The World Monuments Watch is a flagship advocacy program of the

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

-based private

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

World Monuments Fund World Monuments Fund (WMF) is a private, international, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and trainin ...

(WMF) that is dedicated to preserving the historic, artistic, and architectural heritage around the world.

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 organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

s (NGOs), concerned individuals, and others working in the field. 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. 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.

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. It marked the first time that an entire country was placed on the Watch List.

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, long considered as the " cradle of human civilization" and within whose borders lie an estimated 10,000

archaeological site An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology an ...

s, has been left vulnerable to widespread

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vandalism Vandalism is the action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property. The term includes property damage, such as graffiti and defacement directed towards any property without permission of the owner. The term f ...

, and other acts of violence in the wake of the 2003 military invasion. 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 Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...

on America's

Gulf Coast The Gulf Coast of the United States, also known as the Gulf South, is the coastline along the Southern United States where they meet the Gulf of Mexico. The coastal states that have a shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico are Texas, Louisiana, Mississ ...

, the WMF, together with partners

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Foundation and

National Trust for Historic Preservation The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that works in the field of historic preservation in the United States. The member-supported organization was founded in 1949 by ...

, decided to place the ''Gulf Coast and

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'' as the 101st endangered site on the 2006 Watch List.

List by country/territory

Ancient ziggurat at Ali Air Base Iraq 2005

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. 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 officia
2006 Watch List as published

C. The references to the sites' locations and periods of construction were based on the officia
2006 Watch List as published

D. On October 6, 2005, the WMF 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

{{World Monuments Watch Historic preservation 2006 works