Moon added to endangered cultural heritage list for first time

For the first time, the Moon has been included on the list of cultural heritage in danger due to the risk from commercial space exploration.

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has for the first time added the Moon to its list of cultural heritage in danger, due to concerns about potential damage from future commercial expeditions.

The WMF list usually focuses on vulnerable cultural sites on Earth. However, this year, the Moon is included for the first time, alongside sites like the ancient Andean road system Qhapaq Ñan in South America, the city of Antakya in Türkiye and the Noto Peninsula in Japan – all of which have been affected by earthquakes.

The Moon was chosen because of the increased risks from accelerated exploration activities without adequate conservation protocols, said Bénédicte de Montlaur, president and CEO of WMF.

The footprints of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, along with items such as landing cameras and memorial plates left by the astronauts, are considered cultural heritage of special historical value. However, the emergence of commercial space travel and new exploration activities, such as NASA’s Artemis III program scheduled for 2027, has raised concerns about the damage to these sites.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the Moon in 1969. (Photo: Nasa)

"The Moon is included on the list of cultural heritage in danger to highlight the urgent need to recognize and preserve artifacts that represent humanity's first steps beyond Earth - a milestone in our shared history," Montlaur said.

The WMF calls for international mechanisms to protect cultural landscapes on the Moon from increasing space activity from both governments and private companies. This year’s list also highlights other threatened cultural sites on Earth, such as climate-change affected areas on Africa’s Swahili coast and historic sites in Gaza devastated by war.

The Moon's inclusion on the list highlights the importance of protecting cultural heritage not only on Earth but also in space, so that these values ​​can be preserved for future generations.

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