GEOPARKS AND THE PLANET EARTH INSTITUTE (PEI) - A NEW PLATFORM TO PROMOTE EARTH SCIENCES IN SOCIETY IN THE FOLLOW-ON OF THE IYPE

The “International Year of Planet Earth” (IYPE) has been particularly successful through its outreach and education programmes during its time span from 2007 to 2010. Numerous activities in the many countries with IYPE National Committees were monitored and registered under the (German) “Planet Earth”-logo including those aiming at the promotion and/or development of ‘Geoparks’, ‘Geotopes’ and ‘Geoheritage’.

The objectives of the Foundation are: (a) to further increase the visibility of Earth Sciences by communicating with the general public the added value of Earth science information for society and the well-being of future generations; (b) to promote solutions based on science for problems Planet Earth faces; (c) to do all that which is connected with or may be conducive to the above objects, in the broadest sense of the word used.

The Planet Earth Institute (PEI) builds on the legacy of the IYPE that was created by the ‘International Union of Geological Sciences’ (IUGS) and UNESCO in order to promote sustainable development and the application of the Earth sciences in society.

This (mainly virtual) Foundation/Institute has been given as subtitle ‘Promoting knowledge for a better Planet’. Implementation will be realized along three channels: (a) through a wide variety of outreach activities (including activities related to sustainable marketing of ‘Geotopes’, ‘Geoparks’, ‘Geotrails’ or ‘Geoheritage’), (b) through establishing National and Regional Committees and (c) through setting up joint ventures with scientific national and international organizations, as well as (private) enterprise. Activities may include national and international relevant geo-projects, cooperating with the EGN and GGN with respect to the promotion of ‘Geoheritage’ through ‘Geoparks’, creation of Regional Centers, exposure through big screens in city centers, other training or capacity development activities, as well as cultural and artistic expressions or co-marketing projects.