The monument conservation group, World Monuments Fund, has announced 25 of the world's at-risk sites on its biennial watch list. Threatened by human conflict, climate change, disasters and/or urbanization, the newly listed historical gems span more than 30 countries and territories dating from prehistory to the twentieth century. 

Presenting a diverse group of cultural heritage sites, experts in archaeology, architecture and art picked from over 170 nominations made by citizens, activists, and governments. The whittled down selection ranges from a collection of little-known homes, churches and community centers in Alabama where pivotal events of the Civil Rights Movement took place to a collection of vulnerable modern architecture in Delhi; from the last active synagogue in Alexandria, to sites of the Caribbean, the Gulf, and Mexico, recently affected by hurricanes and earthquakes. 

This year, the 2018 Watch recognized four sites threatened, severely damaged, or destroyed by human conflict: the Souk in Aleppo, Syria, a community hub burned during conflict; the al-Hadba’ Minaret in Mosul, Iraq, an iconic landmark destroyed by ISIS; the Old City of Ta’izz in Yemen, an ancient city engulfed by war; and Sukur Cultural Landscape in Nigeria, a cultural landscape affected by Boko Haram. "In listing these sites," the WMF "recommits itself to protecting heritage in conflict zones and strengthening communities around sustainable conservation."

The 2018 Watch also seeks to bring attention to disaster sites of the Caribbean, the Gulf, and Mexico, recently affected by a string of devastating hurricanes and earthquakes. According to the organization, the goal is to mobilize heritage conservation response following the urgent humanitarian measures undertaken in the immediate aftermath. In addition, the 2018 Watch, also recognizes the town of Amatrice, Italy, almost completely destroyed by a sequence of 2016 earthquake and, today, uninhabited and inaccessible. 

Also making the list are a collection of little-known homes, churches, and community spaces in Alabama, United States that were the sites of the civil rights movement. "Today, many are privately owned, architecturally unassuming, and located in areas of high poverty. A local group has proposed designating these structures to a consortium representing this defining moment in American history" says the organization. "Placement of the Alabama Civil Rights Sites on the 2018 Watch seeks to ensure the physical survival of these structures and the protection of hundreds of stories of courage, freedom, and equality."

Global climate change is another threat raising important issues for the preservation of immovable heritage. The 2018 Watch recognizes Blackpool Piers—a historic seaside destination in the United Kingdom, damaged by sea-level rise and strengthening storm surges. Privately owned, the piers are ineligible to receive public funding for rehabilitation. The Watch seeks to explore new conservation models with both local and international stakeholders.

The organization also lists modern sites around the world that face unique challenges because of their young age and an all-too-common lack of appreciation of their cultural value. The 2018 Watch recognizes the Post-Independence Architecture of Delhi, a collection of structures, including the recently demolished Hall of Nations, built by Indian architects and engineers following the country’s 1947 independence. Because they are less than 60 years old, they do not qualify for heritage protection. Also included are the Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium, a modern landmark of Japan closed to the public due to rehabilitation and re-use challenges, and the Sirius Building, a storied public housing building in Sydney, Australia, facing demolition if heritage protection is not granted.

Lastly, the 2018 recognizes cultural landscapes—isolated, rural environments face a growing set of challenges, including economic systems that trigger depopulation, leaving aging residents struggling to maintain the built and natural heritage that define their daily lives. New additions this year include the Tebaida Leonesa, rural communities in Spain fighting to preserve the character of their villages and landscape in the face of growing tourism and development; the Ramal Talca-Constitución, Chile’s last-remaining rural passenger railway recently damaged by forest fires; and the Matobo Hills Cultural Landscape in Zimbabwe, one of the world's great rock art collections threatened by deforestation and the risk of fires.

Through their biennial listing, the New York-based non-profit aims to protect history, preserve memory, and strengthen social bonds by bringing these sites and their challenges to an international stage and identifying opportunities for local communities to collaborate with preservation agencies, governments, and corporate sponsors. Since its launch in 1996, the organization has worked with governments and communities, and has contributed over $100 million, to help preserve over 814 sites in 136 countries.

“By building an international coalition, the World Monuments Watch protects both the sites themselves and the shared history they embody,” said Joshua David, President & CEO, WMF. “We may be best known for the excellence of our conservation practices, but the human impacts of our work ultimately mean the most. Sites like the 25 on the 2018 Watch are where we come together as citizens of the world and renew our commitments to justice, culture, peace, and understanding.”

Take a look at the complete watch list in our gallery. More information on each can also be found here.