The European Geoparks Network was established in June 2000 by four organizations managing areas of geological natural monuments:
1. Reserve Geologique de Haute-Provence (France)
2. Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest (Greece)
3. Geopark Gerolstein/Vulkaneifel (Germany)
4. Maestrazgo Cultural Park (Spain)
The Network’s purpose is to foster collaboration, exchange best practices and experiences, and undertake joint actions to protect Europe’s geological heritage, promote and highlight geological natural monuments, and involve the most significant geological sites in Europe.
The Network also aims to facilitate scientific cooperation among the entities managing geological sites to develop specialized forms of tourism and promote the sustainable development of Geopark areas through Geotourism.
In April 2001, a formal cooperation agreement was signed between the Network and UNESCO, which participates in the Governing Committee and the Advisory Committee, the two decision-making bodies of the Network. Members of the European Geoparks Network hold the “European Geopark” trademark, registered in all European Union countries.
The Network is coordinated by the Coordination Committee, headquartered at the Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence, which operates in collaboration with other members. The Coordination Committee, consisting of two representatives from each member-manager, meets regularly to review the progress of the Network.
An Advisory Group for European Geoparks has been established within the Network, consisting of two experts from each geographical zone that initially joined the network and a UNESCO representative. These experts must be recognized in the field of sustainable development based on geotourism and the protection and promotion of geological heritage.The Coordination Committee of the Network reviews applications to award the “European Geopark” label and is solely responsible for granting this title to the candidate areas.
The Coordination Committee of the Network is committed to ensuring the creation and maximum expansion of the European Geoparks Network and its affiliated members.
According to the founding declaration, a European Geopark is defined as an area that possesses unique elements of geological heritage and has developed and implemented a sustainable local development strategy supported by European Union programs for its promotion.
The main characteristics of a European Geopark are:
1. It must have clearly defined boundaries and sufficient area to enable genuine sustainable development. It includes a significant number of geologically interesting sites, based on scientific significance, rarity, aesthetic appeal, and educational value. Most sites of interest in a European Geopark should represent geological heritage, but they may also have archaeological, ecological, historical, or cultural significance.
2. The sites of interest within a European Geopark must be interconnected in an organized network and supported by protection and management measures. Practices that cause destruction or sale of geological objects are not allowed in a European Geopark.
3. It must have an organized management body capable of enforcing policies for the protection and promotion of geological heritage and sustainable development in its area.
4. It actively contributes to the economic development of its area by highlighting its identity linked to geological heritage, promoting Geotourism, and influencing local living conditions and the environment. Its goal is to enable local residents to recognize the value of their natural and cultural heritage and participate actively in the cultural revitalization of the entire area.
5. It develops, evolves, experiments with, and promotes methods for the protection and promotion of geological heritage.
6. It supports environmental education, training, and the development of scientific research in various fields of geosciences, the enhancement of the natural environment, and sustainable development policies.
7. It must work within the framework of the European Geoparks Network to contribute to its coherence and dynamics. It should collaborate with local businesses to promote and support the creation of new products related to geological heritage, complementing the other Network members.
