[KARAH RUCKER]

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE WORLD MONUMENTS FUND, WHOSE MISSION IT IS TO PRESERVE CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES AROUND THE GLOBE, IS SETTING ITS SIGHTS BEYOND EARTH.

THE NEARLY THREE-DECADE-OLD NONPROFIT LISTING THE MOON AMONG 25 AT-RISK SITES WITH THE EXPECTATION TRIPS TO THE LUNAR SURFACE WILL BECOME THE NORM IN THE NOT-SO- DISTANT FUTURE.

THE W-M-F WARNS MOON TOURISM COULD SOMEDAY THREATEN MORE THAN 90 LUNAR LANDING AND IMPACT STIES.

INCLUDING TRANQUILITY BASE WHERE NEIL ARMSTRONG TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS ON THE MOON.

W-M-F OFFICIALS FEAR THE LUNAR LANDSCAPE MAY BE VICTIM TO LOOTERS LOOKING FOR SOUVENIRS AND PRIVATE LUNAR EXPLORATION POTENTIALLY DESTROYING ICONIC FOOTPRINTS AND TRACKS THAT ARE PART OF HUMAN HISTORY IF SOMETHING ISN’T DONE TO PROTECT THEM NOW.

THE ORGANIZATION IS URGING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION TO PRESERVE THE MOON BUT CURRENTLY NO SUCH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT EXISTS AND NO ONE COUNTRY CAN LAY CLAIM TO EARTH’S ONLY NATURAL SATELLITE.

THE W-M-F CREATES THE AT-RISK LIST TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SPUR ACTION TO PRESERVE IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS AND SITES AROUND THE WORLD AND NOW SPACE.

ALONG WITH THE MOON, THE 2025 LIST INCLUDES GAZA WHERE REPORTEDLY 31 PERCENT OF HERITAGE SITES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND THE HISTORIC CITY OF ANTAKYA, TURKEY, WHICH SUFFERED EXTREME DAMAGE FROM 2023 EARTHQUAKES.

THE W-M-F ALSO INCLUDES MAINE’S HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE, WHICH IT SAYS ARE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF “RISING SEA LEVELS AND STORM SURGE” AS WELL AS AN AMERICAN SOUTHEAST TRADING ROUTE USED BY NATIVE AMERICANS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.