EGN MAG 8.qxd 3/2/2012 10:48 Page 1 Issue 8 z europeaneuropean GEOPARKSGEOPARKS European Geoparks Magazine network Geoparks:Geoparks: LearningLearning fromfrom thethe PastPast -- BuildingBuilding aa SustainableSustainable FutureFuture CelebratingCelebrating 1010 YearsYears ofof InnovationsInnovations EGN MAG 8.qxd 3/2/2012 10:48 Page 2 Foreword Magazine 8 celebrates and provides an overview of the range of activities and achievements in the life of the European Geoparks Network between 2010 and 2011. These include the highly success- ful 9th European Geoparks Conference, discussions focusing on the future of the Global Geoparks Network, the activities and new devel- opments within individual Geoparks and the expansion of the net- EDITORIAL work increasing the membership to 43. The 9th European Geoparks Conference entitled "Geoparks: European Learning from the Past - Building a Sustainable Future / Celebrating 10 Years of Innovations" was held at the University of the Aegean Geoparks on the island of Lesvos in Greece from 1 - 5 October, 2010. Twenty PARKS four sessions involving five themes - Geoparks and World Heritage; Network Research in Geoparks; Geoparks - Best practice in management, Geotourism and Education; Geo-conservation: Policy and Practice, Magazine Aspiring Geoparks; - provided the 350 participants from 41 coun- tries with a substantial framework for lively discussions and debate. Issue No 8 / 2011 european GEO The range of subjects aimed to advance the contribution which European and Global Geoparks already make to issues such as Published by: Natural History Museum of the Lesvos regional development, international collaboration, and best practices Petrified Forest on behalf of the in geoconservation and sustainable development as well as environ- European Geoparks Network mental education. The conference was followed by a visit to the unique and beautiful Petrified Forest of Lesvos Geopark. The meet- Executive editor: ing of the 11 members of the International Bureau of the Global Nickolas Zouros Geopark Network included the evaluation of candidates for induction into the Network Editorial board: Nineteen articles highlight the innovative approaches that European Heinz Kollmann, Tony Ramsay, Geoparks adopt in contributing to geoconservation, education and Jutta Weber, Nickolas Zouros geotourism. In these articles individual Geoparks share their expe- riences in working with their local communities, in communicating Contributors: information about their territories and in using these interrelated Katharina Weiskopf, Irmi Auer, Heinz activities to create enjoyable and memorable experiences for the Kollmann, Reinhard Mitterbaeck, inhabitants and visitors to their Geoparks. By sharing this knowledge Elizabeth Pickett, Milagros Perez, Robina the Network ensures that Geoparks will continue to progress in their Barton, Katerina Vasileiadou, Luis Alcala, roles as active centres for providing holistic views of Earth history Angel Hernandez, Baldomero Moreno and for raising awareness of the need to protect and conserve the Arroyo, Alicia Serna Barquero, Stephane natural and cultural environment. Legal, Christine Balme, Loic Costeur, Two Geoparks demonstrate the use of art to connect nature and Matteo Vacchi, Marco Firpo, Cristiano people. During the Geoquest event in the English Riviera Geopark Queirolo, Maurizio Burlando, Anchel Belmonte Ribas, Luis Carcavilla Urqui, three artists, the Geo-trio, shared and explored their experiences of Carlos Neto de Carvalho, Joana de Castro the Geopark by interacting with the community and through a series Rodrigues, Mase V., Jutta Weber, Ute of evening walks and theatrical shows. Bergstrasse Odenwald Ritschel, Zhu Dong E, Melanie Border, Geopark together with their partners The Global Geopark Mt. Lushan Kristin Rangnes, John Galloway, Mike describe the outcomes of a cooperative project in which a group of Sweeney, Eberhard Schindler, Volker artists created unique art installations along "The Poetic Forest Trail" Wilde, Janos Tardy, Imre Szarvas, Pal in Mt. Lushan. North Pennines AONB Geopark describes a project to Thjomoe, Cristina Iturriagagoitia, Joan preserve important historical structures associated with the area's Poch, Jon Paul Llordes, Aloia Aniello, De world class mining heritage. The Geopark Harz. Braunschweiger Vita Angelo, Toni Andrea, Vesa Krokki, Land. Ostfalen focuses on raising the visibility of a global extinction Ritva Okkonen, Alessandra Casini, Riccardo event 375 million years ago. Contributions from Geoparks in Austria, Cinelli, Panagiotis Paschos, Haritakis France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain Papaioannou demonstrate how Geoparks involve communities and schools in edu- cational projects which are innovative, informative but also enter- Editing: Tony Ramsay taining. Subbetica Geopark, Spain explains its geology and the Publication manager: Geopark concept by marketing salt.. Italian and Spanish Geoparks Antonis Georgiou include geological heritage in trails and as 'a leitmotif for linking Print: archaeology, architecture, history and culture'. Epikinonia S.A Cover photo: Articles by seven new geoparks are clear evidence of the increasing Outdoor activities in the Fforest fawr importance and success of the Geoparks concept. The expansion of geopark - Wales the network has resulted in a shift in the location of the world's Copyright: The magazine and all the northernmost Geopark from Shetland to Finland and the inclusion of contributions and illustrations contained a new transnational Geopark, The Novohrad - Nograd Geopark, in therein are protected by copyright. No Hungary and Slovakia. We welcome and look forward to the contin- part of this magazine may be copied or ued expansion of the Geopark concept and to working with new reproduced without the written approval Geoparks and their communities. of the publishers. This also includes com- mercial reproduction as an electronic data Tony Ramsay, Member of the Editorial Board base and copying on cd rom. c 2011 2 EGN MAG 8.qxd 3/2/2012 10:49 Page 3 CONTENTS Participants of the 9th European Geoparks Conference during the field PARKS trip at the Lesvos Petrified Forest Park 9th European Geoparks Conference & Sobrarbe Geopark: First Intensive 04 10th Anniversary 20 Course in Geological Heritage and european GEO Geodiversity The Global Geoparks Network 07 Naturtejo Geopark acts for a sustainable 10th European Geoparks 21 Environment 08 Conference16 - 20 September 2011, Adamello Brenta Geopark Action Langesund - Norway 22 Plan Ambassadors of the Geopark: School 09 projects in the Eisenwurzen Nature - Communicating partnership & global and Geopark 23 Cooperation through art: Global Geoparks Mt. Lushan, PR China, & Historic Buildings in the North Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany 10 Pennines European Geopark Saved for Future Generations "What's happening in the English Integrated Management Strategy for 24 Riviera Global Geopark" 11 Geodiversity of Andalusia (Spain). Gea Norvegica Geopark telling stories Approved by the Regional Government about rocks of Andalusia 25 Geological Interpretation in Andalusian Fun First - Copper Coast Geopark 12 Geoparks 26 Cabo de Gata-Nijar and Sierras The Kellwasser Valley, pinpointing a Subbeticas Geoparks 27 global event 375 million years ago in the Geopark Shetland Celebrates its Geopark Harz. Braunschweiger Land. 13 Spectacular and Diverse Geology Ostfalen Celebrating Past Biodiversity in the Development of the Transboundary 14 Lesvos Petrified Forest: "Fossils of the 28 Novohrad-Nograd Geopark Aegean - Mammal Biodiversity: from the Deinothere of the Lesvos Petrified Forest Magma Geopark: Created in the past, to the Man of the Petralona Cave" 29 experienced in the present A decade promoting territorial identity and a promise for the future 15 in Maestrazgo Geopark Basque Coast Geopark: A strong Salt From Tethys Sea: An example of 30 cultural identity influenced by geology sustainable use of Geological 16 Cilento and Vallo di Diano Geopark: Heritage: Sierras Subeticas Natural Park & Geopark 31 A territory to be discovered A New fossil site of mammal footprints Rokua Geopark - Finland's first and 17 in the Luberon Geopark: Research and 32 world's northernmost Geopark dissemination of information to the general public Tuscan Mining park Geology and 33 Landscape: Parco Delle Colline "Via GeoAlpina" trail: Beigua Metallifere Grossetane 18 Geopark's contribution to discovering the Alpine Geological Heritage Vikos - Aoos Geopark: Landscape, nature and culture in perfect harmony Architecture of the landscape: 34 19 opportunities for new activities in the Geopark Conferences Madonie Park 35 3 EGN MAG 8.qxd 3/2/2012 10:49 Page 4 EUROPEAN NETWORK Delegates PARKS th attending the 9 European Geoparks 9th European Geoparks Conference Conference & 10th Anniversary european GEO The sunny skies and blue Saudi Arabia and Chile. Environmental education waters of the Aegean Sea The 9th European Geoparks was also considered together provided the perfect set- Conference occurred under with issues involving inter- ting for the 9th European the aegis of UNESCO with pretation and communica- Geoparks Conference the approval of the General tion, the development of which was held on the Secretary I. Bokova. It was nature tourism, educational island of Lesvos in Greece organized by the Natural programmes on abiotic October 1-5, 2010. History Museum of the nature, climate change adap- The conference, entitled Lesvos Petrified Forest and tation, local participation, "Geoparks: Learning from