GDC and the Baringo County Government have begun joint consultations to identify areas of collaboration ahead of the county’s final evaluation for designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
The engagement, part of GDC’s stakeholder engagement and Corporate Branding programme in Baringo County, seeks to identify areas of collaboration through strategic co-branding and the Company’s technical expertise gained from geothermal exploration in the Baringo-Silali Geothermal Project.
Yesterday, a multidisciplinary GDC team from Corporate Communication, Community Relations, Geothermal Resource Assessment (GRA) and Geothermal Resource Development (GRD) met Baringo Governor H.E. Benjamin Cheboi before embarking on a joint assessment of proposed geosites.
Governor Cheboi said the County had identified 38 potential geosites ahead of a UNESCO evaluation mission expected in August.
“We are delighted with what GDC is doing in Baringo County to enhance our visibility through its exploration and drilling activities in Paka,” he said. “We are now ready to take Baringo County to the next level by positioning it on the global map for geotourism, and GDC will play a critical role in this journey.”
GDC Team Lead Mr. Eric Wamanji, the Ag. Manager, Corporate Communication enthused thus: “This is an exciting initiative for GDC and Baringo County.” He further explained that “beyond our technical expertise, we see an opportunity for strategic co-branding that will enhance GDC’s brand beyond steam to geological heritage. Of course, there is great potential to position Baringo in the global mark and GDC should be part of this milestone. This is a multidisciplinary effort, with different departments within GDC coming together to assess how we can contribute to the geoparks initiative. We are looking forward to a positive outcome and brand enhancement once all is said, done and implemented.”
Dr. Philemon Chebon and the Team Lead Baringo County GeoParks note that GDC’s geothermal expertise complements the County’s efforts to promote research, geoscience education, public awareness and sustainable geotourism.
UNESCO Global Geoparks recognise sites of international geological significance managed to promote conservation, education and sustainable development. They are one of UNESCO’s three international site designations alongside World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves.
