Global Geoparks Network

Current Context: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added 16 new sites from 11 countries to its Global Geoparks Network, bringing the total to 229 sites across 50 countries.

About

• UNESCO Global Geoparks are designated areas with significant geological heritage, including geological formations like volcanoes, fossils, and canyons.
• Purpose: They aim to preserve Earth’s geological history and promote sustainable tourism and education.
• Established: . The Global Geoparks Network was established in 2004 and was formally adopted by UNESCO in 2015.
• Total Area Covered: Approximately 855,000 square kilometers (km²).
• New Countries with Geoparks:China, North Korea, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom (UK), and Vietnam.

India & Global Geoparks

• Current Status: India does not yet have any UNESCO Global Geopark.

Proposed Sites:

• Lonar Crater (Maharashtra): An impact crater formed by a meteorite.
• Mary’s Island (Karnataka): Known for its columnar basaltic lava formation.
• Siwalik Fossil Park (Himachal Pradesh): A significant fossil-rich zone.