CASE FOR NORTH AMERICAN GEOPARK NETWORKS

The World Heritage Program (WHP) is an international effort that aims to identify and conserve sites of exceptional natural and/or cultural value. Started in 1972, this program currently has 186 member countries comprising 890 sites, of which 689 are cultural, 176 natural, and 25 mixed, distributed across 148 countries. Presently, Canada has 15 sites (9 natural), whereas the US has 20 (12 natural). They share two sites. This program further aims to enhance capacity-building and research, raise general awareness of the site, enhance the life of the community in/near the site, and increase popular participation in the protection and presentation of their natural and cultural heritage. A rigorous bottom-up process of proposal and approval includes two criteria of geologic importance: a.) sites of superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetics; and b.) outstanding examples of major stages of earth's history, evolution, earth processes or land forms. The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) assists in the review of those candidate sites containing a geological component.

In the last decade, a companion UNESCO program, the Global Geopark Network (GGN) has worked to identify sites which are uniquely of geological importance. To date the total number of national geopark sites consists of 57 sites -- 33 in Europe, 20 in China, one each in Brazil, Malaysia, Iran, and Australia. A new journal GeoHeritage was launched in early 2009. IUGS has long supported the GGN and regularly participates in their conferences.

Canada has recently formed a national committee for Geoparks, and the USA has only recently embarked upon the creation of its own national committee for Geoparks. (Ironically, the US originally proposed the WHP in 1972, and the US Senate unanimously passed the treaty in 1973). Both countries contain many sites of geologic importance on federal, provincial or state, local government, or private land. A national geopark program in both countries would help improve earth science awareness and foster sustainable development, enhance local economies, and help preserve our collective geological heritage.