GEOLOGIC HERITAGE IN NORTH AMERICA – THE ROLE FOR GEOPARKS

Geologic heritage embraces the significant geologic features, landforms, and landscapes characteristic of an area. A geopark is a unified area with geological heritage of international significance. Geoparks serve to protect geoheritage, provide education, and develop opportunities for sustainable development. The geoheritage is used to promote awareness of key issues facing society such as geological hazards, climate change, and natural resources as well as respect for the environment and the integrity of the landscape.

Geoparks have become an important element in the global geoheritage movement and provide a manner of designating notable geologic landscapes that supplement the World Heritage Program as well as many National parks programs. In November 2015, the UNESCO General Conference will consider the establishment of the Global Geopark Network as a formal UNESCO Program, on par with the World Heritage Program. A number of countries have national geoparks programs, particularly in Europe and Asia. Today there are 111 Global Geoparks in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

The United States has yet to adopt the geopark model for identifying, protecting, and managing geologic landscapes. However, since 2012, the GSA and the U.S. National Committee (USNC) to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) have endorsed the establishment of a U.S. Geoparks program and supported the adoption of the Global Geopark Network as a formal UNESCO Program. The USNC/IUGS and the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO are currently establishing a U.S. National Geopark Committee to implement the geopark model and assist local communities in the United States which have expressed interest in establishing geoparks in their areas.

In Canada, there has been a Canadian National Committee for Geoparks since 2009, under the auspices of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES), to address the need for coordination of Global Geopark applications from Canada. Two Canadian geoparks—Stonehammer in New Brunswick and Tumbler Ridge in British Colombia—are members of the Global Geopark Network. Many other Canadian communities are in various stages of developing geopark projects.