Tunisia – Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines Minister Neila Gongi examined at a meeting Thursday, the decree-law governing the protection of geological heritage and its development, as the National Office of Mines prepares the submission of the labeling file of the South-East Tunisian geopark project to UNESCO.

In a statement, the Ministry of Industry said the drafting of this decree-law comes in response to UNESCO, which requires a law for the protection and development of geological heritage, so that a region can be classified on the list of global geoparks.

This law will strengthen the country's orientation towards alternative tourism, ensuring both geological diversification and local and regional economic activities, in addition to its role in disseminating knowledge and raising awareness of the importance of the earth.

The draft decree-law aims to identify the geological heritage and its various components, as well as the oversight structures responsible for protecting and enhancing the geological heritage, while also establishing legal mechanisms to protect it against all threats.

Natural heritage is defined in the World Heritage Convention as monuments, natural sites and geological formations. It is a heritage of universal and exceptional value, in terms of science and beauty.

This Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted at the 17th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972.

Having acceded to this Convention in 1975, Tunisia implicitly recognises the duty to identify, protect, preserve and transmit the natural heritage of its territory to future generations.

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