Feasibility Studies and Analysis of Geopark in Kutch Region of Gujarat, India as the UNESCO Recognised World Geoheritage and Tourism Site

Sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a comprehensive approach of conservation, education, and sustainable development in UNESCO Global Geoparks, which comprise a single, cohesive geographic area. A growing number of people are adopting the bottom-up strategy, which involves local communities and combines sustainable development with conservation. The viability of creating a UNESCO-recognized geopark in Kutch is assessed in this study. This study examines the key geoheritage features of the Kutch region, explores the socio-economic prospects of a geopark through geotourism and community development, and evaluates its conformity with UNESCO’s Global Geopark criteria on conservation, education, and sustainability. The study evaluates the overall feasibility of the project, its economic, social, and environmental implications, and the adequacy of the requisite infrastructure.. Its geological, cultural, and historical significance, as well as socioeconomic and environmental factors, are the parameters considered for investigation. Despite multiple applications to UNESCO, the Gujarat region of Kutch, which is rich in geological, cultural, and historical elements, is not recognised as a World Heritage Site. In actuality, there are 195 geoparks in 48 nations worldwide as of 2023, however India does not have one. The findings of the study provide critical insights that can direct initiatives to establish India’s first geopark and promote regional sustainability.