Geological Reserves Regulation No. 21 of 2021 issued pursuant to Paragraph (d) of Article 3 of the Natural Resources Law No. 19 of 2018.

These Regulations, consisting of 12 articles, outline the responsibilities of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources concerning geological reserves. These include (i) identification and definition of reserves and geoparks with the determination of their boundaries; (ii) declaration of reserves and geoparks; (iii) supervision and promotion of geological reserves and parks at local and international levels; (iv) deployment of technical and administrative staff for the oversight of geological reserves and parks; (v) provision of essential services to preserve and sustain the reserves, geoparks, and their landmarks.
As stipulated in Article 5, the determination of geological reserves and geoparks should consider the following criteria and conditions: (i) the promotion of economic, social, and political development of the site; (ii) the historical, scientific, economic, and political value of geological features present at the site; (iii) the land ownership, with special consideration if it is private property, taking into account the value of geological features and the necessity of preservation; (iv) the potential of the site to contain petroleum, strategic minerals, oil shale, coastal or groundwater sources, or sites for monitoring and exploiting water sources in the future.
The text also mentions the formation of a Committee responsible for managing the protected geological area, chaired by the Secretary General of the Ministry. Article 9 lists the prohibited activities within the borders of the reserves and geological parks, under penalty of legal accountability. Article 10 stipulates that if the boundaries of a geological park or reserve overlap with those of any established or proposed natural reserve, the responsibilities for management, supervision, and preservation shall be delegated to the entity overseeing the natural reserve. This should be done in collaboration with the Ministry.