The UNESCO Global Geoparks Network is a network of parks with interesting or important geological features. The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) (also known as the Global Network of National Geoparks) is a UNESCO assisted network established in 1998. Managed under the body’s Ecological and Earth Sciences Division, the GGN seeks the promotion and conservation of the planet’s geological heritage, as well as encourages the sustainable research and development by the concerned communities.
The network
The international network seeks the membership geoparks—geographical areas where geological heritage is the focus of local protection, education and development.
A set of criteria as established by UNESCO must first be met for a geopark, as nominated by the corresponding government, to be included in the GGN:
the existence of a management plan designed to foster socio-economic development that is sustainable (most likely to be based on agritourism and geotourism);
demonstrate methods for conserving and enhancing geological heritage and provide means for teaching geoscientific disciplines and broader environmental issues;
joint-proposals submitted by public authorities, local communities and private interests acting together, which demonstrate the best practices with respect to Earth heritage conservation and its integration into sustainable development strategies
The GGN works in close synergy with another project under UNESCO’s Ecological and Earth Sciences Division—the Man and Biosphere (MAB) World Network of Biosphere Reserves—to come up with and establish different means of sustainable development in promoting the local communities’ relationship with the natural environment.
Members
The UNESCO Global Geoparks Network was established in November 2015 replacing the earlier UNESCO-assisted Global Geoparks Network (GGN) which was established in 1998. The network was set up to conserve earth’s geological heritage, as well as to promote the sustainable research and development by the concerned communities. The GGN membership is formed by national geological parks, or geoparks—local areas focused on the protection of geological features and heritage.
The first batch of members to the GGN were announced during the first International Conference on Geoparks in 2004. By early 2018, 140 geoparks from 38 countries had officially become part of the GGN family. There are now GGN member sites situated in 5 of 7 continents and there being none currently in either Antarctica or Australasia. Notably there are currently (2018) no global geoparks in either the United States or former Soviet Union territory as well as in South Asia, Central America and most parts of Africa (except Morocco, Tanzania and Canarias) and Middle East (except Turkey). China is the country with the largest number of global geoparks.
List
Many of the names in the list below appear in slightly different forms in different documents or webpages, particularly where they have been anglicised. Dates of accession to network, where not otherwise referenced are taken from UNESCO website.
| Country/Territory | Continent | Geopark | Year included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Europe | Carnic Alps Geopark | 2012 |
| Austria | Europe | Eisenwurzen | 2004 |
| Austria | Europe | Ore of the Alps Geopark | 2014 |
| Belgium | Europe | Famenne-Ardenne | 2018 |
| Brazil | South America | Araripe | 2006 |
| Canada | North America | Percé | 2018 |
| Canada | North America | Stonehammer | 2010 |
| Canada | North America | Tumbler Ridge | 2014 |
| Chile | South America | Kütralkura | 2019 |
| China | Asia | Alxa Desert | 2009 |
| China | Asia | Arxan | 2017 |
| China | Asia | Wangwushan-Daimeishan | 2006 |
| China | Asia | Danxiashan | 2004 |
| China | Asia | Fangshan | 2006 |
| China | Asia | Funiushan | 2006 |
| China | Asia | Hexigten | 2005 |
| China | Asia | Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe | 2018 |
| China | Asia | Huanggang Dabieshan | 2018 |
| China | Asia | Hong Kong | 2011 |
| China | Asia | Huangshan | 2004 |
| China | Asia | Jingpohu | 2006 |
| China | Asia | Keketuohai | 2017 |
| China | Asia | Leye-Fengshan | 2010 |
| China | Asia | Longhushan | 2007 |
| China | Asia | Lushan | 2004 |
| China | Asia | Ningde | 2010 |
| China | Asia | Qinling | 2009 |
| China | Asia | Leiqiong | 2006 |
| China | Asia | Sanqingshan Geopark, Jiangxi | 2012 |
| China | Asia | Shilin | 2004 |
| China | Asia | Songshan | 2004 |
| China | Asia | Taining | 2005 |
| China | Asia | Taishan | 2006 |
| China | Asia | Tianzhushan Geopark | 2011 |
| China | Asia | Wudalianchi | 2004 |
| China | Asia | Xingwen | 2005 |
| China | Asia | Yandangshan | 2005 |
| China | Asia | Yuntaishan | 2004 |
| China | Asia | Zhangjiajie | 2004 |
| China | Asia | Zigong | 2008 |
| Croatia | Europe | Papuk | 2007 |
| Croatia | Europe | Vis Archipelago | 2019 |
| Cyprus | Europe | Troodos | 2015 |
| Czech Republic | Europe | Bohemian Paradise | 2005 |
| Denmark | Europe | Odsherred Global Geopark | 2014 |
| Ecuador | South America | Imbabura | 2019 |
| Finland | Europe | Rokua Geopark | 2010 |
| France | Europe | Massif des Bauges | 2011 |
| France | Europe | Beaujolais | 2018 |
| France | Europe | Causses du Quercy | 2017 |
| France | Europe | Chablais Geopark | 2012 |
| France | Europe | Haute Provence | 2004 |
| France | Europe | Luberon | 2005 |
| France | Europe | Monts d’Ardeche Global Geopark | 2014 |
| Germany | Europe | Bergstrasse-Odenwald | 2004 |
| Germany | Europe | Terra Vita | 2004 |
| Germany | Europe | Harz Braunschweiger Land Ostfalen | 2005 |
| Germany | Europe | Swabian Albs | 2005 |
| Germany | Europe | Vulkaneifel Geopark | 2004 |
| Greece | Europe | Lesvos | 2004 |
| Greece | Europe | Chelmos-Vouraikos | 2009 |
| Greece | Europe | Psiloritis | 2004 |
| Greece | Europe | Sitia Geopark | 2015 |
| Greece | Europe | Vikos-Aoos | 2010 |
| Hungary | Europe | Bakony-Balaton Geopark | 2012 |
| Hungary-Slovakia | Europe | Novohrad – Nograd Geopark | 2010 |
| Iceland | Europe | Katla Geopark | 2011 |
| Iceland | Europe | Reykjanes Global Geopark | 2015 |
| Indonesia | Asia | Batur Geopark, Bali | 2012 |
| Indonesia | Asia | Rinjani Lombok | 2018 |
| Indonesia | Asia | Gunung Sewu Geopark, Java | 2015 |
| Indonesia | Asia | Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark | 2018 |
| Iran | Europe | Qeshm Island | 2017 |
| Ireland | Europe | Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark | 2011 |
| Ireland | Europe | Copper Coast | 2004 |
| Italy | Europe | Apuan Alps | 2011 |
| Italy | Europe | Cilento and Vallo di Diano | 2010 |
| Italy | Europe | Madonie | 2004 |
| Italy | Europe | Beigua Geopark | 2005 |
| Italy | Europe | Geological-Mining Park of Sardinia | 2007 |
| Italy | Europe | Geopark of Pollino | 2007 |
| Italy | Europe | Adamello-Brenta | 2008 |
| Italy | Europe | Rocca di Cerere | 2008 |
| Italy | Europe | Sesia – Val Grande Geopark | 2013 |
| Italy | Europe | Tuscan Mining Park | 2010 |
| Japan | Asia | Itoigawa | 2009 |
| Japan | Asia | Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano | 2009 |
| Japan | Asia | Unzen Volcanic Area | 2009 |
| Japan | Asia | San’in Kaigan | 2010 |
| Japan | Asia | Muroto | 2011 |
| Japan | Asia | Oki Islands | 2013 |
| Japan | Asia | Aso | 2014 |
| Japan | Asia | Mt. Apoi | 2015 |
| Japan | Asia | Izu Peninsula | 2018 |
| Malaysia | Asia | Langkawi | 2007 |
| Mexico | North America | Comarca Minera, Hidalgo | 2017 |
| Mexico | North America | Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca | 2017 |
| Morocco | Africa | M’Goun Global Geopark | 2014 |
| Netherlands | Europe | Geopark de Hondsrug | 2013 |
| Norway | Europe | Gea Norvegica | 2006 |
| Norway | Europe | Magma Geopark | 2010 |
| Peru | South America | Colca y Volcanoes de Andagua | 2019 |
| Poland/Germany | Europe | Muskau Bend Landscape Park | 2011 |
| Portugal | Europe | Naturtejo | 2006 |
| Portugal | Europe/Africa | Azores Geopark | 2013 |
| Portugal | Europe | Arouca | 2009 |
| Portugal | Europe | Land of Knights Geopark | 2015 |
| Romania | Europe | Hateg Country Dinosaur Geopark | 2005 |
| Slovenia | Europe | Idrija | 2013 |
| Austria/Slovenia | Europe | Geopark Karavanke | 2013 |
| South Korea | Asia | Cheongsong | 2017 |
| South Korea | Asia | Jeju Island | 2010 |
| South Korea | Asia | Mudeungsan Area | 2018 |
| Spain | Europe | Basque Coast Geopark | 2010 |
| Spain | Europe | Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park | 2006 |
| Spain | Europe | Central Catalonia Geopark | 2012 |
| Spain | Europe | Conca de Tremp-Montsec | 2018 |
| Spain | Africa | El Hierro Global Geopark | 2015 |
| Spain | Europe | Las Loras Geopark | 2017 |
| Spain | Europe | Sierra Norte di Sevilla, Andalusia | 2004 |
| Spain | Europe | Sobrarbe | 2006 |
| Spain | Europe | Sierras Subeticas Natural Park | 2006 |
| Spain | Europe | Villuercas Ibores Jara Geopark | 2011 |
| Spain | Europe | Lanzarote and Chinijos Islands Geopark | 2015 |
| Spain | Europe | Molina de Aragón – Alto Tajo Geopark | 2014 |
| Tanzania | Africa | Ngorongoro Lengai Geopark | 2018 |
| Thailand | Asia | Satun Geopark | 2018 |
| Turkey | Asia | Kula Volcanic Geopark | 2013 |
| United Kingdom/Ireland | Europe | Marble Arch and Cuilcagh Mountain | 2004 |
| United Kingdom | Europe | North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | 2004 |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Fforest Fawr | 2005 |
| United Kingdom | Europe | North West Highlands | 2005 |
| United Kingdom | Europe | English Riviera | 2007 |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Shetland | 2009 |
| United Kingdom | Europe | GeoMôn | 2009 |
| Uruguay | South America | Grutas del Palacio Geopark | 2013 |
| Vietnam | Asia | Cao Bang Geopark | 2018 |
| Vietnam | Asia | Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark | 2010 |