During the 10th Conference of UNESCO International Geoparks that took place in Marrakesh, between September 7 and 11, 2023, Țara Hațegului Geopark officially received the diploma certifying the preservation of UNESCO status. It maintains its UNESCO recognition until the next revalidation mission that will take place in 2026.
The UNESCO International Geopark Țara Hațegului is the first territory in Romania to obtain the prestigious international recognition. From 2022, Buzău County was accepted into the Global Network of Geoparks, becoming the second UNESCO international geopark in Romania. Three other territories, Oltenia de sub Munte, Carpaterra and Dobrogea Chimerică are in various stages of file preparation to obtain international recognition within the UNESCO Program for Geosciences and Geoparks.
“This recognition reveals the constant effort that the University of Bucharest, through the management team, the authorities and all the local partners are putting in making Țara Hațegului a development territory, a reference not only at the local and national level, but also internationally. We are one of the geoparks with experience in the Geoparks Network, taking into account the fact that it is the first territory in Romania to receive recognition as an international geopark since 2005. This fact forces us to constantly surpass ourselves and remain an important landmark in what concerns the development of local communities, education, volunteering and the promotion of geosciences. I would like to thank all those who support us, institutions or members of the local communities and who have contributed to the preservation of this honorable international status for Romania and Hunedoara county”, states lect. Alexandru Andrășanu, PhD, director of the UNESCO International Geopark Țara Hațegului.
Each UNESCO International Geopark member of the Global Network of Geoparks goes through a revalidation that takes place once every four years and is a complex process. In the case of Hațeg Country, the revalidation mission took place last spring and was carried out by two UNESCO evaluators, independent experts, Dr. Manfred Kupetz from Germany and Bojan Režun from Slovenia. The two drew up a report that was validated by the UNESCO International Geoparks Council, but the final validation decision was given by the UNESCO Executive Board in a meeting in its spring session this year.
The revalidation missions monitor the extent to which geoparks comply with UNESCO standards and the progress they make over four years. Among the criteria pursued are the preservation and enhancement of the geological, natural and cultural heritage, the management of the territory and the collaboration with the institutions and the involvement of local communities in the sustainable development of the territory in accordance with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, the activities of education and scientific research, the promotion of geo-tourism and local, national and international partnerships.
More information on the activities carried out by Țara Hațegului UNESCO International Geopark can be accessed here and here.
SECŢIUNE ACCESIBILIZATĂ PENTRU PERSOANELE CU DIZABILITĂŢI DE VEDERE
Postări asemănătoare:
Three Villages in Hunedoara Country on the Territory of the UNESCO International Geopark Ţara Hațegului, managed by the University of Bucharest, Will Host Award-Winning Theater Performances this Year at the UNITER Gala
The Țara Hațegului Geopark, managed by the University of Bucharest, was an example of cooperation between the local community and the academic milieu
The Hațegului Geopark and the Buzăului Geopark, Managed by UB, Celebrate Intangible Cultural Heritage
Volunteers from the UNESCO International Geopark Țara Hațegului Prepared to Become Ambassadors of the Geopark
