A formal ceremony was held at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris to mark the awarding of membership certificates for ”North Riyadh Geopark” and ”Salma Geopark” to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. The event was attended by representatives from Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Lidia Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, presented the certificates to Saudi Arabia in the presence of Dr. Abdulelah Al-Tokhais, the Permanent Delegate of Saudi Arabia, along with representatives from NCVC, the entity responsible for supervising the development and management of geopark sites in Saudi Arabia.
The ceremony featured a brief presentation on the “North Riyadh Geopark” and the “Salma Geopark,” highlighting their geological and historical significance, as well as Saudi Arabia’s efforts in preserving and developing these sites through the participation of local communities.
UNESCO praised Saudi Arabia’s contribution, represented by NCVC, in enhancing Saudi experience at the regional level, in november 2024, NCVC organized a workshop that presented the Saudi model, which helped support two Arab nomination files, one from the Sultanate of Oman and another from the Republic of Tunisia, Several other countries are currently preparing their nomination files.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Brito commended Saudi Arabia’s achievement in registering its first two geoparks, noting the significant progress made in protecting geosites and the involvement of local communities in their development. She also highlighted the geological, historical, and scientific richness of the sites.
The inclusion of ”North Riyadh Geopark” and ”Salma Geopark” in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network marks a national milestone that supports Saudi Arabia’s international efforts in preserving geological heritage and advancing sustainable development goals through ecotourism, education, and scientific research.
