Baringo County, which aspires to be accredited as a UNESCO Global Geopark, is stepping up the preparation of a comprehensive application dossier to be submitted to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Secretariat by end of November, 2025.
Experts in geology, cultural heritage and other related fields are meeting with the Baringo County Government officials to finalize the bid. Should Baringo succeed in being designated as a UNESCO geopark, significant benefits will be realized in sustainable tourism, promotion of cultural heritage and environmental conservation.
So far, only Morocco, Tunisia and Tanzania have had successful bids for UNESCO Geopark status in Africa. Geoparks hold tremendous potential to drive sustainable development, especially in regions where natural heritage, cultural identity, biodiversity, and livelihoods are deeply interconnected.
The team of experts is led by Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM), the designated national liaison institution for establishment of new geoparks in Kenya. Other contributors to the process include the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), State Department for Geological Survey and Research (SDGSR), State Department of Culture and Heritage (SDCaH), Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Egerton University, Maseno University and Baringo County Conservancies Association (BCCA).
The process, which entails adhering to UNESCO Geopark guidelines, has seen the team undertake extensive networking and community engagement. The retreat is supported by UNDP-GEF Small Funds.
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