Watch, Watch Days highlight the importance of community engagement and local stewardship in the sustainable heritage preservation.

After being assessed by WMF experts, nominations to the World Monuments Watch are reviewed by an external panel of leading voices in cultural heritage.