Geoparks-Promotion of Earth Sciences through Geoheritage Conservation, Education and Tourism

It is rather new that "Geoparks" are on the international agenda. Only since some 10 years apart from geologists and palaeontologists, "environmentalists" and planners noticed that geo-conservation in addition for protecting damaged or endangered sites provides also a fundamental tool for geo-scientific research, education, training and socioeconomic development.

In 2001 UNESCO was invited by its Executive Board to highlight the importance of territories or natural parks with special geological or geomorphological features. This initiative introduces a unique international framework linking socio-economic development and conservation. Apart from "traditional" geo-programmes, like UNESCO-IUGS' "International Geoscience Programme" (IGCP), and other geo-research oriented programmes (eg. ICDP, IODP, 1LP), the Geopark Initiative works closely with UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, the Man and Biosphere (MAB) World Network of Biosphere Reserves and national and international undertakings, as well as non-governmental organisations active in geological or geomorphological heritage conservation. The recently established "Global Geoparks Network" initiative of UNESCO contributes remarkably to the promotion and popularization of Earth Sciences and to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).

Geoparks are as such excellent instruments in highlighting Earth sciences, notably those included in the European and/or Global Geoparks Networks, contribute to local or regional socio-economic sustainable development, mainly by geo-tourism and are providing an international platform of cooperation and exchange between experts and practitioners in geological and geomorphological heritage matters. The general goal of Geoparks is to integrate the preservation of geological heritage into a strategy for regional sustainable economic and cultural development, serves ideally the overall objective of the UN "International Year of Planet Earth" (2008) with its subtitle "Earth Sciences for Society".

Guidelines for the establishment of and information on National Geoparks seeking UNESCO's assistance are available on the website http://unesco.org/science/earth/geoparks.html.