The biggest threats to heritage sites worldwide? War, urbanisation, tourism, climate change and lack of funding

"Since its inception in 1996, the World Monuments Watch has been a crucial tool for WMF to understand the evolving needs of heritage sites and the communities that rely on them," Bénédicte de Montlaur, chief executive of World Monuments Fund, said in a statement. "Our data-driven approach has deepened our insights, enabling us to craft more effective strategies and take meaningful action where needed most."

WMF's study highlighted that threats to heritage sites stem from a complex interplay of factors: climate change, rapid urbanisation, war, insufficient funding, irresponsible tourism, and lapses in oversight.

Regionally, threats vary: climate change leads in Sub-Saharan Africa, urban development disrupts Asia's historical sites, while lack of funding is critical for Europe and North America.

The upcoming 2025 World Monuments Watch list, composed of 211 publicly nominated sites across 69 countries, aims to address and highlight these urgent preservation issues.

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