According to UNESCO, 36% of all historical World Heritage sites are in grave danger today, and the causes of these dangers are only increasing as the world succumbs to wars. Cultural and natural sites are significant places that preserve the identity and history of groups and locations. They also bring economic growth and improve the quality of life in these areas. Transcending from textbooks, heritage sites offer great inspiration and make history tangible, providing essential lessons. However, this treasure of culture is getting diluted every day, both naturally and, more concerningly, through man-made, controllable actions. Examples of vandalism, excessive tourism, and neglect are becoming increasingly prevalent as people forget the value of heritage sites. This destruction is magnified by modern wars and conflicts, leading to a substantial loss of identity. Ultimately, the historical and geographical significance necessitates the preservation of heritage sites through compromise in wars, increased funding, and education.

While various challenges like climate change and urban impact on cultural and natural sites seem the most detrimental to heritage sites, war and conflict are the most serious due to the scale of the damage, calling for essential yet complex agreements. A prominent example is the war in Ukraine, which resulted in over $1.5 billion in damages to heritage sites, according to the Kyiv School of Economics, to 468 sites, as verified by UNESCO. However, these facts are often undermined amid times of war and conflict. Architectural damage is not the only impact of wars; people also leave their birthplace, potentially erasing the history of their country’s natives, as evidenced by “the war in BiH (1992–95) [which] has been described as one characterised by ethnic cleansing or even cultural cleansing” in the article “Post-conflict reconstruction of cultural heritage” by Mattias Legnér and Malin Stengård. Not only are some of these damages unrecoverable, but they are also expensive, which discourages reconstruction. As these sites remain in this policy-making limbo, they are often scarred and turned to debris by their worst enemy—time. While contributions such as the “Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,” which gives special protection to cultural sites in times of war, have been enacted since 1954, these acts are often symbolic and ineffective in real life. Religious conflict and civil unrest usually intensify this phenomenon as the ensuing riots lead to an intentional and impactful dissolution. Though difficult, governments must protect these landmarks responsibly and openly, not only by diplomacy but also through domestic decision-making. 

Moreover, adequate funding and proactive governmental support are crucial to initiate the recovery of these heritage and natural sites. The fact that Syria has all six of its world heritage sites on the danger list of 53 while the U.S. only has one of its 26 sites attests to the negative impact of war. Coupled with the fact that Syria and the United States are nations with 90% and 11.5% of the population below the poverty line, respectively, as per the United Nations and US Census, shows how limited financial resources can turn these places barren. On the flip side, the benefits of caring for natural sites can be seen in the ecological and economic development of Manas National Park in India, as “the site spent a total of 19 years on the List of World Heritage in Danger during which time recovery efforts saw the rhino numbers increase”, according to the World Heritage Outlook. Some recovery methods to restore this landmark include education, enforcement, and rebuilding. According to Manas Online Booking, these successes highlight the potential of conservation with value addition, as the Park received 30,725 tourists in 2022. 

In today’s world, where cultural values are being forgotten, a sense of respect for one another’s culture must also be developed, which translates into propriety on such sites. In a 2024 survey by Statista, only 32% of respondents believed sustainable tourism was the right thing to do, and merely 7% thought it would make their trip more enjoyable. The dispassionate opinion on sustainability highlights the need for more respect towards heritage sites and incentives to encourage tourists to advocate for and practice conservation. Coupled with the statistics from Interpol that “854,742 cultural property objects were seized globally in 2020, including numismatic items (coins, money or medals), paintings, sculptures, archaeological items, and library materials,” this evidence highlights the need for enforcement and stricter regulations for the protection of cultural sites, which in turn would discourage criminals as well as tourists from defacing artifacts or stealing them altogether. Unless the thought process of the locals is not changed from the granular level through education, factors like religious conflict and hatred could potentially leave a country with nothing but rubble to show.

Heritage sites are a luxury; making the best efforts to preserve and rebuild them is vital. World cultures must be respected unconditionally in a time of war, and all countries should try to care for their cultural sites through funding and policy making. As these efforts trickle down, locals and tourists should observe these rules and guidelines, improving the overall quality of life. The choice remains simple: nurturing our culture or bracing for the resulting downfall.