List of UNESCO Global Geoparks in Africa

UNESCO has currently designated two UNESCO Global Geoparks in Africa[lower-alpha 1], located in two state parties, Tanzania and Morocco. There are plans for national geoparks in an initial phase that could be further developed to gain the UNESCO recognition.[1] Also on an international level, several sites of geoheritage values are inscribed on the World Heritage list under criterion VIII and/or criterion VII.

List of UNESCO Global Geoparks in Africa is located in Africa
M'Goun
M'Goun
Ngorongoro-Lengai
Ngorongoro-Lengai
UNESCO Global Geoparks in Africa

Africa has a globally significant geodiversity that represents geological-geomorphological processes from the Archean to the Quaternary.[1] However, the acknowledgement of the continent's geodiversity is still lagging behind the recognition of its biodiversity, many areas of global importance are not represented under international agreements, and national legislative acts on the protection of geoheritage are limited.

UNESCO Global Geoparks
UNESCO Global Geopark Image Location Area
(km2)
 Year Geodiversity
M'Goun Drâa-Tafilalet Region
 Morocco
31°30′00″N 6°27′00″W		 5730 2014 Central High Atlas. Geological evolution mainly in the Triassic to Jurassic periods. Key geosites: tectonic structures and sedimentary sequences, such as Synclinale d'Iouaridène, Zaouit Ahança or Ait Abdi, and important paleontological sites such as Ait Blal or Ibaqualliwn.[2][3]
Ngorongoro-Lengai EthArusha Region,
 Tanzania
1°40′43″S 36°36′34″E		 11886 2018 East African Rift Valley. Primary geoheritage values: intracontinental rifting. Ol Doinyo Lengai is globally unique with its natro-carbonatite lavas, Ngorongoro caldera gives a habitat for wildlife species. Other: Olduvai Gorge or Laetoli, both of global paleontological relevance.[4][5]

The African Geoparks Network

The African Geoparks Network (AGN) was founded in 2009 in Abidjan by the African Association of Women in Geosciences (AAWG) during the 5th Conference of Women and Geosciences for Peace. The scope of the organization is not limited to Africa sensum stricto, but the Middle East is also associated with it. With its mission to improve the situation of geoheritage in the region, the main objectives are the following:[1]

  • Identifying Geosites;
  • Making an inventory of geosites of outstanding value in Africa and the Middle East;
  • Creating and maintaining dynamic GIS data bases;
  • Promoting and increasing the awareness amongst policy makers and the general public in Africa and the Middle East, in particular local communities, about the necessity for the protection of and benefits incurred in the use of geological heritage through the creation of geoparks for local socio-economic sustainable development;
  • Building the capacity of the local population in the field of geoheritage and geoconservation through a strong network including the organization of conferences, seminars, symposia, training courses and workshops focussing on the non-professional community.

Activities

AGN, together with AAWG is the organizer of the International conference on Geoparks in Africa and the Middle East (ICGAME). Events of this conference series are the following:

Name Date Venue Title
1st ICGAME[6] 20–28 November 2011 El Jadida (Morocco) Aspiring Geoparks in Africa and Arab World
2nd ICGAME[7] 1–4 October 2014 Dakar (Senegal) Geoheritage in the service of local sustainable development
3rd ICGAME[8] 20–24 March 2018 El Jadida (Morocco) Geoheritage and Geoconservation: concepts, advancements and challenges
4th ICGAME[9] 1–5 April 2020 Beirut (Lebanon) Geoheritage, gateway to sustainable development and peace building

Besides the ICGAME , AGN is organizing in collaboration with local, national and international stakeholders other workshops and scientific sessions, such as the Day for Earth Sciences in Africa and the Middle East in 2013.[1]

African UNESCO Global Geopark Network

In 2019 November, it was announced[10][11] that the African UNESCO Global Geopark Network is founded, as the 4th regional geopark network of Global Geoparks Network (GGN). Its primary aim is to function as a platform to support the promotion of the UNESCO Global Geopark concept and the capacity building of the numerous geopark initiatives and projects on the continent. The official launch of the organization is expected with the 1st African UNESCO Global Geoparks International Conference in Arusha, Tanzania in May 2020.

Recognition of Africa's geodiversity under different international frameworks

World Heritage sites

Ten sights are represented currently on the World Heritage list under criterion VIII,[12] as an outstanding representative of Earth's history:

Further sites are inscribed under criterion VII[13] of superlative natural phenomena and aesthetic importance. Some of them, which have a special geoheritage importance are:

Notes
  1. Africa is considered as the continent itself, including Northern African states that are defined under the Arabic States category in the UNESCO World Heritage Convent. Independent archipelagos are included (e.g. Seychelles), but island groups under European sovereignty (e.g. the Canary Islands) are excluded, as geoparks here are not part of the African Geoparks Network.

References
  1. Errami, E.; Brocx, M.; Semeniuk, V. (2013). From geoheritage to geoparks: case studies from Africa and beyond. Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 3–23. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-10708-0_1.
  2. "M'Goun". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  3. "M'Goun UNESCO Global Geopark website (in French only)". Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  4. "Ngorongoro-Lengai". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  5. "Ngorongoro-Lengai UNESCO Global Geopark website". Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  6. "1st ICGAME (Morocco 2011)". africangeoparksnetwork.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. "2nd ICGAME (Senegal 2014)". africangeoparksnetwork.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  8. "ProGEO newsletter 2018/1" (PDF). Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  9. "Geoheritage – The 4th International Conference on Geoparks in Africa and Middle-East – ACE – Association for Community and Environment". Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  10. "New UNESCO Global Geoparks Network to support Africa's rich geological heritage". UNESCO. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  11. "Fundatory Declaration for the creation of the African UNESCO Global Geopark Network_Global Network of National Geoparks". globalgeopark.org. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  12. "UNESCO World Heritage sites, filtered to Africa and criterion VIII". Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  13. "UNESCO World Heritage sites, filtered to Africa and criterion VII". Retrieved 15 January 2020.

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