Tinutul Buzaului has been revalidated for another four years in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, following a session held in Chile.

The Tinutul Buzaului UNESCO Global Geopark received the green card following this summer's revalidation visit, confirming its status within the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network for another four years. According to the Buzau County Council (CJ Buzau), the decision was adopted a few days ago at the 11th session of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, hosted in the Kutralkura Geopark, Chile, where Tinutul Buzaului was officially represented.

'During the two days of discussions, the Council members reviewed the files of nine aspiring geoparks, two applications for area modification (over 10%), three postponed aspiring geoparks, and 44 revalidation reports for UNESCO geoparks, including Tinutul Buzaului. The decision confirms the excellent impression that UNESCO evaluators formed during this year's visit regarding the quality of the results achieved and the efficient management of the geopark, whose team succeeded in optimizing resource use and actively involving local communities,' CJ Buzau stated on Tuesday.

CJ Buzau leadership considers that the geopark's revalidation within the UNESCO network represents international recognition of the natural attractions and phenomena found across the county.

'The green card confirms that Tinutul Buzaului is developing in the right direction, that our Geopark has values worthy of international recognition, and here I refer not only to the blessing of nature but also to the people of the area, whose contribution makes the difference. Whether we are talking about locals, entrepreneurs, partners or representatives of local authorities in the territory, each and everyone's involvement counted. I thank and congratulate the entire Geopark team, whether they are from CJ Buzau, the Tinutul Buzaului Association, the University of Bucharest, and, as of this year, ADI [Intercommunity Development Association, editor's note] Tinutul Buzaului,' said the interim president of CJ Buzau, Adrian Robert Petre, in a press release.

The official letter confirming the revalidation will be issued after the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, scheduled between October 30 and November 13, 2025, in Uzbekistan.

'This result crowns the sustained work of the past four years, of the team and the community, and of an enthusiastic involvement in this successful and future-oriented project. It is an international validation, at the highest level, of our results and approach in developing and managing this Geopark. A success story based on a strong partnership with regional and local authorities, with schools, entrepreneurs and the inhabitants of the Land,' stated Geopark manager Razvan Gabriel Popa.

The next UNESCO revalidation visit for the Tinutul Buzaului Geopark is scheduled for 2029.

The Tinutul Buzaului Geopark was recognized as a UNESCO site in April 2022, being a territory that includes elements of exceptional geological interest, along with ecological, archaeological, historical and cultural landmarks of global importance. It is located in the South-East Development Region, in the northern part of Buzau County, in the curvature area of the Eastern Carpathians, at the crossroads of the historic routes linking Muntenia, Transylvania and Moldavia. The area is renowned for its natural attractions, from the Mud Volcanoes at Paclele Mari (Berca commune) and Paclele Mici (Scortoasa commune), the Slanic Valley with the Meledic Plateau, the Grunj of Manzalesti, the Living Fire of Lopatari, the Trovants of Ulmet, and the Lacurile Bisoca Forest, to anthropic landmarks such as the rupestrian settlements at Alunis-Colti-Bozioru, the Poiana Marului (Bisoca commune) and Gavanu monasteries, the Amber Museum in Coli, and the Vasile Voiculescu Memorial House in Parscov. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Florin Zafiu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)