The Foundation was established in 2001 by the Swiss-born Canadian filmmaker, author and adventurer Bernard Weber to contribute to the protection of the world’s human-built and natural heritage and to foster respect for the cultural diversity on our planet.


Fifty percent of net revenue raised by the New7Wonders Project is to be used to fund monument documentation and conservation efforts worldwide. One such project was completed in 2003, when a high-definition 3D model of the giant Bamiyan Buddha was created that enables the statue to potentially be rebuilt, should the Afghan people decide they wish to do so. The great statue of Buddha was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.

This New7Wonders Foundation project was featured in the Swiss Pavilion at the 2005 World Fair in Aichi, Japan, along with New 7 Wonders ballot boxes which allowed people to cast their votes in the New7Wonders campaign.   More detail...