UNESCO Adds 16 New Global Geoparks

Recently, UNESCO added 16 new Global Geoparks across 11 countries, marking the 10th anniversary of the Global Geoparks Network.

Key Highlights

North Korea and Saudi Arabia have made historic entries for the first time.
- Mt Paektu (North Korea): Millennium Eruption around 1000 CE.
- Obaitharan Valley/Wadi (Saudi Arabia): located at the base of Tuwaiq Mountain, is a lush reserve that supports the region’s water supply.
  - The valley is also home to ancient coral reef systems.
Kanbula (China): On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; home to Maixiu volcanoes and the Yellow River
Other countries with new sites: Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, South Korea, Spain, UK, Vietnam.
Total Global Geoparks after 2024 update: 229 sites in 50 countries.
Total area covered: ~855,000 sq. km (comparable to Namibia).

Feature	Details
Established	Introduced in 2015 by UNESCO, key component of the International Geosciences and Geoparks Programme (IGGP)
Purpose	Recognize geological heritage of international significance
Functions	Heritage conservation, education, community engagement, sustainable tourism
Governing Body	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Reassessment Period	UGGP status is not permanent; it is reassessed every four years.
Not the same as	UNESCO World Heritage Sites (focuses on broader cultural/natural heritage)
Mandatory Networking:	Membership of the GGN is obligatory for UGGPs

As of July 2024, India has no site listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

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