Bears Ears, one of the ancestral centers of the Native American community, is threatened by the country's own government
Notre-Dame Cathedral, Easter Island and the courtyards of the Axerquía in Córdoba have something in common: They are in danger of extinction. This is confirmed by the ** World Monuments Watch **, a selection of 25 world cultural heritage icons chosen biennially both for their great historical importance and for their high social impact on the contemporary world.
These monuments and places face threats such as urban sprawl, political turmoil, natural disasters and violent conflict. The World Monuments Fund (WMF), which coordinates the action, has been emphasizing them since 1966 to make sure they don't get lost , working with their communities to find solutions to preserve them for generations to come.
Thus, the WMF, throughout its history, has contributed to preserving Lalibela, in Ethiopia, to restoring the murals of Mexico after the earthquakes of 1985 and the city of Umbria after those of 1997, to maintaining the temples of Angkor, to raise many buildings from post-Katrina New Orleans… In Spain, some of his most notorious projects include the Cathedral of Toledo and the Portal of the Majesty of Toro (Zamora).
Lalibela (Ethiopia) : the eighth wonder of the world
THE MONUMENTS IN DANGER OF THE 2020 EDITION
In its 2020 edition, the organization has proposed to contribute with funds and ideas in Europe to the regeneration of the Notre-Dame cathedral; to the maintenance of the Bennerley viaduct, in the United Kingdom, built during the Industrial Revolution; to the reopening of the evangelical chapel and cemetery of Kindler, in Pabianice (Poland) and to the search for solutions for the Courtyards of the Axerquía , located in the historic center of Córdoba and threatened by gentrification and mass tourism.
In Africa , his projects involve caring for the traditional settlements of Koutammakou, the land of the Batammariba, in Benin and Togo, as well as transforming the Alexan Palace in Asyut (Egypt) from a closed mansion to a museum.
In North America , will fight to keep Ontario Place, a modern mega structure currently closed to the public, in Canada. In addition, they will try to ensure that the development of the Tusheti National Park, in Georgia (USA), is not disruptive for the inhabitants of the area, encouraging sustainable tourism, while trying to keep the San Antonio Woolworth Building, a key building, standing. in the Civil Rights movement over which the shadow of the demolition hangs.
In the United States they will also defend the sacred places of the indigenous , such as the Bears Ears monument, threatened by a government plan, while in Puerto Rico they will launch an educational program of wood construction, to achieve a better recovery after possible new disasters in the old town of Aguirre.
The Courtyards of the Axerquía suffer a high degree of deterioration
In Mexico, they will try to prevent the dismantling of the national channel , in danger due to the construction of a new park, while in Haiti they will try to recover the Gingerbread Houses of Port-au-Prince, devastated after the 2010 earthquake.
In South America, the programs will be aimed at preserving Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in Chile, where the famous Moai statues live, and seeking solutions for the The Incas' Sacred Valley , in Peru, where it is planned to build an airport that threatens the cultural landscape of Cuzco.
Asia , finally, is configured as the land to which more efforts will be devoted. There, the historic water system of the Deccan Plateau in India will be revitalized, a country in which the iconic Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad will also be repaired.
In Iraq, the Mam Rashan sanctuary, destroyed during the genocidal campaign against the Yazidis, will be rebuilt, while in Japan two actions will be carried out: the conservation of the Inari-yu public baths, a traditional symbol that they fear will be swallowed by modernization of Tokyo and the Iwamatsu district in Uwajima, a historic seaside town that is becoming depopulated.
Deccan Plateau water systems need more maintenance
In myanmar disappearing traditional Burmese teak farms will be protected; and in Mongolia, one of the last remaining temples following the suppression of religion by the Soviet government, that of the Choijin Lama in Ulaanbaatar, will be restored.
The urban development of kathmandu valley , for its part, is finished with many chaityas, Buddhist shrines typical of Nepal. Something similar is happening in Lahore (Pakistan), where the Anarkali Bazaar may also end up being swallowed up by developmentalism. Finally, in Bukhara (Uzbekistan), the history of the Jews who lived in the area, a community that is practically extinct, will be documented.
WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THESE MONUMENTS?
In addition to contributing to the foundation with donations, the World Monuments Fund advises you to become a responsible traveler to stop the destruction of world heritage . Here you have all the keys to achieve it.