The “Turkey Geological Heritage Research Project”, which has been carried out by Mineral Research and Exploration in a wide geography including Iğdır, Mount Ararat, Tuzluca and its immediate surroundings since 2021, has begun to bear its first fruit. The first study within the scope of “Eastern Anatolian Volcanism (Iğdır-Ağrı) Geotourism Potential and UNESCO Process Meeting” started on September 24, 2023 with a technical trip to Yenidoğan Village, located in the north of Mount Ararat, by Iğdır Governor Ercan Turan, General Director of Mineral Research and Exploration Vedat Yanık and the accompanying team, as well as Iğdır University rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakkı Alma, UNESCO Turkey National Commission Vice President Prof. Dr. Nizamettin Kazancı. On September 25, 2023, the meeting continued with opening speeches and scientific presentations at the 15 July Martyrs conference hall at Iğdır University Karaağaç Campus and ended with a technical trip to Tuzluca, Kervansaray and İshakpaşa Palace on September 26 and 27, 2023.   

​ ​This meeting, which is considered as the first step towards the possible declaration of Mount Ararat, which is considered a natural and cultural asset, as a geopark in the near future after it was declared as a National Park by the Council of Ministers in 2004, is expected to make a significant contribution to the recognition of Mount Ararat in the world. At the meeting, where the importance of the rich tourism attractions of the uniquely beautiful Tuzluca Salt Caves and the Rainbow Hills, which mark the geographical appearance of the region, as well as Mount Ararat, which has an international importance, was emphasized, Prof. Dr. Nizamettin Kazancı, Deputy Chairman of the UNESCO Turkish National Commission, gave information about the process of including the region in the UNESCO Global Geopark network in the near future. The inclusion of Mount Ararat and its immediate surroundings in the UNESCO Global Geopark network, which is of great importance as they are areas where conservation, sustainable development and community participation can be implemented jointly, is seen as one of the important steps to protect and develop the geological heritage of the region.

​ The program, organized in cooperation with Iğdır University Ağrı Mountain Application and Research Center, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Hong Kong Gratia College, Technical University of Georgia, Noah's Ark International Foundation for the Protection of Scientific Research and Artifacts and Doğubayazıt Association for Research and Development of Faith Tourism, started with opening speeches by our Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakkı Alma, MTA Deputy General Director Veli Altundağ, Noah's Ark International Foundation for the Protection of Scientific Research and Artifacts member Yuaen Man Fai. In the conference attended by many different institutions in Iğdır, the director of my research center Dr. Adem Yulu and Dr. Mehmet Ali Sevgi, as well as many academicians-researchers from different universities and institutions in Turkey made presentations about Mount Ararat. The conference, which was held between June 9-10, 2024 and where academics from different countries such as the USA and Georgia also made presentations, ended with a technical tour.