Frequently asked questions

UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. A UNESCO Global Geopark comprises a number of geological heritage sites of special scientific importance, rarity or beauty. These features are representative of a region’s geological history and the events and processes that formed it. It must also include important natural, historic, cultural tangible and intangible heritage sites.

A UNESCO Global Geopark must have geological heritage of international significance which is, during the evaluation process, assessed by geo-scientific experts, from the International Union of Geosciences (IUGS). It is based on the international peer-reviewed, published research conducted on the geological sites within the area. The experts make a globally comparative assessment to determine whether the geological sites constitute international value following a fix set of criteria and questions.

A UNESCO Global Geopark has multiple aims which included the protection and conservation of its territorial geoheritage and culturally and environmentally sustainable development of the area. UNESCO Global Geoparks are fundamentally about people and about exploring and celebrating the links between our communities and the Earth. The Earth has shaped who we are: it has shaped our farming practices, the building materials and methods we have used for our homes, even our mythology, folklore and folk traditions. UNESCO Global Geoparks, therefore, engage in a range of activities to celebrate these links. Many UNESCO Global Geoparks have strong links to the arts communities where the synergy released by bringing science and the arts together can yield surprising results.

One of the primary aims is to promote geoscience education within local communities and to visitors by conveying the importance of the geological heritage to students, teachers, local decision-makers, and the broad public.

A UNESCO Global Geopark fosters socio-economic development that is culturally and environmentally sustainable directly affecting the area by improving human living conditions and the rural environment. It gives local people a sense of pride in their region, strengthens public identification with the area, and promotes a better understanding of the area’s geological, natural, archaeological, cultural and industrial heritage. The establishment of a UNESCO Global Geopark stimulates the creation of innovative local enterprises, small businesses, sustainable tourism activities and businesses, geotrails and new jobs by generating new sources of revenue (e.g. geotourism, geoproducts) while protecting the geo-resources.

A UNESCO Global Geopark is not a formal legislative designation, though the defining geological heritage sites within a UNESCO Global Geopark must be protected under indigenous, local, regional or national legislation as appropriate. UNESCO Global Geopark status does not imply restrictions on any economic activity inside a UNESCO Global Geopark where that activity complies with indigenous, local, regional and/or national legislation.

A UNESCO Global Geopark is not a new category of protected area or landscape: therefore, a Geopark can differ from National Parks or Nature Parks, which are subject to the protection and regulation of national environmental laws.

Local, state, or federal management authorities ensure appropriate site protection measures within individual site management plans, in cooperation with the appropriate agencies, to guarantee effective conservation and protection and provide necessary monitoring and maintenance of the proposed area. Sites remain under the sole jurisdiction of the landowners and managers, whether private, or local, state, tribal, or federal agencies. UNESCO does not have any type of management authority over the UNESCO Global Geopark area.

A UNESCO Global Geopark organizes stimulating activities within its communities, which are related to its geological theme and encourages the promotion of local agricultural and traditional craft products. It further develops and provides informational material on geology and nature, printing leaflets and other material, and creates and maintains websites.

Other typical activities in a UNESCO Global Geopark include the development of walking and cycling trails, the training of local people to act as guides, education courses and guided tours, provision of information, interpretation and research activities, signage and the development of modern museums and visitor centers. UNESCO Global Geoparks also work closely together with other UNESCO Global Geoparks stimulating research, education, branding, etc.

It is a pre-requisite that all UNESCO Global Geoparks develop and operate educational activities for all ages to spread awareness of our geological heritage and its links to other aspects of our natural, cultural and intangible heritages. UNESCO Global Geoparks offer educational programmes for schools or offer special activities for children through “Kids Clubs” or special “Fossil Fun Days”. UNESCO Global Geoparks also offer education, both formal and informal, for adults and retired people while many provide training for local people who can then, in turn, teach others.

Many UNESCO Global Geoparks promote awareness of geological hazards, including volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, and many help prepare disaster mitigation strategies among local communities. Through educational activities for the local people and visitors, many UNESCO Global Geoparks give information on the source of geological hazards and ways to reduce their impact including disaster response strategies. These efforts build important capacity and contribute to building more resilient communities that have the knowledge and skills to effectively respond to potential geological hazards.

UNESCO Global Geoparks have activities to sensibilize on climate change. They hold records of past climate change and are educators on current climate change as well as adopting a best practice approach to utilizing renewable energy and employing the best standards of “green tourism.” While some UNESCO Global Geoparks stimulate green growth in the region through innovative projects, others serve as outdoor museums on the effects of current climate change thus giving the opportunity to show visitors how climate change can affect our environment. Such community and educational activities and projects are important in order to raise awareness on the potential impact of climate change on the region, and to provide the local communities with the knowledge to mitigate and adapt to the potential effects of climate change.

Geoparks are a platform for the development, nurturing and promotion of local cottage industry and craft products. In some UNESCO Global Geoparks women’s cooperatives also provide an opportunity for women to obtain additional income in their own area and on their own terms. They can, for example, operate accommodation services for visitors.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are encouraged to work with academic institutions to engage in active scientific research in the Earth Sciences, and other disciplines as appropriate, to advance ourknowledge about the Earth and its processes. A UNESCO Global Geopark is not a museum, it is an active laboratory where people can become engaged in science from the highest academic research level to the level of the curious visitor. A UNESCO Global Geopark must take great care not to alienate the public from science and absolutely must avoid the use of technical-scientific language on information boards, signs, leaflets, maps and books which are aimed at the general public.

UNESCO Global Geoparks actively involve local and indigenous peoples, preserving and celebrating their culture. By involving local and indigenous communities, UNESCO Global Geoparks recognize the importance of these communities, their culture and the link between these communities and their land. It is one of the criteria of UNESCO Global Geoparks that local and indigenous knowledge, practice and management systems, alongside science, are included in the planning and management of the area.

Local communities have to be beneficiaries of the UNESCO Global Geopark. Moreover, their traditions, skills, experiences and local knowledge about their environment and landscape have to be part of the UNESCO Global Geopark’s identity and clearly recognized in information for visitors, in publications and in public programmes.

Examples of community involvement are:

• Comprehensive information campaign of local communities in a Geopark’s territory about the Geopark, the related philosophy, the intended objectives and the options for local communities to participate in the development of the Geopark;
• Assessment of local capacities and needs: Intensive dialogue between Geopark management and local communities on how local strengths and values (e.g. skills, traditions, products, knowledge) could be integrated into the overall development of the Geopark and how local communities could benefit;
• Provision of tailored training for local communities, e.g. as tour guides, on the marketing of local products, developing new products, and/or providing services in the Geopark (e.g. accommodation, food or transport);
• Allocate tasks to local communities, such as maintaining the infrastructure of a Geopark and managing some of its facilities (e.g. information centers and information points);
• Collaborate with local institutions and other partners like, associations, schools, universities and geological surveys in order to develop and deliver educational programmes.

UNESCO Global Geoparks inform people about the sustainable use and need for natural resources, whether they are mined, quarried or harnessed from the surrounding environment, while at the same time promoting respect for the environment and the integrity of the landscape. Since the dawn of humanity natural resources provided by the Earth’s solid crust have been the basis for our social and economic development. These resources include minerals, hydrocarbons, rare earth elements, geothermal energy, air and water, and their sustainable use is vital for the continued future well-being of society. Any element which can be found on Earth has its origin in geology and geological processes, is nonrenewable and its exploitation has to be treated wisely.

Geoparks are about sustainable development aligned with viable economic development for territories. Thus, sustainable development and social activities are essential parts of a UNESCO Global Geopark. However, every activity has to be sustainable and compatible with the preservation of the territory’s geological heritage, and not damaging the integrity of the geosites.

The selling or destruction of the geological value of a UNESCO Global Geopark or of material either from within the Geopark or from anywhere else in the world is not permitted and anyone involved in the management of the Geopark.

Members of the Management Group of a UNESCO Global Geopark must not participate in the sale of geological objects within the UNESCO Global Geopark area, regardless of their country of origin, and should actively discourage unsustainable sale or trade in geological material as a whole, including the sale of minerals and fossils.

Where clearly justified as a responsible activity and as part of delivering the most effective and sustainable means of site management, it may permit sustainable collecting of geological materials for scientific and educational purposes from naturally renewable sites within the Geopark. Trade of geological materials (in accordance with national legislation on Earth heritage conservation) based on such a system may be tolerated in exceptional circumstances, provided it is clearly and publicly explained, justified and monitored as the best option for the Geopark in relation to local circumstances. Such circumstances will be subject to debate and approval by the UNESCO Global Geopark Council on a case-by-case basis. Selling of polished building rock material, artwork made out of building stone would be permitted.

UNESCO Global Geoparks, together with the other two UNESCO designated sites Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites, give a complete picture of promoting our heritage while at the same time conserving the world’s cultural, biological and geological diversity, and supporting sustainable economic development.

While Biosphere Reserves focus on the harmonised management of biological and cultural diversity and World Heritage Sites promote the conservation of natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value, UNESCO Global Geoparks give international recognition for sites with international significance that promote the importance and significance of protecting the Earth’s geodiversity through actively engaging with the local communities.

In case an aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark includes a World Heritage Site or Biosphere Reserve, a clear justification and evidence has to be provided on how UNESCO Global Geopark status will add value by being both independently branded and working in synergy with the other designations.

UNESCO provides the UNESCO Global Geoparks Secretariat, contributes to and stimulates global ‘networking’, and co-organizes the International Geoparks Conferences. The Secretariat has three main missions regarding the UNESCO Global Geoparks: capacity building, improving governance and promotion. As examples, The Secretariat maintains a website, analyses application files, organizes evaluation and revalidation missions, organizes Council meetings, etc…UNESCO has also a standard-setting role and provides policy advice under high quality requirements. UNESCO Secretariat works on the improvement of governance and provides visibility and global attention for the Network members and represents with its strict quality control a label of excellence.

UNESCO serves as the global umbrella partner that organizes/co-organizes and coordinates conferences and workshops, oversees and coordinates the application procedures and standards, produces publications. UNESCO together with the GGN provides a global platform of active cooperation between experts and practitioners in geological heritage and facilitates exchange between the global network partners.