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Tanzania set to establish geo-park

Xinhua, February 14, 2017 Adjust font size:

anzanian conservation authorities said on Tuesday plans were afoot to establish a geo-park, making the east African country the first south of the Sahara to establish a geo-park.

A geo-park is a unified area that advances the protection and use of geological heritage in a sustainable way, and promotes the economic well-being of the people who live in the park.

Andrew Lowassa, a cultural heritage officer with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) said to be known as the Lengai-Ngorongoro geo-park, the project will run through Karatu, Monduli, Ngorongoro and Longido districts in Arusha region enhancing the country's tourism industry.

Lowassa said it was only a matter of time before the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) endorsed the country as the latest geo-park in the world.

He said in January this year Tanzania sent to UNESCO a nomination dossier for considering Tanzania to join the revered league of geo-parks in the world.

Once UNECSO endorsed Tanzania as the latest geo park, the country will become the latest geo-park, said Lowassa.

Lowassa singled out the attractions found in the four districts as the major highlights of the envisioned geo-park.

Lowassa said the NCAA will be working with UNESCO to ensure that the world heritage status was achieved by the country through attractions found in the four districts.

At present, there are 119 UNESCO global geo-parks in 33 countries with Morocco being the only country in the northern part of the African continent to reach that status. Endit