The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has pledged $7 million for 2026 to fund 21 new heritage preservation projects globally. These projects, selected from its 2025 Watch List and other sites, range from restoring mural paintings at the Church of Saint-Eustache in Paris and gardens at Safdar Jang’s Tomb in New Delhi, to repairing earthquake damage in Japan and supporting community-led stewardship at Bear’s Ears National Monument in Utah.
The commitment highlights the urgent need to protect cultural heritage threatened by climate change, natural disasters, unsustainable tourism, and conflict. It also underscores a shift toward integrating physical conservation with community engagement and training. The simultaneous launch of the 'Irreplaceable America' initiative, tied to the US's 250th anniversary, aims to broaden public recognition of diverse American historical sites, signaling a strategic effort to link preservation with national identity and public participation.