Geza Ulole
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- Oct 31, 2009
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Flagship geo-park project to further boost Tanzania’s tourism potenti
www.ippmedia.com/en/news/flagship-geo-park-project-further-boost-tanzania%E2%80%99s-tourism-potenti
Known as the Lengai-Ngorongoro geo-park, the project will encompass Karatu, Monduli, Ngorongoro and Longido districts, thus boosting the country’s tourism prospects even further.
In an interview with The Guardian here yesterday, a cultural heritage officer with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), Andrew Lowassa, said it was only a matter of time before the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) endorses the country as the latest geological paradise in the world.
“We are on the verge of establishing the Lengai-Ngorongoro geo-park, and it will be the first in this part of the continent,” Lowassa asserted.
He said a nomination dossier was sent to UNESCO in January this year to open the way for Tanzania’s consideration to join the revered league of geo-parks in the world.
Once UNECSO endorses Tanzania, the country will automatically join the Global Geo Park Network, which is a list of countries that seek the promotion and conservation of the planet Earth’s geological heritage, and encourage sustainable research and development by concerned communities, according to Lowassa.
The NCAA official singled out geological attractions found in the four districts singled out for the project as major highlights of the envisioned geo-park.
Said Lowassa: “As we all know, Ngorongoro is not only known for the crater; we also have the Olduvai Gorge and the Laetoli footprints. The same applies to Longido where we have Oldonyo Lengai, the God’s mountain, and the rich Maasai and Hadzabes/Barbaig cultures found in both Monduli and Karatu districts.”
Located in the leeward side of Ngorongoro District near Enkare-Sero village and elevating to 3,190 metres above sea level, Oldoinyo L'engai - which translates to 'the Mountain of God' in the Maasai language - is a site of frequent volcanic activity including major eruptions, some resulting in drastic effects.
Lowassa said NCAA will be working with UNESCO to ensure that world heritage status is achieved for Tanzania through the geological attractions to be found in the four districts.
In November 2015, the 195 member states of UNESCO ratified the creation of a new label - the UNESCO Global Geoparks - during the organisation’s 38th general conference.
This expresses governmental recognition of the importance of managing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner.
UNESCO defines geo-parks as single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
It applies the heritage status in raising awareness on key issues facing the society, in the context of the dynamic planet Earth, where geological hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis are concerned.
At present, there are 119 UNESCO Global Geo Parks in 33 countries, with Morocco being the only country in Africa to reach that status.
www.ippmedia.com/en/news/flagship-geo-park-project-further-boost-tanzania%E2%80%99s-tourism-potentiKnown as the Lengai-Ngorongoro geo-park, the project will encompass Karatu, Monduli, Ngorongoro and Longido districts, thus boosting the country’s tourism prospects even further.
In an interview with The Guardian here yesterday, a cultural heritage officer with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), Andrew Lowassa, said it was only a matter of time before the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) endorses the country as the latest geological paradise in the world.
“We are on the verge of establishing the Lengai-Ngorongoro geo-park, and it will be the first in this part of the continent,” Lowassa asserted.
He said a nomination dossier was sent to UNESCO in January this year to open the way for Tanzania’s consideration to join the revered league of geo-parks in the world.
Once UNECSO endorses Tanzania, the country will automatically join the Global Geo Park Network, which is a list of countries that seek the promotion and conservation of the planet Earth’s geological heritage, and encourage sustainable research and development by concerned communities, according to Lowassa.
The NCAA official singled out geological attractions found in the four districts singled out for the project as major highlights of the envisioned geo-park.
Said Lowassa: “As we all know, Ngorongoro is not only known for the crater; we also have the Olduvai Gorge and the Laetoli footprints. The same applies to Longido where we have Oldonyo Lengai, the God’s mountain, and the rich Maasai and Hadzabes/Barbaig cultures found in both Monduli and Karatu districts.”
Located in the leeward side of Ngorongoro District near Enkare-Sero village and elevating to 3,190 metres above sea level, Oldoinyo L'engai - which translates to 'the Mountain of God' in the Maasai language - is a site of frequent volcanic activity including major eruptions, some resulting in drastic effects.
Lowassa said NCAA will be working with UNESCO to ensure that world heritage status is achieved for Tanzania through the geological attractions to be found in the four districts.
In November 2015, the 195 member states of UNESCO ratified the creation of a new label - the UNESCO Global Geoparks - during the organisation’s 38th general conference.
This expresses governmental recognition of the importance of managing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner.
UNESCO defines geo-parks as single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
It applies the heritage status in raising awareness on key issues facing the society, in the context of the dynamic planet Earth, where geological hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis are concerned.
At present, there are 119 UNESCO Global Geo Parks in 33 countries, with Morocco being the only country in Africa to reach that status.
