In a groundbreaking study, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) reveals that insufficient public funding is the top threat to global heritage sites, surpassing even climate hazards. With nearly 372 nominations for the 2027 World Monuments Watch list, the issue is gaining momentum. Over 65% of nominators cite funding shortages and economic development as a primary challenge.

“This year’s nominations show that pressures on heritage are intensifying as funding, capacity, and expertise struggle to keep pace,” says WMF president Bénédicte de Montlaur. “The skills needed to care for these places are being lost, and the findings are a call to action.”

The lack of public funding is particularly critical in Europe and the US, where governments are reducing or stopping national and international funding for public resources. Despite this, there are promising models that bring the public sector together with governments and local communities, highlighting the intersection of heritage with economic development and climate change.

While cuts to heritage can offer short-term savings, the study argues that such efforts undermine long-term economic resilience. Over 60% of nominators identified opportunities for heritage sites to support local economies through sustainable tourism, urban revitalization, and job creation. The third largest issue is extreme weather events, most severe in sub-Saharan Africa, with conflict and peace-building also top concerns in the Middle East and Africa.

“Preserving heritage is about safeguarding the stories and landmarks that connect generations,” adds Clément Rouxel, general delegate of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress. The challenges highlighted by the WMF underscore the importance of broadening funding and partnerships to protect our global heritage.