The World Monuments Fund has made a decision that could be very controversial. Every two years, the organisation publishes a list of the most endangered places on Earth. Well, in its latest edition, it has added the moon. That’s right, for them, humans could be one of the main reasons for the disappearance of our satellite.
It was the president of the World Monuments Fund herself who came out to explain the reason for this decision. Benedicte de Montlaur explains that this is due to the “increasing risks amid the acceleration of lunar activities that have taken place without adequate conservation protocols.”
For them, the Apollo 11 landing zone in 1969 is taken as a cultural heritage of human beings. Perhaps the history of Earth would not be the same if Neil Armstrong had not uttered that phrase that changed the course of science and space as we know it: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Spain among the most threatened places on Earth
For this very reason, and given the growing interest in travel and activities on the moon, the World Monuments Fund believes that these movements could end up disturbing or destroying this important site.
The moon is not the only element that has been included in this list. There are places such as Ukraine and Gaza, due to the wars. Spain is also present, with the ruins of the old town of Belchite. “The watch list underscores the World Monuments Fund’s commitment to ensuring that heritage preservation not only honors the past, but actively contributes to building a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future,” says Benedicte de Montlaur.