GEOSEE - BRINGING TOGETHER GEOSCIENCE, COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, HERITAGE, CULTURE, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. A JOINT INITIATIVE OF IUGS - IGU - UNESCO

The protection of Geological heritage has a rather long tradition world-wide. Different approaches have been made: on a European scale by ProGEO, e.g., as well as national activities related to Nature or National Parks or Geosites. There exists a big overlap of, but sometimes also a conflict between, regional, national, continental and global aspects. During the last decade the idea of integration of the protection of geological heritage with sustainable economic development of a region was developed and promoted by the former Earth Science Division of UNESCO, as well as by some enthusiastic personalities in European Nature Parks. The recently established UNESCO initiative of a “Global Geoparks Network” is already considered as an important geo-heritage tool in Europe and China, and might soon play an important role in all other continents. After some considerations and discussions in 2002 and 2003, IUGS, the International Union of Geological Sciences, UNESCO and the IGU, the International Geographical Union, felt it reasonable to create a kind of umbrella to bring together all efforts to protect geological heritage, to contribute to a sustainable economic development, to enhance geoscience, education and public awareness of geosciences and to foster geotourism: A Task Force of GEOSEE was created in June 2004 in Beijing. Terms of reference and objectives were adopted by the parent organizations and will be discussed; a list of possible partners was completed. GEOSEE will now try to start first steps from an informal initiative to a well-defined organisation with members on individual and institutional basis. We invite all interested persons and entities to cooperate in this field.