The World Monuments Fund (WMF) is concerned about the impact of climate change on world heritage and cultural sites, reports

Ouest-France

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Every two years, the American non-profit organization draws up a list of the 25 heritage sites in danger on the planet.

The 2022 list includes sites in 24 countries and six continents.

Climate change impacts the majority of the 25 sites on the list.

The Hurst Castle, an artillery fort in Hampshire (United Kingdom), saw its foundations collapse because of the rising waters underlines

Le Quotidien de l'Art

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The Koagannu cemetery in the Maldives could be flooded before the end of the century.

The water would cover the 1,500 tombs, mausoleums and mosques on the site.

Lack of drinking water

The hitis (water fountains) of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, an extensive system of historic water distribution points and underground canals, have been incorporated into the 2022 list. Water shortage could affect local communities .

In the province of Mondulkiri (Cambodia), it is the indigenous Bunong community that is struggling to preserve its territory against economic development.

Mass tourism or a poor tourist offer can also threaten certain sites.

The fortified mansions of Yongtai in China and the temple of Abydos in Egypt are two examples of sites untapped by sustainable tourism.

In Teotihuacan (Mexico), where there is an archaeological park and famous pyramids, the inhabitants living near the site derive little benefit from the benefits of large-scale tourism.

An airport built 25 km from the site will bring even more visitors.

Runoff is not appropriate either in Lamanai (Belize), points out the WMF.

Conflicts and explosions

Other sites are affected in countries recovering from a crisis.

This is the case of the heritage buildings in Beirut (Lebanon) damaged following the explosion in the port in the summer of 2020. The observation is the same in Benghazi (Libya), a city ravaged by civil war.

In many other places, the sites are deteriorating due to a lack of means and interest.

SHE

cites the examples of the pyramids of Gebel Berkal (Sudan), the people's house in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) or the traditional buildings of Asante (Ghana).

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