Paris, August 28, 2026. Cuba’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, held a meeting with Kristof Vandenberghe, Head of UNESCO’s Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section, during which they discussed, among other topics, the evaluation process for the nomination of Viñales National Geopark for designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
During the meeting, the Ambassador highlighted Viñales’ geological, natural and cultural values, as well as the commitment and guarantees provided by the Cuban authorities regarding its management and conservation.
The Ambassador noted that these efforts are being undertaken amid the difficult economic and material conditions facing Cuba as a result of the impact of the illegal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States, as well as the current energy siege and its extraterritorial measures, which severely affect the country’s capacity to advance scientific, environmental and sustainable development projects.
Cuba submitted the nomination of Viñales, which is currently undergoing UNESCO’s official evaluation process. Its potential recognition would constitute a milestone for Cuba, the Caribbean and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as it would become the first UNESCO Global Geopark in a SIDS and the first in the Caribbean region.
The Viñales Valley has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999 as a cultural landscape, on the basis of its exceptional karst landscape and the continuity of traditional agricultural practices, particularly tobacco cultivation. The area also has the status of National Park and Viñales National Geopark, forming a space where geological, natural and cultural values converge.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are unique and unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed through an integrated approach that brings together protection, education and sustainable development, with the participation of local communities. The Global Geoparks Network brings together UNESCO Global Geoparks and serves as an international platform for cooperation, the exchange of knowledge and good practices, capacity-building, and the promotion of sustainable development based on geological heritage. As of June 2026, UNESCO recognizes 241 Global Geoparks in 51 countries.