DEVELOPMENT OF THE COASTAL MAINE GEOPARK

The coast of Maine has outstanding geology shaped by a heritage of volcanism and glaciation. While there is currently a wide range of resources about Maine’s natural history and ecology, there is less available for local people and visitors about the region’s unique geological heritage. Geoparks encourage and enable public education and conversation about cultural connections with landscape, regional geoheritage, and socially relevant geoscience topics. In November 2019, we established a planning advisory committee for a Geopark along the coastal-Downeast region of Maine. The goal of the Coastal Maine Geopark is to promote education about how the geology of Maine’s coastal landscape has influenced the natural ecology and culture of the region, while helping support sustainable development for rural communities through geotourism, using the UNESCO Global Geopark model. Geological themes will focus on the several Paleozoic orogenies that formed proto-Northeastern America, ancient super volcanoes, Pleistocene/ Holocene glaciation, and changing coastlines. The Geopark advisory committee has been working in collaboration with the National Heritage Area Feasibility Study for Downeast Maine and over 20 community members and organizations. During spring 2020, College of the Atlantic students assisted with building region-specific content and visual communication projects. Throughout 2020-2021, the steering group will work to develop a funding and management plan, foster connections with coastal communities, and build a digital presence for the budding Geopark.