UNESCO declares Conca de Tremp-Montsec a Global Geopark

UNESCO has declared the area of Conca de Tremp-Montsec a Global Geopark. The distinction is awarded to natural areas for the richness of their geological and paleontological heritage. Conca de Tremp-Montsec has a rich natural, historical and cultural heritage in an area that covers 19 municipalities and four different counties: Pallars Jussà, Noguera, Pallars Sobirà and Alt Urgell.

The distinction makes Conca de Tremp-Montsec the second area in Catalonia to be designated a Global Geopark, after the one in Catalunya Central, making a dozen Geoparks in Spain as a whole. Conca de Tremp-Montsec is an area of more than 2,000 square meters and it is hoped that the UNESCO recognition will attract more visitors to the area. In all, there are 127 Global Geoparks in 35 different countries.

The path to recognition

Conca de Tremp-Montsec was put forward as a candidate to become a Global Geopark during UNESCO’s seventh International Conference on Global Geoparks held in the United Kingdom in 2016. In the meantime, the Conca de Tremp-Montsec Geopark Association drew up a study arguing for the area’s suitability as a candidate and carried out activities promoting its Global Geopark project.