UNESCO Global Geoparks in Brazil: Historical Development, Challenges, and Strategies for Sustainable Territorial Management

Brazil has a vast territorial extension and diverse abiotic, biotic, and cultural heritage. The UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) designation, established in 2015, recognizes the outstanding universal value of these territories for conserving their cultural, biological, and geological diversity, aiming to promote heritage and sustainable local development. Brazil established its first UGGp in 2006, and after a 16-year hiatus, an additional five territories received recognition from the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) and UNESCO between 2022 and 2025. During this period, several authors discussed in the literature the challenges faced by Brazil in implementing the UGGp designation. These challenges were grouped into four themes: (1) general notion of the UGGp concept, (2) management and strategic planning, (3) knowledge and mastery of guidelines, and (4) educational aspects. Based on a literature review, this article contributes to the discussion on UGGps in Brazil by providing a retrospective of the national reality and an analysis of the challenges encountered in proposals submitted to UNESCO. The recent inclusion of additional Brazilian territories in the GGN signifies notable advancements, but given the country’s continental proportions, much remains to be done. Establishing a Brazilian Geoparks Committee and strengthen the Brazilian Geoparks Network are essential for promoting UGGps in the country, working in alignment with GGN and UNESCO guidelines to foster the integration of society, culture, nature and a sustainable economy.