Warning over ‘Serious Risk’ of Qeshm Geopark’s Removal from UNESCO List

Alireza Omri-Kazemi, the cultural heritage official of Qeshm Island, has warned that the ongoing destruction of the “Salt Cave” sanctuary on the island has “made the risk of Qeshm Geopark’s removal from UNESCO’s world list serious.”

According to ISNA, the destruction of the cave’s sanctuary is being carried out to establish a shrimp farming center.

Qeshm Geopark, which was registered globally since 2006, was removed from UNESCO’s geopark list once in 2012.

According to this government official, necessary correspondences have been made with judicial authorities and the investor has been warned, but he has remained unresponsive and the shrimp farming project continues.

He said UNESCO evaluators are scheduled to travel to Iran in spring 2020 to assess the status of this geopark.

Source: Radio Farda