Alireza Amrikazmi, Iran
Alireza Amrikazemi (1970) is the Scientific Coordinator of Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark. Amrikazemi is a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, the Roster of evaluators for UNESCO Global Geoparks, and a member of GGN and APGN Advisory Committees. He is originally a geologist and a specialist in geography and tourism, and regional planning.
Alireza has significant experience in Geoparks in the western, central, and southern parts of Asia. His professional expertise extends over 20 years, in geotourism, geoheritage, and geoparks which he sees as vectors to promote social and economical stability. Within Iran, he was Head of the Geoheritage Department at the Geological Survey of Iran for 17 years and has been the Director of Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark since 2016. He has been instrumental in the promotion of the UNESCO Global Geopark concept in the country and the wider region and his efforts and expertise strongly contributed to building capacity in the region. His first book, ‘Geotourism Atlas of Qeshm Island’, proposing the establishment of a geopark in Iran was published in 2004, the first of its kind at the time. On a global scale, Amrikazemi is a reviewer for Geoheritage Journal and Geoconservation Journal. Furthermore, he has participated and presented in many events related to geoparks including conferences, workshops, and seminars since 2002. He had active participation in delivering speeches, and lectures and attending discussions there.
Alireza Amrikazemi is the author and photographer of the national award-winning book “Geoheritage Atlas of Iran (2012)”. Amrikazemi is co-author of several international books related to geotourism and geoparks. He has published 9 books in Iran in the field of geotourism, Geopark concepts, and geotour-leaders’ guides.
Alireza was the project manager and the senior advisor of two aspiring geoparks in Iran (Aras & Tabas) in which both of them succeed to obtain designation from UNESCO. He also had the main role in the re-designation of Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark in 2016 and turning this geopark into one of the best examples of functioning geoparks.
Alireza established the National Iranian Geoparks Network in 2020 and at present, he is the project manager for several new geoparks in Iran and offers advice to several countries in the region to establish new geoparks.
Expertise: GeoScience, Tourism Management, Photography
Joined: Apr. 7, 2023
