The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) has committed to establishing the first UNESCO Global Geoparks in African and Asian member nations by 2036, a multilateral initiative announced at the inaugural CPLP UNESCO Geoparks Forum held in Arouca, Portugal. The commitment, signed by participants from multiple CPLP nations, aims to unlock tourism revenue and scientific collaboration for territories across three continents.
Why This Matters
• Tourism diversification: CPLP nations like Angola, Cape Verde, and Timor-Leste could access a global tourism network that drives year-round economic activity, particularly in low-density regions.
• Technical mentorship: Portugal's existing geoparks will provide training and candidacy support to CPLP partners seeking UNESCO designation.
• Job creation model: Geopark designation has proven to generate employment in conservation, education, and tourism sectors across the Portuguese-speaking world.
• 2036 target: The commitment signed at Arouca establishes a clear deadline for the first African or Asian CPLP geopark to gain UNESCO recognition.
What This Means for Residents
The decision carries practical implications for those living in Portugal. The country's expertise in managing geologically significant territories will contribute to the broader CPLP initiative, positioning Portuguese municipalities hosting geoparks—like Arouca in the Aveiro district—to benefit from international research partnerships and funding streams tied to capacity-building efforts.
Margarida Belém, president of the Arouca Geopark Association and mayor of the municipality, confirmed that the collective ambition to establish new geoparks in CPLP African nations and Timor-Leste signals "the strengthening of this cooperation network." The agreement was formalized during the inaugural CPLP UNESCO Geoparks Forum, held in Arouca through the end of last Saturday, drawing roughly 120 participants from multiple continents. (Source: Lusa)
The Current Landscape
Currently, multiple CPLP nations possess UNESCO-designated geoparks. Portugal and Brazil together lead the Portuguese-speaking world in geopark designations, with Portugal hosting six such territories and Brazil hosting others. These sites collectively represent diverse geological heritage spanning millions of years.
Forum participants emphasized the exceptional geological potential across Portuguese-speaking Africa and Asia, which remains largely unrepresented in UNESCO's geopark network. The commitment document establishes clear objectives: reinforcing technical and scientific cooperation, creating mentorship programs for candidacies, actively involving universities and local communities, and building platforms for sharing best practices.
African and Asian Potential
Representatives from Angola, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste presented geological assets during the Arouca forum.
Victor Vicente of Timor-Leste emphasized his country's geological heritage and areas where geological resources, biodiversity, and cultural patrimony coexist. São Tomé and Príncipe's representative highlighted the distinctive character of the volcanic islands and the presence of endemic species, which offer tourism and scientific potential. Cape Verde's representative stressed the necessity of integrating communities, universities, and political decision-makers in valorizing geological heritage. Angola's representative called for creating multidisciplinary cooperation networks to support future candidacy processes. Equatorial Guinea's representative recommended conducting geological inventories and training specialized technical staff, alongside closer cooperation among CPLP countries.
Economic Impact on Low-Density Territories
Speakers from established geoparks in Portugal and Brazil emphasized the development potential these designations unlock. Representatives noted that geopark designation contributes to conservation, inclusion, and job creation, while diversifying tourism offerings particularly in low-density territories.
The Arouca Geopark has transformed the municipality through infrastructure development and heritage promotion, attracting visitors year-round and creating employment in hospitality, guiding services, and heritage management.
Portugal's Role Within CPLP
Portugal's position as a contributor within the CPLP geopark network provides a template for partnership. Portuguese geoparks bring operational experience that can support the collective initiative through knowledge-sharing and technical assistance.
Technical Cooperation Framework
The forum's commitment document outlines practical mechanisms for supporting candidacies. Technical and scientific cooperation will flow through established geopark management bodies with operational experience. Mentorship programs will pair CPLP nations with experts who can guide inventory creation, geosites identification, and management plan development—prerequisites for UNESCO applications.
University engagement forms another pillar. Academic institutions will collaborate with African and Asian counterparts to conduct geological surveys, train technical staff, and develop educational materials. This academic network will facilitate research exchanges and enable scientists from emerging geopark territories to conduct collaborative work.
Local community involvement, repeatedly emphasized by forum participants, addresses a critical requirement for successful geopark development. Demonstrated community support is essential for candidacies, and experience shows that bottom-up participation—through workshops and local engagement—builds the social infrastructure necessary for long-term sustainability.
Obstacles and Realities
Despite the ambition, several challenges persist. Many CPLP African nations lack comprehensive geological inventories, making it difficult to identify sites of international geological significance. Political constraints, limited public funding for conservation, and competing development priorities can affect progress. Infrastructure deficits in remote areas with geological potential complicate access for researchers and tourists.
The 2036 timeline acknowledges these constraints and allows for gradual development of technical capacity, completion of geological mapping initiatives, and cultivation of local expertise. Forum participants acknowledged these common challenges but balanced realism with recognition of the geological potential across Portuguese-speaking Africa and Asia.
Broader Context
The CPLP geopark initiative addresses an underrepresentation of geopark designations in Africa. For Portugal, participation in this collective initiative strengthens diplomatic and technical cooperation within the Portuguese-speaking community while positioning Portuguese expertise as part of a broader regional development framework.
Next Steps
The immediate priority involves identifying priority territories within each CPLP nation for focused development. Capacity-building programs should support the implementation of the collective commitment, allowing time for inventory completion, management plan development, stakeholder engagement, and formal UNESCO submission processes.
For those in Portugal, this initiative demonstrates how the country contributes to multilateral cooperation within the CPLP. Municipal authorities and academic institutions may engage with the broader initiative, depending on partnership opportunities that emerge from the collective commitment.
