UNESCO Global Geoparks meeting kicks off in southern Iran

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.

Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular. At present, there are 140 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 38 countries.

Addressing the inauguration of the event, head of Qeshm Geopark Alireza Ameri Kazemi said the meeting is underway in line with verifying Qeshm Geopark in developing geoparks in the Middle East.

Head of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN), secretary general of International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) together with representatives of 22 countries from Western Asia, Central Asia, Middle East and Eastern Asia attended the event.

Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf, with rocky coastlines that protects a mountainous and often beautiful interior. Qeshm Island is located a few kilometers off the southern coast of Iran (Persian Gulf), opposite the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Bandar Khamir. Qeshm has about 60 villages which are dotted mostly by coasts. Qeshm was always a high rated area because of its strategic location.

The people of Qeshm has a mixture of cultures which is good to mention you will be able to see the history through the left cultures. Historical records concerning the Qeshm Island date far back into the pre-Islamic era. Names as Qeshm, Kish and Tunb mark the lengthy stay of Ilamids in the area, several centuries BC.

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