At the GGN annual General Assembly meeting, director of Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark announced that the geopark has been maintaining its activities on digital platforms.

Published on : Nov 18, 2020

At the GGN annual General Assembly meeting, director of Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark announced that the geopark has been maintaining its activities on digital platforms.

According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of Qeshm Free Area Organization, Alireza Amri Kazemi, a member of the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Advisory Commitee and a member of Global Geoparks Network (GGN) Executive Board, attended the GGN annual Assembly and presented the Annual Report of the Activities of the management. He stated that Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark has managed to mitigate the negative impacts caused by the closure of geosites due to the COVID-19 pandemic through focusing on digital and online activities.

He mentioned that with active community participation and firm commitment, the management could design and hold contests and online educational courses to maintain the connection with the locals and promote the attractions and potentials of Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark through social media.

He added that this year very strict guidelines were set out at the Council meeting and all Global Geopark professionals must observe new rules and regulations to protect and conserve geopaks all over the world and continue to be a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

About 250 Global Geopark professionals from five continents met via video conference during this two-day Council meeting. Annual Network reports, activities done during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, annual budget of the Global Network and its operational expenditures were among the UGGp issues that were addressed.

Programs for future UNESCO conferences were announced in case Coronavirus restrictions are lifted and assessment and evaluation of applications for new Geoparks were discussed.

Participants’ exchanging views on new documents, forms and guidelines was among the subject matters addressed on the second day of this annual meeting showing that UNESCO is now more strict and sensitive about designation of aspiring Geoparks and revalidation of existing ones.

 Annual General Assembly sessions are held in one of the Global Geoparks, but this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, 250 participants met via video conference on November 17 and 18.