The opening ceremony of Mongolia’s first geopark will be held on 1 July 2026 in Khanbogd Soum, Umnugovi Province. This geopark is being developed with the aim of joining the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in the future.
UNESCO launched the Global Geoparks Programme in 2015 with the purpose of protecting geological heritage, raising public awareness of the importance of geological science, and contributing to sustainable local development through the promotion of geotourism.
Mongolia began its preparatory work to participate in this programme in 2018. Since then, the country has been identifying and studying areas with the potential to be developed as geoparks, while working in accordance with recommendations from UNESCO international experts.
Global experience shows that geoparks not only protect geological heritage, but also make a practical contribution to sustainable development by promoting tourism, supporting local small and medium-sized businesses, creating employment opportunities, and improving the livelihoods of local communities.
Within this framework, work is being carried out to develop Mongolia’s first geopark based on the paleontological discoveries and ancient dinosaur track sites around Shar Tsav, as well as the geological, paleontological, and cultural heritage of the Khanbogd massif and its surrounding areas. The project “Promoting Sustainable Tourism in Mongolia through UNESCO Cultural and Geological Heritage,” launched in 2023 through cooperation between UNESCO and Rio Tinto Mongolia LLC, is making an important contribution to this effort.
The opening ceremony will be attended by leaders and representatives from Umnugovi and Dornogovi provinces; representatives from Manlai, Mandakh, Khanbogd, and Khatanbulag soums; the United Nations; UNESCO; the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources; the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth; the Mongolian Academy of Sciences; the National Geological Service; the National Center for Cultural Heritage; the Mongolian Tourism Professional Association; Rio Tinto Mongolia LLC; Oyu Tolgoi LLC; researchers, scholars, and local community members.