THE EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK

Established in June 2000 by four territories, the European Geoparks Network now consists of 16 members across nine member states of the European Union. Working together, these members co-operate to promote the protection of their geological heritage and to use that heritage to promote sustainable economic development in their respective regions. The Network is used as a tool to allow members to exchange experience and ideas from across Europe as well as allowing members to work together on common initiatives, all aimed at raising the awareness of Europe’s geological heritage amongst its populace. Significantly, the network signed an official agreement of collaboration with UNESCO (Division of Earth Sciences) in 2001.

A European Geoparks is defined as a territory with a particular geological heritage and which has a sustainable development plan to help promote economic development. While the majority of sites within a European Geopark must be geological in nature, European Geoparks adopt a holistic approach to sustainable tourism and sites demonstrating other aspects of a territories natural and cultural heritage are also promoted. While supporting education and promoting sustainable economic development, a European Geopark must ensure that no geological material from within the Geopark, and under its control, is sold or destroyed. The European Geoparks Network has a Charter detailing its rationale and philosophy.

The European Geoparks Network has a simple management structure. An advisory committee of 6 members (including UNESCO) is complimented by a coordination committee made up of two nominees from each member Geopark. While the advisory committee helps streamline the decision making process, no decision is taken without the majority endorsment of the coordination committee. The two committees are complimented by two Network coordinators whose role includes acting as contact points for potential new members. The entire Network meets three times a year though individual groups of Geoparks often meet separately on additional occasions.

As the European Geoparks Network continues to expand in Europe, we hope that our approach, linking geological heritage and awareness to sustainable economic development, might prove to be a model that other areas of the planet might follow.