Geodiversity Day and 9th International Geoethics Day 2025 at GSI Headquarters, Kolkata
Kolkata, 16 October 2025: The Geological Survey of India (GSI), under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, Government of India, celebrated the 4th UNESCO International Geodiversity Day and the 9th International Geoethics Day by organizing a workshop on “Harnessing Geodiversity for Geoconservation” in hybrid mode at its Central Headquarters, Kolkata, today.
The event was inaugurated by Shri Asit Saha, Director General, GSI, in the august presence of Shri. G M Kapur, Convener, Kolkata Chapter & Adviser, Chapters Division, INTACH, Dr. Nibir Mondal, Professor, Jadavpur University along with senior officials, geoscientists, and representatives from national and international institutions. The celebrations reaffirm GSI’s commitment to the recognition, documentation, and preservation of India’s rich geological heritage and to foster global cooperation in the field of geoconservation. Dr. Benno Boer, Chief of the Natural Sciences Unit, UNESCO New Delhi Office, congratulated the Geological Survey of India (GSI) for its leading role as the nodal organization for geoparks and geoheritage conservation on the occasion.
International Geodiversity Day, established by UNESCO in 2021, celebrates Earth’s non-living natural features:minerals, rocks, fossils, landforms, and geological processes, that sustain life and shape the planet’s surface. The day promotes awareness of the need to conserve and manage georesources responsibly for the benefit of current and future generations.
International Geoethics Day, initiated by the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG), emphasizes the moral and social responsibilities of geoscientists. The 2025 theme, “Geoethics for a Sustainable Energy Future,” underscores the need for ethical decision-making in managing Earth’s natural resources, ensuring environmental protection, and promoting intergenerational equity.
The workshop brought together students, leading experts, researchers, and practitioners from India and abroad to deliberate on various aspects of geodiversity, geoheritage, geotourism, geoethics, and geoconservation. The technical sessions covered themes such as:
• Harnessing Geodiversity for Geoconservation
• Geoheritage, Geoparks, and Geoparks: Geoconservation Frontiers
• Geo-collections and Georelics: Windows to the Past
• Heritage Stones: Narratives Carved in Time
• Geoconservation through the Lens of Geoethics
A highlight of the event was the signing of resolution for the declaration of Guryul Ravine Permian -Triassic Boundary Section, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir and Orbicular Granite, Pichore, Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh as two new Geoheritage Sites of India. On this occasion, a short film titled “Seven Marvels of Earth’s Geological Legacy” was also released.
The observance of these international days reflects GSI’s ongoing efforts to raise public awareness of geodiversity and to integrate science, conservation, and education for sustainable development. The discussions reinforced the idea that geodiversity forms the foundation of biodiversity, culture, and life on Earth and must be conserved through collaborative, ethical, and science-based approaches.
