List of endangered monuments from World Monuments Funds

October 6th, 2009 Machu Picchu, Barcelona church on threatened listNEW YORK — Peru's Machu Picchu ancient ruins, Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona and a New Orleans elementary school are among the cultural heritage sites threatened by neglect or overdevelopment, a preservationist group said Tuesday. The World Monuments Fund's watch list for 2010 includes 93 sites in 47 countries, ranging from Phajoding, a remote monastery in Bhutan, to the bridges along Connecticut's scenic Merritt Parkway.

August 6th, 2009 Man indicted in death of Hawaiian monk sealHONOLULU — A federal grand jury has indicted a 78-year-old Kauai man in the shooting death of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in May. The indictment was returned Wednesday against Charles Vidinha, who is charged with violating the Endangered Species Act.

June 30th, 2009 Great Lakes wolves returning to endangered listTRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — More than 4,000 gray wolves in the upper Great Lakes region are going back on the federal endangered species list — at least temporarily.

June 26th, 2009 UNESCO names new world heritage sitesMADRID — Italy's Dolomite mountains and the Wadden Sea along the coasts of Germany and the Netherlands were among several sites added Friday to UNESCO's world heritage list. The U.N. agency's World Heritage Committee announced the additions, most of them nature-related, at a meeting in Seville, Spain.

June 22nd, 2009 UNESCO panel considers new World Heritage sitesMADRID — The Dolomite mountains in northern Italy and architectural works by Le Corbusier are among sites nominated to join UNESCO's World Heritage List at a meeting that began Monday in Spain. The World Heritage Committee will also consider taking the rare step of dropping a site, in Germany, because a construction project is encroaching upon it.

June 15th, 2009 Groups: US moved too fast on gray wolf de-listingTRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Environmental groups are suing the federal government over its decision to remove gray wolves in the upper Great Lakes region from the endangered species list.

June 1st, 2009 Seattle newspaper globe listed as endangered siteSEATTLE — The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation has released its 2009 list of endangered historic properties, and high on the list is a gigantic turquoise ball with an eagle on top. The Post-Intelligencer globe, a wonder of mid-20th century steel and neon lights, is among 13 properties and structures in the state that the trust hopes can be preserved.

May 14th, 2009 GENEVA - More of the world's species of birds are threatened with extinction than ever before, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said Thursday. The critically endangered list has increased by two birds since last year and the larger list of species threatened with extinction stood at 1,227, the IUCN said.

April 23rd, 2009 Stimulus cash goes to repair NY national monumentsNEW YORK — Tourists in New York can expect to see some construction projects at national monuments in the coming months. The National Park Service said Wednesday that more than $37 million in federal economic stimulus money will be spent on repairs.

April 17th, 2009 AGRA - Ahead of the polls, several citizens' groups have asked candidates of various political parties to support their demand for heritage city status to Agra visited by millions of tourists every year. Party candidates are being asked to clarify their stand on various issues that concern the development of this historic city.

February 27th, 2009 Actress Sonal Chauhan, who starred alongside Emraan Hashmi in 'Jannat', is on a roll. She will shoot at the Seven Wonders of the World for a song worth Rs.6 million.

February 8th, 2009 AGRA - A two-member parliamentary delegation expressed dissatisfaction at the near chaotic traffic, bad drainage system and poor maintenance of monuments in this Uttar Pradesh city and said it may miss the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games 'tourism boom'. The committee of MPs Sitaram Yechury and P.

January 24th, 2009 AGRA - It will be a plantation drive with a difference. On Republic Day Monday, thousands of tulsi (basil) saplings will be planted in Agra city, especially around the Taj Mahal, which forest officials say would 'insulate' the area from atmospheric pollution and also protect heritage monuments.

January 1st, 2009 AGRA - The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has shelved plans to tighten security at the Taj Mahal by closing entry to the upper chamber of the cenotaph that houses the replicas of the graves of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal after tourism industry members here opposed the move. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for security at the 17th century monument, had suggested to the ASI that the upper chamber be closed to the public.

December 26th, 2008 AGRA - Conservationists here have reacted sharply after a seven-foot-long slab of red sandstone fell off at the Taj Mahal this week. Is the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - responsible for the upkeep of historical monuments - doing its job, they are asking.