Africa’s Geological Treasures Deserve Global Recognition: Baringo County Poised to Become Kenya’s First UNESCO Global Geopark
Paris, 3 June 2025, Despite its rich and diverse geological landscapes, Africa currently boasts only two officially recognized UNESCO Global Geoparks:
🗻 M’Goun Geopark in Morocco
🌋 Ngorongoro Lengai Geopark in Tanzania
Now, Baringo County in Kenya nestled within the iconic Great Rift Valley is set to change that. The region has been awarded a UNESCO grant and is currently on the waiting list for UNESCO Global Geopark designation.
Baringo’s extraordinary landscape includes steep scarps, deep gorges, crater lakes, cinder cones, geysers, and hot springs making it a dream for geologists, researchers, and eco-tourists alike.
This recognition is not just about preserving natural beauty, but about unlocking opportunities for sustainable development, education, and community empowerment.
Advocacy efforts are intensifying to push for global recognition of Baringo and other geologically significant regions across the continent. Geoparks serve as hubs for scientific research, eco-tourism, cultural preservation, and environmental education, offering tangible benefits to local communities while protecting geological heritage.
Call to Action
Africa’s geoparks are natural treasures that deserve the global spotlight. As the world looks to expand its network of recognized geoparks, stakeholders, governments, and conservationists are urged to support the nomination and sustainable development of African sites.
About UNESCO Global Geoparks
UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development.
