“Boholanos’ embracing the label is vital to its bid to become the country’s first UNESCO Global Geopark,” Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO) resident geologist Karl Michael Din said, explaining that the ultimate objective of a UNESCO Global Geopark is to connect people to geological heritage.
The active involvement of the Boholano community in terms of protection and conservation is its most important contribution to the UNESCO Global Geopark bid, he stated.
He pointed out that the strategy combines the protection of key geological heritage sites and sustainable development. It also plays a significant role in communicating geosites knowledge and environmental concepts to locals and visitors.
The entire province of Bohol is poised to become the country’s first UNESCO Global Geopark in the country following the approval of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, a step close to the Executive Board endorsement.
In Friday morning’s Capitol Reports, Din emphasized that this project aligns with the vision and mission of the province to enrich its social, economic, cultural, and environmental resources through good governance and effective partnerships with stakeholders for increased global competitiveness.
In terms of tourism, Bohol will hold the prestige and honor as the first in the country. It also adopts a holistic approach to tourism that includes eco, agricultural, and cultural tourism.
A partnership with the Department of Education – Bohol Division for the incorporation of preservation and promotion of geoscience to local concepts can also strengthen the appreciation for geoheritage, Din added.
In the aspect of conservation, it can also encourage legislators to craft policies aligned with the sustainable development track.
A UNESCO Global Geopark is defined as an area where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed by a holistic approach – combining conservation, education research, and sustainable development.
There are currently 177 in the world, with Bohol as one of 7 new additional Global Geoparks once declared.
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By: Leah Marchill Sumampong/ The Provincial Information and Media Office