„Buzau Land” officially becomes a UNESCO International Geopark

„Buzau Land” officially received the title of UNESCO International Geopark on Thursday, being recognized as a territory with natural and cultural values of global importance, reports Agerpres.

” Buzău Land” has thus become the second geopark in Romania included in the International Geoparks Network (GGN), after Hațeg UNESCO Global Geopark .

The ceremony took place during an online event, which was attended, among others, by representatives of seven other geoparks from Brazil, Finland, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, and Sweden, accredited alongside the one in Buzău county.

The President of Buzău County Council, Petre Emanoil Neagu, said that this title crowns a decade of work and will benefit the entire local community and beyond, noting that it is „the most important event in the last 30 years”. .

„It is a decade of work and I thank everyone who has been involved in this project. We are aware and responsible that we still have a lot of work to do together. Congratulations to the other seven geoparks that have joined the great family of geoparks today”, said Petre Emanoil Neagu.

The rural territory in the sub-mountainous area of Buzău county included in this geopark covers an area of over 1,000 square kilometers and has a population of over 40,000 inhabitants living in 18 communes.

The mud volcanoes, the salt domes, the living fires, the Ulmet concretions, the rock settlements, and the amber of Colți are among the most famous attractions of this region.

According to the local authorities, the status of UNESCO International Geopark attests to the territory as an area where considerable efforts are made for the educational, economic, and socio-cultural development of the communities, in harmony with the protection and development of the environment.

Buzau County will also benefit from UNESCO promotion through the European and Global Geoparks Network, and the new status will attract tourists and have the potential to convince entrepreneurs to invest in alternative tourism, agrotourism, cultural or adventure tourism.

This status will also attract funding and investment in many other areas of activity, providing an opportunity for the economic and social revival of the area.

The list of UNESCO Geoparks is made up of 177 territories in 46 countries whose sites and landscapes of international value are managed through an integrated approach, encompassing tourism development, education and conservation of natural and cultural heritage.