Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) today celebrated the 4th Edition of UNESCO International Geodiversity Day 2025 and the 9th Edition of International Geo-Ethics Day 2025 on October 16, 2025, with the theme “Harnessing Geodiversity for Geoconservation.”
On this occasion, the Director General of GSI announced the declaration of two new Geo-heritage sites in India, including one from the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
The newly recognized site from J&K is the Guryul Ravine Permian-Triassic Boundary Section located at Khonmoh, Srinagar, which has now been officially declared a National Geo-heritage Site of national importance.
The site is of immense geological significance as it records one of the most catastrophic events in Earth’s history, the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, which occurred about 252 million years ago, wiping out nearly 90% of marine and 70% of terrestrial life. Known as the “Great Dying,” this event marked the transition from the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic Era.
The Guryul Ravine section is globally renowned for its complete sedimentary succession and rich fossil record, including Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Bivalve, Gastropoda, Ammonoids and Conodonts, providing valuable insights into ancient climate change and biological evolution.
In this regard, an awareness and Swachhta Hi Sewa (SHS) campaign was launched at the site.
The event was organized under the leadership of Dr P S Misra, Deputy Director General and Abdul Qayoom Paul, Director, GSI Kashmir.
The event featured public outreach activities, plantation drives and the installation of an informative signboard highlighting the site’s heritage value.
The campaign saw participation from officials of GSI, Department of Geology and Mining (DGM), Forest and Wildlife Departments, local administration, academic institutions, NGOs and students.
Safai Mitras were also felicitated for their contribution.
Eminent geoscientists including Prof Ghulam Jeelani (University of Kashmir), Prof G M Bhat (Retd, University of Jammu), Pankaj Kumar, Senior Geologist & Incharge Park & Museum Division, Zahid Majeed and Mudasir Nazar (DFO Awantipora) were also present during the campaign.
The declaration of Guryul Ravine as a National Geo-heritage site is expected to promote geoconservation, research and geotourism in the region, preserving it as a natural geological archive for generations to come.
The post GSI declares Guryul Ravine as National Geo-Heritage Site appeared first on Daily Excelsior.