Bashkiria State Assembly will put forward legislative initiative on Geoparks to State Duma

UFA, 29 March 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Gulfiya Akulova/. In Moscow, as part of the largest international exhibition "Subsoil-2017. Exploration. Extraction" a round table was held dedicated to the issues of geological and ecological tourism development, as well as geological parks in Russia. The Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Agrarian Issues, Ecology and Nature Management of the State Assembly - Kurultai RB, the Chairman of the Council of the Regional Branch of the Green Party in Bashkortostan Rufina Shagapova took part in it.

"As a result of the round table in Moscow, it was decided to apply for at once several projects of UNESCO Geoparks in our republic. There is a common opinion of the professional community about a huge diversity of the natural heritage of Bashkortostan", Rufina Shagapova commented on.

Also, she said, a decision was made to introduce a legislative initiative of the State Assembly on Geoparks to the State Duma. It is also recommended to separate a geological tourism as an independent type of tourism activity. The concept is proposed to be set forth in the Federal Law No.132 "On the Fundamentals of Tourist Activity".

"This summer, the traditional Ecological Forum will be held in Bashkortostan. The Ministry of Ecology and Nature Management of the republic is currently discussing a program that supposes to include the issue of creating UNESCO Geoparks, as well as to provide for a number of events dedicated to this subject", Rufina Shagapova said.

The special program of UNESCO, which provides for creation of a worldwide network of national geoparks, Global Network of National Geoparks, has been implemented since 2002. The new brand "Global Geoparks of UNESCO" was ratified by 195 states within the framework of the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 2015, including Russia. Today, more than 100 sites in 30 countries have the status of the UNESCO Geoparks. Bashkortostan can become the first Russian region where UNESCO Geoparks will be opened.