Worldwide Locations
Worldwide Locations
Photos: The 10 Most Endangered Heritage Sites in Asia
April 27th, 2012 by Alex Ortolani
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Jim Trodel/Flickr)]">enlarge1. Ayutthaya, Thailand — The "Venice of the East" and former Siamese capital. Under threat due to natural disasters/flooding and insufficient management. (Jim Trodel/Flickr) -
Thom Watson/Flickr)]">enlarge2. Fort Santiago and Intramuros, Philippines — Historic fortresses of the Philippines, built by Spanish conquistadors hundreds of years ago. Under threat because of insufficient management and development pressures. (Thom Watson/Flickr) -
nozomiiqel/Flickr)]">enlarge3. Kashgar, China — One of the last intact Silk Road cities in China. Under threat from development pressures. (nozomiiqel/Flickr) -
4. Mahasthangarh, Bangladesh — One of South Asia’s earliest urban archaeological sites. Under threat due to insufficient management and natural disasters. (P.K. Nigoyi/GHF) -
Jerome Starkey/Flickr)]">enlarge5. Mes Aynak, Afghanistan — Ancient Buddhist monastery complex on the Silk Road. Under threat due to development pressures, insufficient management, looting, war and conflict. (Jerome Starkey/Flickr) -
6. Myauk-U, Myanmar — Capital city of the first Arakenese kingdom. Under threat due to development pressures, insufficient management, and natural disasters. (Narinjara/GHF) -
Anne Murray/Flickr)]">enlarge7. Plain of Jars, Laos — Megalithic archaeological landscape associated with ancient inhabitants who occupied the area during the Iron Age (500 BCE - 500 CE). Under threat due to insufficient management, war and conflict. (Anne Murray/Flickr) -
ChrisSteph LewisBoegeman/Flickr)]">enlarge8. Preah Vihear, Cambodia — Picturesque masterpiece of Khmer architecture. Under threat due to war and conflict, and natural disasters. (ChrisSteph LewisBoegeman/Flickr) -
9. Rakhigarhi, India — Dating back 5,000 years, and one of South Asia's largest, oldest Indus Valley civilization sites. Under threat due to development pressures, insufficient management, and looting. (Michael Tomlan/GHF) -
10. Taxila, Pakistan — This complex of ruins was a crossroads of industry in the ancient world. Under threat from insufficient management, development pressures, looting, war and conflict. (Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images)
Global Heritage Fund works to make heritage sites in poor countries sustainable drivers for economic growth. The fund, which has worked with 14 sites since its inception in 2002, is releasing a new report targeting sites in Asia that are currently under threat from factors ranging from development pressures in booming Asian economies to war and conflict. According to the fund, "each of these endangered sites … represents a vast and untapped economic opportunity for its host nation and local communities in need."
The fund partners with Asia Society New York for a public forum exploring these and related issues on Thursday, May 3.
View the slideshow, above, to see the top 10 sites detailed in Global Heritage Fund's upcoming report. Included in the caption for each image are the specific factors GHF cites as threatening each site.
afghanistan bangladesh cambodia china conservation Global Heritage Fund Heritage Sites india Laos Myanmar pakistan philippines photos thailand tourism
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