Every two years, a list of cultural heritage sites are announced that are in urgent need of conservation. For the public, some of the names are household ones, as with this year's inclusion of Paris's Notre-Dame and Utah's Bear Ears National Monument. Others, however, are lesser known, making their inclusion perhaps all the more important. Anarkali Bazaar in Pakistan and Tokyo's Inari-yu Bathhouse, for example, are two sites that not only made their way onto the 2020 World Monuments Watch , as announced by the World Monuments Fund (WMF), but, arguably for the first time, will be viewed as cultural heritage in a location outside of their own. That's the power of this exclusive list. It opens the world to capture a glimpse into someone else's culture the moment before it becomes too late.

The 2020 list of 25 sites was whittled down from more than 250 nominations. This large pool was narrowed by the WMF’s staff of heritage professionals, with the input of expert reviewers from such establishments as UNESCO’s Culture Sector and architectural historians who focus on the preservation of cultural heritage sites. "When we assess the nominated sites, we look at a number of factors, including cultural significance, potential to improve the lives of communities, need for urgent action, and strength of the plan of action," says Bénédicte de Montlaur, CEO of the World Monuments Fund. "A question we often ask is—if we don’t place this site on this Watch, will it be too late in two years?"

Each of the 25 sites will be eligible to use a portion of the $1.6 million purse, with the funding provided by American Express, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. Of course, some cynics will argue that the money could be better served fighting other causes. And while Montlaur recognizes that, she counters with the argument that protecting these treasures is simply another way of investing in a better society. "There are many worthy causes in the world that demand our attention and resources," says Montlaur. "But heritage is innately about people—where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going next. Through this program, we address some of the most important issues of our time: climate change, urbanization, human migration, the need to rebuild societies shattered by war, and the promise of sustainability. When we stand up for historic places, we’re also standing up for unheard voices, forgotten stories, and untapped potential."

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After adding a location on the list, the WMF partners with the community to achieve the best practices of sustaining the site moving forward. "Each place on the list represents a diverse array of challenges and opportunities," Montlaur continues. "As such, our goals for each are unique. Some require brick-and-mortar conservation to ensure structural stability. Others need advocacy assistance to ensure all voices are heard in a government’s decision. Elsewhere, sites need international expertise and solutions for long-term viability."

Ultimately, the goal of the World Monuments Watch is to preserve the heritage of any group of people, for its own posterity, and by learning from them, for ours as well. Below are the 25 sites included in the 2020 World Monuments Watch (listed in no particular order).

Koutammakou, Land of the Batammariba (Benin and Togo)

Ontario Place (Toronto, Ontario)

Rapa Nui National Park (Easter Island, Chile)

Alexan Palace (Asyut, Egypt)

Notre-Dame de Paris (Paris, France)

Courtyard Houses of Axerquía (Córdoba, Spain)

Bennerley Viaduct (Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, England)

Tusheti National Park (Tusheti, Georgia)

Gingerbread Houses of Port-au-Prince (Port-au-Prince, Haiti)

Historic Water Systems of the Deccan Plateau (Karnataka and Maharashtra, India)

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium (Ahmedabad, India)

Mam Rashan Shrine (Mount Sinjar, Iraq)

Inari-yu Bathhouse (Tokyo, Japan)

Iwamatsu District (Uwajima, Japan)

Canal Nacional (Mexico City, Mexico)

Traditional Burmese Teak Farmhouses (Myanmar)

Choijin Lama Temple (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)

Chivas and Chaityas of the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu Valley, Nepal)

Anarkali Bazaar (Lahore, Pakistan)

Sacred Valley of the Incas (Cusco Region, Peru)

Kindler Chapel, Pabianice Evangelical Cemetery (Pabianice, Poland)

Bears Ears National Monument (San Juan County, Utah)

Central Aguirre Historic District (Aguirre, Puerto Rico)

San Antonio Woolworth Building (San Antonio, Texas)

Mahalla of Bukhara (Bukhara, Uzbekistan)