During the evaluation mission, UNESCO specialists Dr. César Goso and Dr. Carlos Merizalde learned about the outcomes of the management plan developed by the Omitlán de Juárez Geopark Guardians, the first group of Guardians established within the territory.
During the meeting, the Guardians shared the training they received to qualify as Geopark Guardians, along with the strategies and activities implemented in the municipality. These initiatives include visiting schools to promote Geopark values, collaborating with local festivals to highlight Omitlán’s cuisine, raising awareness of geoproducts, organizing training sessions for geoproducers, and working alongside the broader Geopark Guardians network to support editions of the Expogeoparque.
They also discussed the sustainability practices integrated into their own businesses and ventures, as well as their active participation in various Geopark initiatives.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Ana María Soler, Director of Communication at the UNAM Institute of Geophysics and member of the Geopark Advisory Technical-Scientific Committee; Dr. Juan Carlos Mora Chaparro, Scientific Lead of the Geopark; and M.Sc. María del Carmen Oviedo Parra, General Manager of the Geopark.
The work of the Guardians demonstrates how community involvement is essential for strengthening local identity, promoting heritage, and building a more sustainable territory.