UNESCO Council Approves Including Viñales in Global Geoparks Network

UNESCO Council Approves Including Viñales in Global Geoparks Network

Viñales was recommended today by the UNESCO Global Council for inclusion in the World Network of Geoparks, after the council analyzed the evaluation report of the Cuban candidacy, diplomatic sources indicated.

This would be a result of the visit by an evaluation commission to the western province of Pinar del Río from October 5 to 10 of this year.

Such a verdict was recorded on the first of three days of sessions of the Global Council of the aforementioned body, headquartered in this capital.

The same sources highlighted that the decision recognizes the technical quality of the report presented by Cuba and the relevance of the geological heritage of the Viñales valley, as well as the capacity of the Caribbean island to guarantee its conservation.

Among the strengths of the Cuban candidacy is the direct link with ministries and political decision-makers and the backing of a scientific council made up of around 15 specialists from different disciplines.

Added to this is the proven participation of territorial and community actors, under an approach in which "knowledge generates affection," the diplomatic sources emphasized.

Members of the Council referred positively to the Cuban dossier and expressed that the technical quality of the file acquires special relevance when considering the difficult economic and material circumstances under which this effort was developed.

Furthermore, the recommendation constitutes a recognition of the scientific, organizational and human capacity of the Cuban teams, as well as the willingness to build a collective project of conservation and sustainable development, even under extraordinarily complex conditions.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are unified geographical territories in which sites and landscapes of international geological relevance are managed through an integrated approach of protection, education and sustainable development.

Upon learning of the decision, Ambassador María del Carmen Herrera, Permanent Representative of Cuba to UNESCO, thanked the Council and the evaluating experts for the rigor of their work and highlighted the significance of the result for the country.

The diplomat denounced the consequences of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States for more than six decades, including the current energy siege.