12 New Geoparks Added to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network
| Twelve new geoparks have been added to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, bringing the total number of sites to 241 geoparks across 51 countries. |
The UNESCO Global Geoparks Network now covers an area of more than 882,000 square kilometres, roughly equivalent to the size of Venezuela.
The newly designated geoparks are located in China, France, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, Russia, Tunisia and Uruguay. Among these, the designation of Tunisia’s first geopark marks a milestone in the network’s geographical expansion.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany highlighted the significance of these areas, stating: “Every rock formation, every valley and every fossil tells a story that belongs to all humanity.”
He added that, over the past decade, UNESCO Global Geoparks have demonstrated that protecting geological heritage simultaneously advances science, strengthens education and enhances the resilience of local communities.
According to the Director-General, what connects these 241 geoparks around the world is not merely their geological significance, but also their shared commitment to knowledge transmission centred on local communities.
As one of UNESCO’s flagship programs, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network aims to protect geological heritage, promote education and support sustainable local development. Each year, following expert evaluations, new sites are added to the network.
It is worth noting that Iran has three geoparks in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.
