GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

Patrick J Mc Keever

A GEOPARK is an area with….

geological heritage of international

significance

but also with….

a sustainable development strategy or

plan involving local communities.

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

IS A GEOPARK JUST ABOUT GEOLOGY?

No! While a geopark must demonstrate geological heritage of international significance, the

purpose of a geopark is to explore, develop and celebrate the links between that geological

heritage and all other aspects of the areas natural, cultural and intangible heritages. It is about

reconnecting human society at all levels to the planet we all call home and to celebrate how our

planet and it’s 4,600 million year long history has shaped every aspect of our lives and our

societies.

Carnic Alps Global Geopark, Austria

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

Where are the geoparks?

Comprises 90 members spread across 26 countries and 4 continents. This includes 52 in Europe as

part of the European Geoparks Network (founded in 2000) and 36 in the Asia-Pacific region as part

of the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (founded in 2009)..

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

How to create a geopark: pre-requisites

Significant geological heritage

Geo-conservation activities

Sustainable tourism activities

Educational activities

Community involvement

Strong management structure

Secure financial basis

A territory must demonstrate at the time of application that they are already

a “de-facto” geopark

Naturtejo, Portugal

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

Quality Control & Continuous Development

On approval, a territory is only endorsed as a

geopark for 4 years

A revalidation assessment is then performed

progress in geoconservation

progress in education

progress in sustainable tourism

progress in community involvement

progress in economy

involvement in network

continuing financial security

visibility

Green Card Yellow Card Red Card

Hong Kong S.A.R.

Geoparks are fundamentally about people.

Geopark authorities must therefore work for the

people by preserving, nurturing and celebrating

their traditions, cultures, and their social values,

including those of indigenous people.

Geoparks must consider the social impact of their

work.

Geoparks must work with their communities in

protecting their environment and in developing

employment opportunities.

As geoparks are linked to UNESCO, geoparks are

obliged to follow the UNESCO strategy on

integrating a human rights-based approach into all

of their work.

GEOPARKS ARE PEOPLE

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

Geoparks, Climate Change, Geohazards & Natural Resources

Geoparks hold records of past climate

change and have therefore play a key

role locally in informing on the current

debate on present day climate change.

Many geoparks are in tectonically

active areas of the world where they

have a crucial role in helping mitigate

geo-hazards through awareness

raising and building disaster response

strategies.

Many geoparks are former mining

areas, areas where local culture has

been shaped, often for generations, by

exploitation of natural resources.

Geoparks therefore are obliged to

inform about the need to ensure best

practise in natural resource

exploitation.

Katla, Iceland

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

Geohazard Awareness Raising

Toya-Usu Global Geopark, Japan

Lesvos Island Global Geopark, Hellas

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

Geoparks & Gender Equality

Many Global Geoparks have a strong

focus on empowering women whether

through focussed education

programmes or through the

development of women’s cooperatives.

Global Geoparks can provide a platform

for the development, nurturing and

promotion of local cottage industry and

craft products.

In some Global Geoparks women’s

cooperatives also operate

accommodation services for visitors to

the geopark and can provide an

opportunity for women to obtain

additional income in their own area and

on their own terms. Lesvos Global Geopark, Hellas

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

Community Particpiation

Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark,

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland

Global Geoparks conceptualise

community participation to reach far

beyond the mere involvement of local

stakeholders in the development of a

project. Geoparks are about building

community ownership, empowerment,

sense of pride.

Global Geoparks consider their residents

as experts of their territory and as

“Geopark Ambassadors”

Global Geoparks use the reflection of a

territories‘ Earth heritage in traditions,

local tales, songs, hand craft and land

use techniques, in local dialect and

architecture to build inclusive

sustainable regional development

strategies.

GEOPARKS: Communicating Geoscience

Kid’s Clubs

Local Ranger Training

GEOPARKS: Communicating Geoscience

Helping schools...

...make it fun

GEOPARKS: Communicating Geoscience

Agri-Tourism & Geoparks

GEOPARKS: Communicating Geoscience

Walking routes to in-situ fossils

Art & Geology: Stop and Ponder

GEOPARKS: Communicating Geoscience

European Geoparks Week

Walks

Talks

Plays

Kids projects

Food Fairs

Media Events

Special Offers!

Music

Geopark Villages

May8 – JUNE 10, 2012

Latin America: Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador,

Colombia, Bolivia.

Africa (with AAWG): Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania,

South Africa, Ethiopia.

Asia-Pacific: Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan,

Vietnam, New Zealand, Rep of Korea, Indonesia,

Malaysia.

Europe: Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands.

North America: Canada, USA

Annual Intensive Course on Geoparks hosted

and paid for by University of the Aegean.

Araripe Global Geopark, Brazil

GLOBAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOPARKS

Capacity Building

GLOBAL GEOPARKS NETWORK

Celebrating Earth Heritage

Sustaining Local Communities

Patrick J Mc Keever