✅ National Geoparks Working Group Emphasizes the Protection of Geological Heritage and Sustainable Development
🔷 The first meeting of the National Geoparks Working Group of the year was held at the Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration of Iran, with the participation of representatives from member executive agencies.
🔹 Representatives from the Department of Environment, the Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Management Organization on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the Exploration Directorate of the Ministry of Petroleum, the Atomic Energy Organization, the Ministry of Interior, and the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO attended the meeting.
🔹 The meeting emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation and coordination among relevant organizations, protect geological heritage, and sustainably utilize the potential of geoparks to promote tourism and economic development in local communities.
🔹 Dr. Fatemi-Aghda, Deputy Minister and Head of the Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration of Iran, highlighted the irreplaceable value of geosites and geological features, stating that this natural heritage has been formed over millions of years and, once destroyed, cannot be restored or recreated. He also identified the continued activities of the National Working Group and inter-organizational cooperation as essential requirements for the development of geoparks across the country.
🔹 Dr. Nazanin Badri, Head of Geotourism and Geopark Studies at the Geological Survey, subsequently presented a report on the development of geoparks around the world and in Iran, their position within UNESCO programs, and the country’s geotourism potential. She emphasized the need for an integrated framework for the identification, protection, management, and sustainable use of geoparks.
🔹 Representatives of the member organizations also shared their views and proposals regarding the challenges facing geopark development and emphasized the continuation of the working group’s meetings and follow-up on specialized issues.
🔹 At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided that the development of the working group’s internal regulations and specialized guidelines for the identification, protection, and utilization of geoparks would be placed on the agenda of future meetings, drawing on the perspectives of member organizations, experts, and managers of UNESCO Global Geoparks in Iran.
