UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

10/07/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2024 08:53

UNESCO marks International Geodiversity Day with a journey through its geological treasures

Students from École Honoré de Balzac, part of UNESCO's Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), embarked on a unique learning experience at UNESCO's Paris headquarters, led by the International Geoscience and Geoparks (IGGP) Secretariat. This visit, held in celebration of International Geodiversity Day(6 October), was designed to inspire young minds with lessons from Earth's deep history. The theme of this year's Geodiversity Day, "Conserving the past - Sustaining the future," resonated throughout the visit's activities, encouraging reflection on how understanding our planet's past can help secure a sustainable future.

A walk-through time at the UNESCO House

UNESCO's iconic headquarters in Paris is a living testament to the Earth's geological history. The architecture reveals the planet's evolution, with each material telling a story. For example, the walls of the Ségur Hall are made from travertine, a sedimentary rock formed over millions of years from the accumulation of minerals. As students walked through the hall, they could see the layers of this rock, symbolizing the slow yet powerful forces that have shaped Earth over millennia.

Throughout the visit, students learned that conservation starts with understanding these geological processes. Every groove and cavity in the travertine reflected a chapter in Earth's story, reinforcing the importance of preserving not just the planet's biodiversity, but also the geodiversity that supports it.

Another highlight of the tour was the ground's black quartzite, a rock formed over 300 million years ago under immense pressure and heat. Its durability became a metaphor for the resilience required to protect our planet's future amidst ongoing environmental challenges.

Students were also introduced to the concept of magmatic rock. The granite walls, created from cooled magma, stood side by side with concrete pillars-symbolizing the blend of natural geological processes and human innovation. This combination underscored a key message: Conserving the past requires both an appreciation for natural formations and the integration of modern technology and sustainable practices.

A selection of rocks found at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

A close-up view of a travertine tile. This rock is a relatively recent one (for a geologist), because it is less than 60 million years old. The aligned cavities correspond to periods when few deposits were accumulated and form depositional layers.
Malcolm Hodgskiss
Granite with its three classical components visible, 1) semi translucent glass-like quartz crystals, greyish in colour; 2) feldspar crystals, white in colour; 3) and black minerals, called mica
Malcolm Hodgskiss
These stones in the Japanese Garden have a foliated, slightly crumpled appearance, resulting from exposure to high pressures and temperatures, marking their metamorphic origin. Their green color is due to the presence of chlorite minerals.
Malcolm Hodgskiss

Understanding geodiversity: The foundation of life

Geodiversity refers to the variety of non-living elements on Earth, including rocks, soils, and landforms, which play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems. These natural elements shape the world as we know it, providing habitats for living organisms and influencing Earth's environmental conditions.

While biodiversity-the diversity of life forms-is more widely discussed, this international day highlights the importance of geodiversity, which forms the bedrock of biodiversity itself. Geodiversity preserves the ancient history of our planet, holding clues to its past and lessons for its future, and is essential for sustaining life on Earth in the years to come.

Art meets geodiversity

UNESCO's headquarters is also a space where art reflects nature's resilience. Iconic artworks throughout the building emphasize themes of endurance and sustainability-concepts central to geodiversity.

Students encountered masterpieces like Giacometti's Walking Man, a sculpture symbolizing human perseverance. Picasso's Fall of Icarus offered a cautionary tale about the balance between ambition and restraint, evoking the delicate relationship between humanity and nature.

In the Japanese garden, students saw rocks that have outlasted the more ephemeral plant life around them. These stones, imported from Japan, exhibit dark greenish hues with irregular, slightly wrinkled bands. This embodiment of nature's enduring presence highlighted how natural forces inspire not only functionality but also artistic expression.

Preserving the past to sustain the future

The visit concluded with a discussion on the importance of geodiversity for future generations. Fossils embedded in the travertine slabs provided students with a glimpse into life forms frozen in time, reminding them that preserving geodiversity is not only about protecting rocks but also about safeguarding the stories of life they contain.

As the day came to an end, UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to protecting geodiversity as part of its broader mission to foster peace and sustainable development. The organization's motto for the day, "Conserving the past - Sustaining the future," serves as a reminder that preserving Earth's geological heritage is vital to protecting ecosystems and ensuring a sustainable future for all.

About International Geodiversity Day

International Geodiversity Day, celebrated every October 6th, is a UNESCO-backed global event that highlights the crucial role geodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth. It encourages people from around the world to engage with the natural environment and recognize the deep connection between geodiversity, biodiversity, and climate resilience.