Global Geoparks: A Natural and Cultural Treasure of Ecuador
UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas that boast geological heritage of international significance, where a strategy for sustainable development is promoted through the integration of conservation, education, and responsible tourism.
These territories not only safeguard unique landscapes and key geological processes in Earth’s history but also strengthen the cultural identity of local communities, encouraging their active participation in land management.
By blending scientific knowledge with traditional wisdom, geoparks foster a development model that values both natural and cultural diversity, thereby contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting dialogue between humanity and the planet.
Imbabura Global Geopark:
The Imbabura Global Geopark, located in the Andean region of Ecuador, in the province of Imbabura, is a geographically significant area of great natural, cultural, and scientific importance. The Imbabura Global Geopark was recognized by UNESCO on April 17, 2019, becoming the country's first Global Geopark.
This geopark holds significant geological value, with a diverse landscape that includes volcanoes, lakes, mountains, and rich biodiversity. Its inclusion in the UNESCO Global Geoparks network underscores its importance as a model for conservation and sustainable development.
Imbabura is known for its impressive geology, shaped by millions of years of volcanic activity. Additionally, the region is home to a rich cultural heritage, with indigenous communities such as the Otavaleños, who have inhabited the area for centuries and continue to preserve their traditions and worldviews.
The Imbabura Global Geopark is not only a destination for nature and geology enthusiasts but also a space for scientific research and responsible tourism. UNESCO highlights the importance of these territories as sites where the balance between natural resource conservation, education, research, and local development is promoted.
This global recognition also fosters collaboration among local communities, authorities, and experts to ensure a sustainable development model that benefits future generations.
Napo Sumaco UNESCO Global Geopark
Napo Sumaco UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon Basin, where the Andean mountains meet the Amazon plains. The geopark showcases over 170 million years of geological activity, from the Jurassic period to the present day. Highlights include Sumaco Volcano, a striking and potentially active volcano with a rare composition, and karst formations, where researchers study climate change through speleothem (cave formation) analysis. The area is not only geologically significant but also known for its rich biodiversity, home to over 6000 plant species and a variety of rare animals, many of which are found nowhere else.
Local communities play an active role in protecting and maintaining the geopark’s geological sites, carrying forward the Indigenous Kichwa concepts of minga and turkana. Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) is central to the Amazon Kichwa people's value system, preserved as valuable ancestral knowledge that connects geodiversity, biodiversity and culture. Many geosites can only be accessed with the guidance of local residents, ensuring respectful land use while providing opportunities for local communities.
Tungurahua Volcano UNESCO Global Geopark
Located in the Ecuadorian Andes, Tungurahua Volcano UNESCO Global Geopark displays a geological history spanning over 417 million years, shaped by volcanic eruptions and glacial activity. The landscape features deep canyons, crystal-clear rivers, icy waterfalls and towering rock walls. At the centre stands Tungurahua Volcano, an active site for volcanological studies. Beneath its surface, magma heats underground water, creating mineral-rich thermal springs that have long been valued for their therapeutic properties.
The geopark spans five municipalities–Baños, Patate, Pelileo, Guano and Penipe–and the prefectures of Tungurahua and Chimborazo. The cultural richness of the region is reflected in the traditions of the Indigenous Salasaca and Puruhá peoples, who have preserved their identity through distinctive clothing, music, dance and ancestral storytelling. The connection between geology and culture is visible in innovative sustainable development initiatives.
