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Oldest life forms, stromatolites, unearthed in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh; marine fossils found in Kutch and Spiti; vertebrate fossils of Siwaliks and dinosaur remains in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat
India does not have a single geopark recognized by UNESCO
UNESCO defines geoparks as “single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development”.
In 2004, a total of 17 European and eight Chinese geoparks formed the Global Geopark Network (GGN) under the aegis of UNESCO “to develop models of best practice and set quality-standards”. In 2015, the 195 member states of UNESCO ratified the new label “UNESCO Global Geoparks”. GGN is the official partner of UNESCO for their operation. As of July 2020, there are 161 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 44 countries. China has the maximum (41); even geographic-ally smaller countries, Thailand and Vietnam, have a few.
A geoheritage site has to fulfil certain conditions to be recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark. It must be managed by a body having legal existence recognized under national legislation, there should be a devoted website, a corporate identity, an all-inclusive management plan for protection and conservation and financial sustainability models, among others. Geological Survey of India (GSI) has designated 32 sites in the country as National Geological Monuments, but none has been recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark because there is no legislation to empower GSI to manage these sites.
The Society of Earth Scientists (SES), a registered society based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, submitted a draft legislation on protection of geoheritage sites to the Union government. Major candidates to become UNESCO Global Geoparks are Dinosaur Fossil Park at Raiyoli, Gujarat; Ramgarh crater in Baran district of Rajasthan; and Zawar, the world’s oldest mining and metallurgical site in Rajasthan. These could be sites of employment as well.
Countries, such as Japan and China, have developed domestic networks to create collaborations among geoparks, schools, universities, business houses and the tourism sector. The money that tourists spend goes directly to local producers—from farmers to labourers to artisans. Involving people in tourism marketing, such as tour operators, homestay owners and chefs for local cuisines promotes the area’s economy. Innovative ideas of artisans and business people, for example, geo-bakeries and mementos depicting the site’s geological or cultural features, attract tourists. Leisure activities like boating, cycling, bird-watching and climbing, and the development of museums also help in economic regeneration.
