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African countries aspire to host additional UNESCO Global Geoparks
Aspiring for change, Baringo, an aspiring Geopark in Kenya, hosted 32 representatives from 13 African countries who were keen to learn about this latest UNESCO mechanism for international cooperation during UNESCO鈥檚 first regional capacity-building workshop on geoheritage in Africa, since the establishment of the UNESCO Global Geoparks label in 2015.
The regional workshop that took place on 13-15 December 2022 was largely dedicated to assessing Africa鈥檚 rich geological heritage and how it could be connected to its natural, cultural and intangible heritage in a way to the region鈥檚 sustainable development.
Baringo County, Kenya, was one of the beneficiaries of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Grant for Geoparks in Africa, which encourages governments and relevant organizations to protect and conserve their geodiversity via national programmes.
What makes geoparks so special?
UNESCO Global Geoparks are established through a bottom-up process involving all relevant local and regional stakeholders and authorities in the area (e.g. landowners, community groups, tourism providers, indigenous people, and local organizations).
The representatives of the African countries present found the workshop a timely event, as it gave them an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the UNESCO Global Geoparks concept: what are they? what makes them special? In what way are they different from other UNESCO site designations? And how are they created?
"The concept of UNESCO Global Geopark is still relatively new, we suggest that UNESCO organize more training to raise awareness at local, national, regional and continental levels,鈥 Stated the participants. In addition, the participants identified sites with potential for UNESCO Global Geoparks and discussed ongoing geoheritage initiatives in Africa.
After two days of intensive training by UNESCO experts and facilitators from the Geoparks Network and a rich exchange of experiences, the delegates were treated to a field trip to Baringo Great Rift Valley, an aspiring Geopark where they were able to experience firsthand the unique steep-fault scarps, deep gorges, cliffs, escarpment, lake systems, gushing geysers and hot springs that characterize this aspiring geopark.
Delegates also discovered Baringo鈥檚 rich cultural diversity and some exceptional archeological sites: such as it is here that the earliest human skeleton was discovered, dating nearly six million years old.
The UNESCO Global Geopark is underpinned by the bottom-up model of development, and this is consistent with the government鈥檚 manifesto premised on the community taking a central role to push their social economic agenda
High-level support for the geopark concept in Kenya
Kenya has demonstrated its political commitment to the geopark concept, with high level representation of leaders from both the National and County governments. The workshop was attended by H.E. Benjamin Cheboi, Baringo Governor, a number of senators and county leaders, as well as Members of Parliament and the Cabinet Secretary (Minister) of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage of Kenya.
The three-day training workshop was a collaboration between UNESCO and the Global Geopark Network. In preparing the workshop, they had worked closely with the regional network in Africa, as well as with the Kenyan National Commission for UNESCO. The workshop also received support from the German National Commission for UNESCO and the Government of Flanders of the Kingdom of Belgium. The workshop was attended by representatives from Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
What is a geopark?
UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development. They are established through a bottom-up process involving all relevant local and regional stakeholders and authorities in the area (e.g. landowners, community groups, tourism providers, Indigenous peoples, and local organizations). This process requires firm commitment by the local communities, a strong local multiple partnership with long-term public and political support, and the development of a comprehensive strategy that will meet all of the communities鈥 goals while showcasing and protecting the area鈥檚 geological heritage.
As of January 2023, there are 177 UNESCO Global Geoparks within 46 Member States, covering a total area of 370,662 km虏.
Morocco is the current president of the Africa UNESCO Global Geopark Network, providing other African countries with opportunities for networking, training and support.
