Geopark

Geology
Geosites and Landscape areas

In order to become a UNESCO Global Geopark, the area must have geological heritage of international value. This is assessed by scientific professionals, as part of the “UNESCO Global Geopark Evaluation Team”. Based on the international peer-reviewed, published research conducted on the geological sites within the area, the scientific professionals make a globally comparative assessment to determine whether the geological sites constitute international value. UNESCO Global Geoparks are managed by a body having legal existence recognized under national legislation. This management body should be appropriately equipped to address the entire area and should include all relevant local and regional actors and authorities. UNESCO Global Geoparks require a management plan, agreed upon by all the partners, that provides for the social and economic needs of the local populations, protects the landscape in which they live and conserves their cultural identity. This plan must be comprehensive, incorporating the governance, development, communication, protection, infrastructure, finances, and partnerships of the UNESCO Global Geopark.

Italy is well represented internationally with eight recognised Geoparks in the European and the Global Network under the auspices of UNESCO. The role of the Italian Geoparks in the EGN and GGN networks is of particular significance, not only because of the great number of territories involved, but above all for the national and international quality of its territories. A great and important evidence of the fantastic geological patrimony of our country. The eight Geoparks have earned a prestigious recognition by creating new strategies for the management of their territories, in which the geo-conservation together with the educational activities are able to activate a virtuous way for a sustainable development. A careful process of requalification and valorisation of the territory respecting the local culture, but heading for a new model and way of use of the land. Actually the Italian geoparks are:

Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta (Adamello Brenta Geopark)

Parco Naturale Regionale del Beigua (Beigua Geopark)

Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie (Madonie Geopark)

Distretto Cutlurale Rocca di Cerere (Rocca di Cerere Geopark)

Parco Nazionale Cilento e Vallo di Diano (Cilento and Vallo di Diano Geopark)

Parco Tecnologico e Archeologico delle Colline Metallifere Grossetane (Tuscan Mining Geopark)

Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane (Apuan Alps Geopark)Val sesia Val grande Geopark

Pollino Geopark

Aspromonte Geopark

Majella Geopark

The Italian Geoparks have made up The Italian National Committe Unesco Global Geopark

The National Committe is made up of: a representative for each recognised Geopark in the EGN and GGN Networks; a representative for the Italian National Commission for UNESCO; a representative for the National Geological Service that is ISPRA – Higher Education for Environmental Research – Nature Defence Department, Protected Area Service and Territorial Planning; a representative for Italian Parks and Natural Reserves Federation ( also with functions in the Italian Section of the Europarc Federation and of the General Secretaryship of the Italian Committee of the IUCN; a representative for the National Council for Geologists; a representative of Ministery of Enviromental; a rapresentative of Ministery of Culture and Tourism

European and Global UNESCO Geopark Network

Geoparks represent a special category of territories gradually getting national and international fame thanks to the special attention and care given to them by the geodiversity and geological heritage. UNESCO first launched the “GEOPARKS” programme in 1998, but the former Geoparks were born in Europe in 2000: the Petrified Forest on the Greek Island of Lesvos, the Geological Reserve in Haute Provence, France, the Vulkaneifel Geopark of Germany and the Cultural Park of Maestrazgo in Spain. These made up the European Geoparks Network (EGN-European Geoparks Network link www.europeangeoparks.org). It deals with territories that present important geological, geomorphological, scientific and cultural-educational qualities and aesthetic value that work together to find new strategies and projects to take care of and valorise the geological heritage. The first four Geoparks have therefore activated a strong cooperation with the intention of favouring a sustainable development through the valorisation of a general image linked to the geological heritage. Many ideas to promote Geotourism have come up from this bond and have also developed interesting experiences in the field of environmental education, formation and research in Earth Science. The Geoparks list is up-dated every year, twice a year with new entries or loss of memberships, consequently also the GeoParks maps are up-dated.

After awhile a group of international experts from UNESCO met up in Paris, in February 2004, to discuss and establish The Global Geoparks Network . The official launch was made formal in occasion of the 1st International UNESCO Conference on GeoParks held in Peking, China, in June 2004. The aim of such a Network was to pursue three important aims: conserve the geological environment, promote education on Earth Science and develop and sustain the local economic level, based also, on geological heritage.

From 2015 the Geoparks are priority project of Unesco: UNESCO Global Geoparks.

The GGN is organised through Regional GeoParks Network and there are 2017 Unesco Global Geopark in the world

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/unesco-global-geoparks/

http://www.europeangeoparks.org/

EVENTS

2017

5th – 6th September 2017: 40th European Geoparks Network Meeting
7th – 9th September 2017: 14th European Geoparks Conference
Azores UNESCO Global Geopark, Portugal http://www.egnazores2017.com/

16th – 17th September 2017: UGG Council Meeting
18th APGN September 2017: APGN AC and CC Meetings

19th – 22th September 2017: 5th Asian Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium
Zhijindong Cave UNESCO Global Geopark, China | http://apgn2017.com

2018

March 2018: 41st European GeoparksNetwork Meeting
Karavanke/Karawanken UNESCO Global Geopark, Slovenia & Austria

10th – 20nd June 2018: International Intensive Course on Geoparks UNESCO Global Geoparks and Geoheritage management
Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark, Greece

8th – 9th September 2018: UGG Council Meeting

10th – 11th September 2018: 42nd European Geoparks Network Meeting
12th – 15th September 2018: 8th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks – 2nd Ordinary GGN General Assembly
Adamello Brenta UNESCO Global Geopark, Italy

2019

March 2019: 43rd European GeoparksNetwork Meeting
Swabian Albs UNESCO Global Geopark, Germany

September 2019: 44th European Geoparks Network Meeting
September 2019: 15 th European Geoparks Conference
Sierra Norte de Sevilla UNESCO Global Geopark, Spain

2020

March 2020: 45th European Geoparks Network Meeting
Papuk UNESCO Global Geopark, Croatia

September 2020: 46th European Geoparks Network Meeting
Hateg UNESCO Global Geopark, Romania

September 2020: 9th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks – 3rd Ordinary GGN Association General Assembly

2020-2021

causa Covid 19 solo meeting online

2022

EGN Conference in Sesia Val Grande UGGp September 2022

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