What is a UNESCO European / Global Geopark?
European Geoparks are areas in Europe with an outstanding geological heritage, where there is considerable local effort to conserve this heritage and encourage its enjoyment and understanding by the public, with the aim of supporting sustainable development In April 2004, UNESCO announced the establishment of the Global Geopark Network, with the then 17 European Geoparks at the forefront of this worldwide family of special places. It is more of a ‘status’ than a formal ‘designation’. The founding Geoparks registered the Geopark brand and were successful in getting UNESCO support and recognition for it. It is a young status, only being established in 2000. There are (as of Dec 2008) now 33 European Geoparks. All the European Geoparks are also part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. There are (as of Dec 2008 a total of 57 UNESCO Global Geoparks across the world.
