📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Puneetcps
Science
GSI’s recognition of Deoban site strengthens Pithoragarh’s Geopark proposal
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 12 Oct 2026, 02:37 AM
👁 19
The Geological Survey of India has officially recognised the Deoban geological site in Uttarakhand, a move that bolsters the district’s application for UNESCO Geopark status.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has formally acknowledged the Deoban site, a geologically significant area located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. This recognition confirms the scientific importance of the rock formations and landscape features that characterize the region.
The GSI’s endorsement is expected to add considerable weight to the district’s bid for UNESCO Geopark status. Authorities in Pithoragarh have been preparing a comprehensive proposal that highlights the area's unique geological heritage, biodiversity, and potential for sustainable tourism. The official nod from GSI validates many of the claims made in the application.
Stakeholders anticipate that the recognition will accelerate the review process by UNESCO and may attract further funding for conservation and community‑based initiatives. Officials have indicated that the next steps involve submitting the finalized dossier to the national Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change before forwarding it to the UNESCO International Geoscience Programme.
The GSI’s endorsement is expected to add considerable weight to the district’s bid for UNESCO Geopark status. Authorities in Pithoragarh have been preparing a comprehensive proposal that highlights the area's unique geological heritage, biodiversity, and potential for sustainable tourism. The official nod from GSI validates many of the claims made in the application.
Stakeholders anticipate that the recognition will accelerate the review process by UNESCO and may attract further funding for conservation and community‑based initiatives. Officials have indicated that the next steps involve submitting the finalized dossier to the national Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change before forwarding it to the UNESCO International Geoscience Programme.