Model region for sustainable development Bergstraße- Odenwald UNESCO Global Geopark and the 2030 Agenda for Sus tainable Development Since November 2015 a new category of UNESCO sites has existed: the UNESCO Global Geoparks. Berg straße- Alongside the World Heritage Sites and the Biosphere Reserves, Geoparks are now the third category of sites to be recognized by UNESCO. Odenwald UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with geological sites and landscapes of international geoscientific sig ni ficance. The UNESCO Global Geoparks make this signi ficance tangible for the population UNESCO Global as well as for visitors through a holistic concept of education, con servation and sustainable development. UNESCO Global Geoparks promote Geopark identifica tion with the region, tourism and regional value creation. They address the challenges of UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald global change in the region – always with reference to the special geological heritage in connection with the respective cultural and natural heritage. UNESCO Global Kiel Geoparks in Hamburg Schwerin Germany Bremen TERRA.vita Harz . Braunschweiger Land . Ostfalen Berlin Potsdam Hanover Magdeburgh Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa Düsseldorf Dresden Erford Federal states: Hesse, Bavaria There are currently over Vulkaneifel and Baden-Württemberg 160 UNESCO Global Geoparks 2 in more than 40 countries, Wiesbaden Area: approx. 3,780 km Bergstraße- six of them are in Germany: Maintz Odenwald • Bergstraße-Odenwald Saarbrücken • Harz · Braunschweiger Swabian Alb Land · Ostfalen Stuttgart • Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa Munich (German-Polish) • Swabian Alb • TERRA.vita • Vulkaneifel sustainable development for region Model 2 3 Bergstraße- Odenwald Experience Earth’s history, UNESCO Global Geoparks – UNESCO Global Geopark nature, people and culture A quality label with high standards Under the motto “Between emerged around 340 million granite and sandstone – years ago as a result of Education continents on the move”, the collision of two conti- the UNESCO Global nents. The open, gently Regional Conservation Geopark and Nature Park rolling landscape turns value creation of geological Bergstraße-Odenwald UNESCO Global Geopark UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald Geological showcases a charming eastward across a plateau heritage for heritage sustainable landscape where over made of Bunter sandstone development 500 million years of Earth’s with large forests and eventful history, diverse striking valleys. The South- natural spaces and east is charac terized by International Facilitation partnership thousands of years of the transition to building Dialogue ancient history come land – a shell limestone Planning alive and are tangible. landscape with karst caves and sinkholes. UNESCO World Heritage and the UNESCO In the West, the flat Upper Biosphere Reserves have been world-renowned Rhine Rift Valley character- In addition to the designations for years and are well known among izes the area and provides a “Felsenmeer” (or “sea of the general public and tourists. Geoparks, the third category of UNESCO sites, are on par with the contrast to the hill ranges rocks”) in Lautertal and established UNESCO designations. The granting of of the Crystalline Odenwald. the European Nature UNESCO status is accompanied by high expec ta - This was formed from Pa - Reserve Kühkopf-Knoblochs - tions of a Geopark by UNESCO, but also residents leo­­zoic plutonic rocks that aue, other special attrac- and visitors. tions are the stalactite cave UNESCO Global Geoparks aim to make important in Buchen-Eberstadt as contri butions to the goals of UNESCO and the well as the Messel Pit and United Nations: international understanding, peace and sustainable development. UNESCO Global Lorsch Abbey, which Geoparks not only make their geological and are both UNESCO World regional heritage tangible, they also use it to nurture Herit age sites. A rich and facilitate sustainable development in the region. infra structure as well To this end, the Geopark teams develop a holistic as guided tours by the concept together with local actors – political Geopark rangers and decision-makers, the business community and Geopark onsite guides environmental associations as well as all citizens. are available to visitors. In this manner, they respond to the needs, oppor - Model region for sustainable development for region Model tu­­nities and challenges of their respective regions. 4 5 Regional solutions for global challenges The UNESCO Global Geoparks devise strategies that address matters of local relevance, such as the collective design of a sustainable future, or the promotion of sustainable local tourism. The Geopark regions take up these issues and translate them, for example, into their educational work, which imparts knowledge and skills. They shed light on the heritage of the region for residents and visitors and create awareness of the broader UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald contexts and processes. They support problem- oriented research and to that end, work with uni ver sities, non-university research institutes, muse ums and UNESCO associated schools. At the same time UNESCO Global Geoparks not only address regional issues, but also global societal International challenges, such as the finiteness of natural (above all geologi cal) resources and climate change. In model regions this regard, the UNESCO Global Geoparks are well- positioned to tackle urgent sustainability issues. Integrated into networks from the local to the The UNESCO Global Geoparks aim to become inter- ­­ international level, they form an important interface natio­­n­­ally exemplary and globally visible model and enable a comprehensive discussion of questions regions for sustainable development that create real that relate to a sustainable future. value – especially for the respective region and its inhabitants. UNESCO Global Geoparks are attractive regions for tourists, and job-seekers, and ideal locations for those who wish to live well. Since April 2016, a National Committee, set up by Landscape as heritage the Federal Foreign Office has been supporting Local and global the UNESCO Global Geoparks in Germany. It advises cooperation the Geoparks on how they can fulfill the qualitative Renewable energies requirements of the UNESCO distinction. UNESCO Education Solutions and the National Committee have raised the Groundwater UNESCO Facilitation for global bar steadily over time, thereby enabling continuous Education for Global Communication societal Sustainable Development Geopark Research challenges quality development. Geological highlights A valuable addition to and support for the work Extraction and use of the National Committee comes from the of natural resources cooperation between the German UNESCO Global Sustainable tourism Geoparks, which occurs on a national scale Solutions at regional level in the form of regular consultations within the for global societal challenges sustainable development for region Model “German UNESCO Global Geoparks Forum”. 6 7 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Implementation in Germany In September 2015, the world community adop­­t ed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 17 goals constitute an all-encompassing aspiration to eradicate poverty and hunger world- wide, make high-quality education accessible UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald to all, promote climate protection and peace, and reduce global inequality. The 2030 Agenda is his tori­­cally unique; its ambitious goals apply to all coun tries and are intended to harmonise the eco nomic, ecological and social interests of present and future generations in the long term through specific mea sures, the success of which will be continuously monitored. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the guiding principle for policies in Germany. The new German sustainability strategy adopted in January 2017 is just one example. The federal, state and local go v­­ernments are developing policies at all levels for the 2030 Agenda. The political parties have also embedded key elements of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in their basic programmes. Model region for sustainable development for region Model 8 9 2030 Agenda – Reference In November 2016, they formulated their strategy together with experts, the German Com mission for framework for UNESCO UNESCO and the Federal Foreign Office. Global Geoparks Together they have identified a number of goals from the 2030 Agenda that are pivotal to the work of the UNESCO Global Geoparks in Germany. Almost all of them already play a role in the work of the UNESCO Global Geoparks. Bergstraße-Odenwald UNESCO Global Geopark UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald Most important goals of the 2030 Agenda for UNESCO Global Geoparks in Germany International partnership Knowledge transfer Sustainable Water quality consumption UNESCO Global Geoparks promote awareness of the Bodies of water Sustainable Groundwater most important societal challenges of our rapidly lifestyles changing planet. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the key reference framework. It Sustainable tourism covers all the global challenges and all policy fields – Renewable Soil function Resource energies from business to social development and education, efficiency Agriculture all the way to nature conservation. Only by creating Geothermal Nutrition energy cross-sectoral policies and integrative answers Education for can we succeed