The ICOMOS Heritage at Risk Reports, first published in 2000, are part of this framework. From a strictly preservation-based approach this publication series offers world-wide information about the dangers that are threatening our cultural heritage, in order to provide help in the case of risks and to promote practical measures to avert or at least allay these risks. The Heritage at Risk Reports are also addressed to the world public as an urgent appeal to commit itself to saving our heritage. Available also on the Internet, the reports furthermore serve as data base for the recently established ICOMOS Global Monitoring Network.