Czech Paradise Geopark to lose UNESCO status over gemstone trade

The Czech Paradise Geopark, based in Turnov in the Semily region, will lose its UNESCO designation at the end of this year after holding it since 2015.

The decision was announced on Tuesday by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, which said the geopark had failed to resolve concerns over the sale of precious stones of unclear origin.

The site, known for its unique cave formations and gemstone deposits, received a so-called yellow card in 2024 and was given two years to address the issue. Inspectors had called on it to end cooperation with institutions selling stones whose origins could not be verified.

Located in northeast Czechia at the meeting point of three geologically distinct areas, the geopark joined the European Geoparks Network in 2005. It was the only site in Czechia to join the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.