Welcome!
Geoparks are places where outstanding and rare geological landforms are preserved in an undisturbed state and where low impact recreation, scientific research, and educational activities can be pursued. Typically, a geopark contains a protected geologic feature at the core and small or mid-sized towns around it, inside the geopark’s borders. Most geoparks are envisioned and planned at the local level. Interested citizens, scientists, city and regional (county, state, provincial, etc.) governments, private landowners, public land management agencies, and business people work together to form the geopark and draw up a plan for its management. Then the group submits an application to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) for consideration, and GGN members vote on whether to accept the new member. It is a grassroots, bottom-up approach. Geoparks become places that people from around the world come to visit and where local school children and adults learn about the incredible, world class geologic land features in their backyard. And where geoparks have been established, there are many remarkable examples of a sustainable business infrastructure rapidly developing to support these activities.
There are currently 89 geoparks in 27 countries around the world. The first geoparks were created in Europe, and this year, 2012, the geopark network celebrates its 12th year in existence. The geopark idea has come a long way in so short of a time, and many applications for new geoparks await approval.
This web site was created by Doug Prose, an American filmmaker and geologist with Earth Images Foundation. Email: doug@earthimage.org
