Center for Geoparks and Sustainable Development
The center was created on the basis of the Tien Shan Geological Society in partnership with the Kyrgyz Mining and Metallurgical Institute named after. Academician U. Asanaliev.
In Kyrgyzstan and the countries of Central Asia, interest in the involvement (diversification) of new natural resources in the development of tourism is actively and dynamically growing. Natural heritage sites are used to develop ecotourism and geotourism. The best mechanism for preserving unique objects of geological heritage is their geoconservation. However, using them to expand the tourism services market, as new tour products, is one of the most effective ways to preserve unique geodiversity.
Objectives of the center:
Geoparks are territories for implementing strategies for sustainable development of territories.
An important task of the center is to assess the potential of territories for creating geoparks seeking to join the UNESCO Global Geoparks network. But the most important task of the center is to preserve the geological heritage and associated cultural heritage.
Our tasks include compiling a nomination dossier based on the geoparks’ self-assessment and the UNESCO Global Geoparks guidelines.
Our activities:
- – Development of geoparks, protected areas
– Programs and strategies for sustainable development
– Branding of territories
– Programs for the development of geotourism
– Assessment of geotourism potential of territories
– Research and assessment of geoheritage and cultural heritage
– Development of methods for the conservation of unique natural objects, assessment of infrastructure for geoconservation
– Scientific research and education in the field of geosciences, geoparks, geotourism development, etc.
– Development of scientific and educational programs
– Promotion of geoparks and protected areas as tourist resources, management and marketing
– Development of mechanisms and programs for managing geoparks
Our experience:
- – Creation and development of the Madygen Geopark in the Batken region of Kyrgyzstan. Project of the UNESCO International Geoparks and Geosciences Program (IGCP)
– Development of a program for the development of a Geopark in the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan
– Participation of our experts in the World Bank project to develop a Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development and a Master Plan, as well as two local development plans for the Ak-Suu and Tyup districts (development of the concept of geoparks) in the Issyk-Kul region, including a strategic environmental and social assessment. World Bank Project
– Development of a tourist guide to geological heritage in the Western Tien Shan of Kyrgyzstan. UNDP project
– Development of a tourist guide to the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan. Project GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation)
– Assessment of the geological heritage of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. UNESCO project, Uzbekistan
– Compilation of the Atlas of natural and cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan
– A project to assess the causes of flooding of the cave museum complex – a UNESCO cultural heritage site “Sulaiman-Too” in Osh and develop measures to eliminate it. ARIS project
– Study and assessment of water resources, geological risks in the potential geoprak Madygen and the territory of the Batken region. Project of the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta
– as well as others
Our status:
The Center for Geoparks and Sustainable Development is part of the Tien Shan Geological Society (TGS) and operates on its basis. Geoparks, geotourism and geoheritage (3 GEOs), as well as geo-cooperation are one of the main areas of activity of the TGO. The Geoparks Center is a department whose activities are aimed at organizing interactions between government, scientific, educational and public organizations in the areas of nature conservation, education, science, popularization of geotourism, creation and development of geoparks, etc.
In collaboration with the Kyrgyz Mining and Metallurgical Institute, TGS carries out a number of scientific and educational projects. One of such projects under the auspices of UNESCO is the “International Summer School on Geology and Climatology” project, which is held annually in Kyrgyzstan.
Our potential:
- – Specialists and experts of the Center for Geoparks and Sustainable Development are diverse specialists in the field of geosciences, history, ecology, marketing and other areas
– To expand our knowledge, we regularly participate in international seminars, trainings, forums and conferences. We also organize various thematic events ourselves.
Our partners:
- – Kyrgyz Mining and Metallurgical Institute, Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan
– Institute of Geology of the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan
– Tourist destinations
– UNESCO Global Geopark “Yangan-Tau” Republic of Bashkortostan, Russian Federation
– National Committee for Geoparks of the Republic of Kazakhstan
– Silk Road Tourism Association
– as well as others
Current projects and tasks:
Tourism is actively developing in the country. There is a need for both new innovative tourism destinations and a need for new spectacles and wonders of nature. Therefore, we help to diversify new natural resources for the development of tourism. These objectives must be accompanied by geoconservation, or the preservation of natural and cultural sites. This requires the development of methods and mechanisms for the conservation of geoheritage and natural heritage in general.
- – Project – Development of a development program for the Madygen Geopark in the Batken region, as a geopark seeking to join the UNESCO Global Geoparks network
– Project – Development of a Geopark development program in the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan - Project “Assessment of Geological Heritage in Central Asia”. This project is aimed at inventorying geoheritage, developing methods for assessing and preserving unique objects of geological heritage. The goal of the project is to compile an Atlas of Geoheritage of Central Asia
– Project is the creation of an international school of geoguides, the development of geotourism and the preservation of geoheritage. This project is being implemented jointly with the Kyrgyz Mining and Metallurgical Institute - Project to include geoheritage objects of the Madygen Geopark in the list of World Natural Heritage sites.
Project to compile guides to the geological and cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan
Project “International Summer School on Geology and Climatology”
What are geoparks? Geotourism. Geoheritage. School of geoguides.
Geopark Development Center
