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