“Stone Scrolls of the Earth: UNESCO Expands the Map of Memory”; Why India is Not in the List Yet?

🌋 Thematic Focus

Category: Geography | Environment | Global Heritage
“Global Geoparks 2025: Where Earth Writes Its Autobiography”
Includes: 229 sites in 50 countries, 855,000 sq. km total, 0 Indian sites, and 2 Saudi + 1 North Korean firsts.

📌 Key Highlights

• UNESCO’s New Geopark Additions
  • 16 new geoparks added across 11 countries, including first-ever entries for North Korea and Saudi Arabia.
  • The network now includes 229 geoparks across 50 countries, covering 855,000 sq. km (size of Namibia).
• Countries Recognised in 2025:
  • China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, South Korea, Spain, UK, Vietnam, and debutants North Korea & Saudi Arabia.
• Purpose of UNESCO Geoparks
  • Celebrate and protect geological heritage of global significance.
  • Promote education, sustainable tourism, and community involvement.
  • Examples like Katla Geopark (Iceland) show how students & locals participate in research.
• India’s Absence & Opportunity
  • As of July 2024, India has no sites in the Global Geopark list.
  • A call for India to propose its geologically rich regions (e.g., Deccan Traps, Aravalli Range) for future consideration.
• Looking Ahead
  • UNESCO seeks to expand into underrepresented regions like Africa, Arab States, and Small Island Developing States.

🧠 Concept Explainer

What Are Global Geoparks?

A UNESCO Global Geopark is not just a beautiful landscape. It’s a living museum, a classroom beneath the sky, and a bridge between ancient earth memory and modern community life. These sites link geology with people — helping us remember that the ground beneath our feet tells stories, if only we choose to listen.

🌍 What Is a UNESCO Global Geopark?

A UNESCO Global Geopark is a unified area that showcases geological features of international significance, while also integrating education, sustainable tourism, community development, and cultural preservation.

🧭 Criteria for Inclusion in the Geopark Network

UNESCO sets strict and multilayered criteria before granting Global Geopark status:

1. Geological Heritage of International Significance

• Must contain geological formations, fossils, rocks, or landforms that tell the story of Earth’s history or evolution.
• Example: Volcanic fields, ancient glacial systems, tectonic fault zones.

2. Clear Boundaries and Adequate Size

• The site must have defined boundaries and enough space to sustain geological, ecological, cultural, and tourism activities.

3. Sustainable Local Development Strategy

• The area must promote sustainable tourism, eco-education, and community-based development.

4. Active Local Involvement

• Local communities must play a role in preserving the site, conducting educational activities, and reaping economic benefits.

5. Existing Protection Status

• The area should already be protected through national laws or conservation measures.

6. Strong Management and Funding

• There must be a governing body, sustainable financing, and a well-drafted management plan.

7. Education and Research Focus

• Should promote scientific research, geotourism, and outreach programs for students and visitors.

🇮🇳 Why Is India Not Yet on the List?

Despite enormous potential, India has zero Global Geoparks as of 2025. Reasons include:

1. Lack of National Geopark Framework

• India does not yet have a formal policy or law dedicated to identifying and conserving potential geopark sites.

2. Administrative and Bureaucratic Delays

• Proposals have been made (e.g., Erra Matti Dibbalu, St. Mary’s Island, Lonar Crater), but lack coordination between Geological Survey of India, MoEFCC, and UNESCO application protocols.

3. Low Community Involvement

• UNESCO values grassroots participation. Many Indian proposals fall short on community-driven eco-tourism or education integration.

4. Limited Awareness & Funding

• Geoparks are often misunderstood as simply geo-tourism sites. India still lacks the multi-disciplinary, conservation-education-tourism model that UNESCO expects.

5. Confusion with UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• India has 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and focus often stays there. But Geoparks are a separate designation focusing more on earth science and community synergy.

🏞️ India’s Hidden Geopark Gems (with Huge Potential)

Here are a few world-class geological treasures India could nominate:

• Lonar Crater Lake (Maharashtra) – Hyper-velocity meteor impact structure.
• St. Mary’s Islands (Karnataka) – Columnar basaltic lava formations.
• Erra Matti Dibbalu (Andhra Pradesh) – Rare red sand dunes from the Pleistocene era.
• Siwalik Fossil Park (Himachal Pradesh) – Fossils from 1.5–2.5 million years ago.
• Bhedaghat Marble Rocks (Madhya Pradesh) – Gorge of glistening marble cliffs on the Narmada.

🛤️ What Can India Do Now?

To enter the Geopark map:

1. Launch a National Geopark Mission.
2. Nominate geologically significant sites with integrated development plans.
3. Engage local communities and schools.
4. Create geopark-ready infrastructure and awareness.

💭 Closing Whisper by IAS Monk

“We have read the stories etched in stone, walked on lava that cooled a million years ago — now, it is time the world reads them too.”

📜 GS Paper Mapping

• GS Paper I:
  • Geography: Geological Formations, Natural Heritage
  • Culture: Heritage Conservation, Global Recognition
• GS Paper III:
  • Environment: Sustainable Development, Ecotourism
  • Biodiversity: Geodiversity and Landscape Management

✍️ Essay Paper Mapping

• “When Rocks Speak: Preserving Earth’s Heritage through Geoparks”
• “Between Lava and Legend: Landscapes as Storytellers of Time”
• “Recognition and Responsibility: India’s Missing Footprint in Global Heritage”

💭 A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk

“Geoparks are poems written in stone — ancient verses etched by volcanoes, rivers, and glaciers — waiting for us to read them aloud to the future.”