UNESCO to vote on Iran’s 2nd geo-park
Press TV-The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will consider Iran’s second case of geo-park in the country’s northwest for a possible inscription on the World Heritage list, an Iranian official said.
The Iranian geo-park in the Aras free zone, East Azerbaijan Province, is expected to be examined during the committee’s summer meeting (due in September) to be included on the list, ISNA quoted Deputy Head of Aras Free Zone Organization for Cultural, Social and Tourism Affairs Adel Najafzadeh as saying.
The official said the case was planned for consideration a few weeks ago during a meeting in Japan, but it was postponed to the September meeting as there were too many cases and issues for discussion in the meeting.
UNESCO inspectors visited the Aras geo-park earlier this month in a bid to monitor and conduct the final studies. They offered the organization some ideas to improve the area, said Najafzadeh, adding that the Aras organization has begun to make up for the shortcomings.
Geo-parks are regarded as areas where exceptional and rare geological landforms are preserved in pristine natural conditions. Scientific research and educational activities can also be pursued in geo-parks.
Iran’s first geo-park was included on the World Heritage list in 2006. It is located on the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm, south Iran.