Two UNESCO experts will be in Tunisia from May 20 to 25, 2025 for a decisive field mission as part of the Dahar geoparc registration process in the Global Network of Geoparcs of the UN Organization.
This technical visit aims to assess the level of preparation of the file officially submitted by Tunisia on November 28, 2024. The project, carried since 2016 by the National Office of Mines, could thus allow Tunisia to obtain its very first UNESCO World Geoparc label.
Located in the south-east of the country, the Dahar geoparc covers almost 6,000 km² and covers three governorates: Gabès, Médenine and Tataouine. It includes the mountain range of Djebel Dahar, a territory recognized for the diversity of its geological, natural and cultural heritage.
A preparatory meeting was held on Monday, May 12, at the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, in the presence of Minister Fatma Thabet Chiboub on Monday 12 May. This underlined that this project is part of the national strategy for the enhancement of material and intangible heritage, while representing a lever for sustainable development for the region.
The Minister insisted on the need for close coordination between the institutions concerned to guarantee the quality of the file presented, and maximize the chances of obtaining the label.
To date, 229 sites in 50 countries have been labeled UNESCO global geoparc. The Dahar geoparc would be validated, the first of its kind in Tunisia and the third in Africa, after those in Morocco and Tanzania.
