Khon Kaen Geopark wins preliminary Unesco approval
A final decision is due in April 2027. Approval would make the fossil-rich site Thailand’s third Unesco global geopark.
Khon Kaen Geopark has cleared a Unesco review, with its bid for global geopark status now awaiting an executive board decision in April 2027, according to Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin.
Suchart said the Unesco Global Geoparks Council granted preliminary approval to Khon Kaen and 11 other applicants during a meeting in Paris. If the board endorses the nomination, Khon Kaen would join Satun and Korat as Thailand’s third geopark with the designation.
The conservation area spans Wiang Kao and Phu Wiang districts along the western edge of the Korat Plateau. Known for its dinosaur fossils, it protects geological and palaeontological resources.
The Department of Mineral Resources proposed creating the geopark in 2011 to help people understand the value of Khon Kaen’s geology and fossils. It has also supplied academic assistance, including support for geological heritage conservation under international standards.
Suchart credited cooperation among stakeholders, highlighting the Khon Kaen Provincial Administration Organisation’s role in developing the site. He said the council praised both the geopark’s independent management and the provincial organisation’s support.
