The World Monuments Watch is a flagship advocacy program of the New York-based private non-profit organization World Monuments Fund (WMF) that is dedicated to preserving the historic, artistic, and architectural heritage around the world.^[1]

Selection process

Every two years, it publishes a select list known as the Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites that is in urgent need of preservation funding and protection. The sites are nominated by governments, conservation professionals, site caretakers, non-government organizations (NGOs), concerned individuals, and others working in the field.^[2] An independent panel of international experts then select 100 candidates from these entries to be part of the Watch List, based on the significance of the sites, the urgency of the threat, and the viability of both advocacy and conservation solutions.^[1][3] For the succeeding two-year period until a new Watch List is published, these 100 sites can avail grants and funds from the WMF, as well as from other foundations, private donors, and corporations by capitalizing on the publicity and attention gained from the inclusion on the Watch List.^[1]

2006 Watch List

The 2006 World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites was launched on June 21, 2005 by WMF President Bonnie Burnham.^[1][4][5] It marked the first time that an entire country was placed on the Watch List. Iraq, long considered as the "cradle of human civilization" and within whose borders lie an estimated 10,000 archaeological sites, has been left vulnerable to widespread looting, vandalism, and other acts of violence in the wake of the 2003 military invasion.^[1] On October 6, 2005, nearly four months after the publication of the 2006 Watch List and more than a month after the significant devastation brought about by Hurricane Katrina on America's Gulf Coast, the WMF, together with partners American Express Foundation and National Trust for Historic Preservation, decided to place the Gulf Coast and New Orleans as the 101st endangered site on the 2006 Watch List.^[6][7]

List by country/territory

The mudbrick structures of the Iranian city of Bam were severely damaged by an earthquake in 2003. It was subsequently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004,^[8] and on the WMF Watch List in 2006. Rome's Temple of Portunus is one of the best preserved early Roman temples in the world.[1] The Great Ziggurat of Ur is one of the many archaeological sites in Iraq that has been left vulnerable to looting and vandalism since the invasion and occupation began in 2003.^[5] Mauritania's Chinguetti Mosque is home to a unique collection of important Islamic manuscripts. It is situated in Chinguetti, considered as the "seventh city" of Islam.^[1] Seismic instability and the depletion of its aquifer has endangered the very foundation of Mexico City.[5] Moscow's Narkomfin Building is a nationally listed monument in Russia and continues to inspire architects around the world.[5] The Turkish archaeological site of Aphrodisias features some of the best-preserved examples of Greco-Roman architecture in the eastern Mediterranean.^[1] Pennsylvania's Cyclorama Building was included on the Watch List since the structure was slated for demolition by the authorities.[5]

Statistics by country/territory

The following countries/territories have multiple sites entered on the 2006 Watch List, listed by the number of sites:

Notes

A. Numbers list only meant as a guide on this article. No official reference numbers have been designated for the sites on the Watch List.
B. Names and spellings used for the sites were based on the official 2006 Watch List as published.
C. The references to the sites' locations and periods of construction were based on the official 2006 Watch List as published.
D. On October 6, 2005, the WMF has added the historic and cultural assets of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans to the 2006 Watch List as its 101st site, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina significantly damaging and destroying numerous historic structures across the region.
E. Tally includes the Gulf Coast and New Orleans site.

References

External links

• World Monuments Fund home page
• World Monuments Watch home page
• 2006 Watch List press release
• 100 Most Endangered Sites