Every place has a story to tell, with its culture and architecture spanning hundreds, if not thousands, of years. However, climate change and human activity such as tourism, armed conflict and lack of cultural representation are threatening many important heritage sites. In response, the World Monuments Fund has selected 25 places that are entrenched in history and need immediate attention. Here, we look at what these historical sites are and why we need to protect them for future generations.

Once part of a bustling 15th-century capital called Khalifatabad, the Mosque City of Bagerhat still attracts visitors for worship. The capital’s founder and saint, Khan Jahan Ali, is buried here, making it a pilgrimage site. However, the historic area is now experiencing flooding due to rising sea levels from climate change. The modern-day city needs infrastructure investment to prevent these beautiful Tughlaq-influenced buildings from toppling.

Lamanai marks the spot of a Yucatec Maya city, dating back to 1500 BC, that was continuously inhabited for 3,000 years. There are more than 700 Mayan structures here, but only a handful have been excavated. Later Guatemalan, El Salvadoran and European influences are also showcased by the diverse architecture and community here. Lamanai’s preservation is reliant on tourism, but the benefit of it has been extremely limited for the local residents. Now focus lies on making this historic attraction more inclusive of local voices and respectful of wildlife.

The 12,000-year-old rock paintings that adorn the walls of some caves in Monte Alegre State Park are a visual reminder of the cultural and technological evolution of the indigenous communities who’ve populated the Amazon for centuries. However, the increasing risk of wildfires as well as the growing agricultural industry threatens to erase these historic moments forever. Efforts are now being made to use the income from tourism to preserve the area and support the local indigenous community.

Some of Ancient Egypt’s first-ever pharaohs were laid to rest in the city of Abydos, which has been occupied since 3300 BC. The city’s numerous excavations offer a rich glimpse into Ancient Egyptian society and ideology. As a result, Abydos has intrigued tourists and looters alike, but the valuable ruins are beginning to suffer the consequences of human presence. In response, investments are now being made to create a more sustainable tourism model.

Wooden houses with tall, thatched roofs are integral to Sumbanese tradition. It’s an ancestral design that protects citizens from Sumba island’s geographical factors, like earthquakes. More than 800,000 people live in this style of housing today. However, global warming means these houses are more susceptible to wildfires. Plus, the traditional craftsmanship needed to maintain them is subsiding. Now, funds are being invested in preserving traditions through skills training.

Tending to agricultural fields, spirit forests and burial grounds are an integral part of the Bunong people’s culture. This indigenous community, situated in the mountainous Mondulkiri province of Cambodia, are tied spiritually and socially to their ancestral lands. However, the area has become susceptible to intense economic development, threatening to stamp out the Bunong way of life. In response, the community is rallying to map and film their practices to educate others.

Ottoman-era houses, French modernist architecture and Beiruti style structures – each of these designs reflect Lebanon’s cultural shift throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. This visual demonstration of the country’s heritage was threatened after the explosion at Beirut’s port severely damaged historic sites in Ashrafieh, Gemmayzeh, Mar Mikhael and Karantina. As the city begins to rebuild life as it once knew, it’s trying to support property owners in restoring these sites.

Running along a strip of sand on Addu Atoll is the oldest and largest burial ground in the Maldives. Its tombstones and mosques are made entirely of coral cut from the reefs around the island. The site is sacred and the island’s population continue to be buried there today. Yet rising sea levels threaten to envelop Koagannu cemetery and the changing ocean temperatures are beginning to kill off the coral – the core material used for this tradition. Now protection strategies are being considered.

The Kathmandu valley is home to ornate water fountains (hitis) inspired by mythical creatures from Buddhism and Hinduism. Yet they do more than add to the aesthetic of the area. Since the 6th century, these fountains have been a vital source of running water for residents. Despite the dwindling number of hitis in the area, these fountains are still very much needed as 20% of residents don’t have running water in their homes. Efforts are being made to conserve the public fountains.

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It was Mughal emperor Jahangir’s wish to be buried among nature. So when he passed in 1627, his son Shah Jahan began to build a red sandstone tomb with detailed motifs in the centre of a Persian-style garden. In recent years, the gardens and tomb have desperately needed maintenance after suffering damage from severe flooding. It’s hoped that the historic site can be conserved to protect Pakistan’s heritage and create a green space for the citizens of the densely populated Lahore to enjoy.

The multi-coloured stained glass windows left in the derelict Fabric Synagogue are an apt symbol of the diverse community Jewish people once contributed to in Timișoara during the 19th century. Although a small Jewish community still exist, most left during the Second World War. Timișoara has been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2023 and is keen to remind people of its strong Jewish heritage by restoring the Fabric Synagogue.

Each of these sandstone pyramids is the burial ground of a royal member of the ancient kingdom of Kush. You may notice their similarities with Egyptian pyramids and this is because the Kush kingdom ruled over Egypt during the 7th century – they were known as the Black Pharaohs of the Nubian Dynasty. The Nuri site reflects a moment in time when races and cultures were combining. In recent years these pyramids have been damaged by desert conditions and Sudan is keen to protect this site.

The island nature of Yemen’s Soqotra Archipelago has protected wildlife from too much human interaction. As a result, it’s home to botanical and animal species that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Its uniqueness has attracted global efforts to maintain the island but preserving the rich culture of the local Soqotri people is often overlooked. As global warming continues to bring cyclones to the island, the aim is to protect the buildings and heritage of the Soqotri community.

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The Garcia Pasture has been home to a pre-Columbian village since around 1000 BC. This landscape is a sacred burial ground and keeps the legacy of this population alive. However, the federal government hasn’t recognised the Carrizo/Comecrudo people as an indigenous population, so their history has little protection. It has put their lands at risk to a proposed natural gas pipeline. Calls are being made to protect the community’s homelands.

Kinchela Aboriginal Boys Training Home is where hundreds of aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated by the government until as recently as 1970. These grounds are evidence of the abuse these children, known as the stolen generation, faced. The Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, a survivor-led organisation, is trying to conserve the site by making it a healing and learning centre to evoke action, support survivors and recognise victims’ suffering. 

The hands of talented craftsmen created and maintained the shrines within the powerful Kingdom of Asante during the 18th century. As time has passed, the traditional skills needed for maintenance have been lost, and responsibility for upkeep has moved to central government. Now, maintenance isn’t being performed sufficiently and the sacred buildings are falling into disarray. Efforts are now being made to forge a conservation model less reliant on regular attention from specialised skillsets.

Hurst Castle, perched on a shingle spit of land, is the legacy of King Henry VIII’s anxiety to protect his power from invading forces. After his death, it continued to be used as a military base until the end of the Second World War. Ironically, the castle has never been attacked, but it now faces advances from the crashing waves surrounding it. Now English Heritage is trying to raise funds to conserve it by stabilising the castle's foundations.

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Libyan independence was declared in 1951 in Benghazi’s historic city centre. The area was full of crowds, but that’s a far cry from the derelict site that remains today. Throughout the conflict in Libya, civilians left the area because of heavy fighting and now the Benghazi people are trying to rebuild their city and restore its cultural heritage. This isn’t an easy task as it requires a huge amount of collaboration from the whole community as well as support from further afield.

A symbol of political independence, La Maison du Peuple was built to hold democratic debates, after Burkina Faso (once known as Upper Volta) broke from French governance. It was a time when those who’d been suppressed were finally given a voice and this sense of hope and struggle inspired its architecture. Since then, La Maison du Peuple has withstood uprisings and military conflict but needs maintenance and legal protection, so locals can continue using it for events and concerts.

Nestled into the mountainous terrain of Yongtai sit zhuangzhai – 152 fortified manor complexes. They were strategically designed to defend communities and reflects the importance Chinese society places on family and honour. However, many families have now moved away from living in these communal buildings. It’s left many zhuangzhai sites, which have archives of the area’s local history, completely abandoned. Now, the aim is to create a museum spotlighting the local culture these houses hold.

Chinese symbols and red lanterns may not be expected when walking through Kolkata, but the city is home to Tiretta Bazaar, India’s first-ever Chinatown. It’s a neighbourhood grown out of the old Indo-China trade routes and has a rich history of successful trading and links to the Chinese culture. Yet the local Chinese population is dwindling and Tiretta Bazaar’s neighbourhood and unique culture are being encroached on. Calls are being made to acknowledge and protect this diverse history.

Teotihuacan, is one of the first urban societies in Mesoamerica. Its exact construction dates are not known, but the city began to form more than 2,000 years ago, and at one point became home to nearly 200,000 people. Today, Teotihuacan’s distinctive structures, such as the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcóatl are popular tourist attractions. Yet, the buildings’ deterioration and unregulated tourism have triggered calls for better conservation.

Conditions in the mountainous areas of the Andes can be extreme. In the 9th century, a pre-Inca community known as the Yauyos people built intricately connected dams, reservoirs and channels to ensure water reached their lands and livestock. As society has moved on these structures have been forgotten, however, they could potentially help control the ecosystem in the Miraflores district as global warming increases. The aim is to restore these smart structures, upholding the Yauyos people’s heritage.

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In 1933 the Estado Novo regime decided the maritime gateway into Lisbon should be a nationalist symbol. An artist called Jo de Almada Negreiros was commissioned to paint murals depicting Portugal’s greatness. However, he rebelled by depicting Portugal’s diversity and its struggles. Needless to say, these murals were controversial. They provide a glimpse into a key political moment in Portuguese history. The port (pictured) hopes to rejuvenate these buildings and protect the murals.

Africatown was founded by enslaved people and it was recently discovered that some of these people were survivors of the Clotilda – a schooner that imported 110 Africans to America after the slavery ban. When the captain became suspected of illegal activity, the ship was sunk and those enslaved were told to hide in marshes – settling in Africatown. The town upholds African traditions and residents are keen to raise awareness of the struggles and atrocities conflicted against their ancestors. 

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