Dahar officially joins UNESCO Global Geoparks network in first for Tunisia
Tunisia has secured its first UNESCO Global Geopark designation, with Dahar officially added to the network following endorsement at UNESCO level in April 2026. UNESCO’s own 2026 documentation states that Dahar makes Tunisia the 51st country in the network and becomes Africa’s third UNESCO Global Geopark.
Located in south-eastern Tunisia, the Dahar territory stretches across the governorates of Gabès, Médenine and Tataouine and covers more than 6,000 sq km. The geopark’s official platform says the area is home to nearly 330,000 people and includes 28 inventoried geosites.
The designation gives international recognition to a territory known for its geological depth and its living cultural landscape. According to the Dahar Geopark’s official presentation, the site records around 250 million years of Earth history and includes major geological assets such as Jebel Tebaga of Médenine, described as Africa’s only Marine Upper Permian outcrop, alongside fossil records including the dinosaur Tataouinea hannibalis.
Dahar’s value is not only geological. The territory also includes ksour, troglodyte dwellings and jessour water-management systems that reflect long-term human adaptation to arid environments. UNESCO positions Global Geoparks as sites that combine heritage protection, education and sustainable local development, which places Dahar at the intersection of geotourism, community-based development and territorial branding.
For Tunisia, the inscription is a national milestone. For the south, it gives global visibility to a region whose landscapes, architecture and geological record now carry UNESCO-backed status within one of the world’s leading heritage and sustainable development frameworks.
Credit photo : https://www.dahargmg.info/
