Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark Shines in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network Competition, Winning First and Second Places
🔷 According to the Public Relations Office of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark, the geopark, as Iran’s only UNESCO Global Geopark, achieved first and second places in two categories of the international “Geoparks and You” competition: “The Five Senses of a Geopark” and “Earth Visual Odyssey.”
🔹 Dr. Vesal Yahya Sheibani, Director of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark, said that the competition was held in 2024 to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Global Geoparks Network. A total of 12 entries from Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark were submitted across the three competition categories. Ultimately, Ms. Adaleh Sadat Sajjadipour won first place in the “The Five Senses of a Geopark” category, while Mr. Seyed Hamid Haghighi won second place in the “Earth Visual Odyssey” category. This achievement once again brought the name of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark and Iran to the international stage.
🔹 Referring to the competition, Dr. Sheibani explained that “Geoparks and You” was organized specifically for residents of UNESCO Global Geoparks in three categories: “The Five Senses of a Geopark,” “Stories of Stones,” and “Earth Visual Odyssey.” The competition was held among 195 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 48 countries, providing local residents with an opportunity to share their experiences and connections with their living environment and the geological and natural heritage of their regions through stories, images, and sensory narratives.
🔹 She added that the results of the competition were announced during the 9th Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Conference, held in September 2026 at Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark in Malaysia. Two participants from Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark achieved first and second places.
🔹 The Director of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark further stated that the certificates and awards of the winners were received in Malaysia by Dr. Alireza Amrikazemi, Advisor to Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark and President of Iran’s National Network of UNESCO Global Geoparks. The awards will be presented to the winners at a special ceremony following their return to Tabas.
🔹 Dr. Sheibani noted that Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark participated in all three competition categories. In total, 12 entries were submitted to the competition secretariat: two entries in “Earth Visual Odyssey,” three in “Stories of Stones,” and seven in “The Five Senses of a Geopark.” Fortunately, two of these entries were selected among the winning works.
🔹 In the “The Five Senses of a Geopark” category, Ms. Adaleh Sadat Sajjadipour, a sixth-grade student at Takhtam Elementary School, won first place with her entry entitled “Experience Morteza Ali Spring with Me.” Focusing on the Morteza Ali Hot Spring geosite, the work presents a student’s perspective and personal experience of one of the geological and natural attractions of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark.
🔹 In the “Earth Visual Odyssey” category, Mr. Seyed Hamid Haghighi won second place with a photograph depicting a camel caravan in the Kalvan Desert ecosystem, accompanied by a view of the mountainous landscapes of the Kolmard region. The visual work portrays the camel as one of the characteristic elements of the desert alongside the region’s beautiful mountainous scenery.
🔹 The Director of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark highlighted the significance of this achievement for Iran’s UNESCO Global Geoparks, stating that the participation of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark, as Iran’s only UNESCO Global Geopark, and its achievement of first and second places provided a valuable opportunity to introduce Iran’s capacities within the Global Geoparks Network.
She also emphasized that this achievement demonstrates the potential of Tabas Geopark and its local community, including children and young people, to participate in and gain international recognition through events organized by the Global Geoparks Network.
🔹 Dr. Vesal Yahya Sheibani congratulated the winners, their families, and the local community of Tabas Geopark on this achievement. He also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all Tabas residents who participated in the international competition, stating that these achievements were made possible through the interest and participation of individuals who introduced part of Tabas’s natural and geological potential through their own perspectives and narratives.
🔹 At the conclusion, the Director of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark stated that one of the key objectives of geoparks is to establish a connection between local communities and the geological, natural, and cultural heritage of their regions. The participation of Tabas residents in such programs not only helps introduce the geopark’s potential at the international level but also provides an opportunity to strengthen this connection and increase the role of the local community in interpreting and presenting the heritage of the region.
🔸 Public Relations Office of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark
