On 1 July 2026, more than 200 representatives from government, local communities, academia, international organizations, and the private sector gathered in Khanbogd soum, Umnugovi province, to celebrate the official launch of the Khanbogd – Shar Tsav Geopark, Mongolia’s first national geopark. The launch ceremony was organized by the Geopark Preliminary Management Team, the Demchog Cultural and Recreational Complex, and local authorities, in collaboration with UNESCO, the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO, Rio Tinto Mongolia, and other key partners.
The establishment of the geopark is a major milestone in Mongolia’s efforts to safeguard its unique geological, paleontological, natural, and cultural heritage while creating new opportunities for sustainable tourism, education, scientific research, and local economic development. It also lays the foundation for the geopark’s future nomination to become a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Stretching across Khanbogd and Manlai soums in Umnugovi province and Khatanbulag and Mandakh soums in Dornogovi province, the geopark encompasses landscapes and heritage of outstanding international significance. The area preserves exceptional evidence of ancient ecosystems where dinosaurs once walked and left behind some of the world’s most scientifically significant fossil beds. It is also home to the Khanbogd Massif, one of the world’s largest alkaline granite massifs, formed approximately 290 million years ago, where the minerals Mongolite and Armstrongite were first identified.
The ceremony was attended by Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia; H.E. Ms. Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO; Mr. Sanchigdorj Khurelbaatar, Director of the Department of Geological Policy at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairperson of the National Committee for Geoparks; provincial and soum governors; representatives of the United Nations, academia, Rio Tinto Mongolia, Oyu Tolgoi, and, most importantly, local communities, whose participation and stewardship will be central to the geopark’s long-term success.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Shahbaz Khan highlighted that the establishment of Mongolia’s first national geopark represents not only a significant national achievement, but also a step towards international recoginition.
National designation is an important foundation, not a finish line. UNESCO stands ready to continue supporting Mongolia through technical cooperation, capacity-building, scientific exchange, and the shared wisdom of the global Geopark community.
Prof. Shahbaz Khan
He further emphasized that the geopark demonstrates Mongolia’s commitment to conserving its exceptional Earth heritage and leading in geotourism, while integrating geological conservation with nomadic cultural heritage and community development.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/mongolia-launches-its-first-national-geopark-marking-major-step-towards-becoming-unesco-global?hub=701
