Morocco To Host 10th UNESCO Global Geoparks Conference

The Council of the Global Geoparks Network Council (GGN) elected Morocco to host the 10th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks, scheduled for September 4-11, 2023, in Marrakech, Azilal, and Beni Mellal.
The GGN awarded the conference to Morocco after considering the application of four candidate countries: France, Brazil, Mexico, and Morocco.
The event aims to bring together professionals, government officials, scientific researchers, and Geoparks representatives from across the world.
The event is placed under the Patronage of King Mohammed VI, and is primarily sponsored by the Beni Mellal-Khenifra Regional Council, in partnership with the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network and the UNESCO M’Goun Global Geoparks Association in Azilal.
“The M’Goun Geopark and various international Geoparks in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, France, Portugal, Canada, Romania, Brazil, and Greece, will sign more than 20 partnerships,” according to a press release from the Béni Mellal-Khenifra region.
More than 1,200 participants from 60 countries are expected to take part in this international conference, which will provide an opportunity for participants to meet and exchange best practices, experience, and knowledge related to the management of geological parks and the protection of cultural heritage in UNESCO areas.
The conference will also be the setting for UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Councils to make several major decisions, for the announcement of the Global Geoparks Film Festival awards, for the granting of global best practice awards, and for the awarding of UNESCO certification for new Geoparks to be recognized for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022.
The event will conclude with the announcement of the host country for the 11th International Geoparks Conference, to be chosen from among the candidate countries of Malaysia, South Korea, Brazil, and Chile.