European Geoparks Network
Encyclopedia
The European Geoparks Network, often known as the EGN, is a trans-national partnership of Geopark
s across Europe
formed in 2000 to provide mutual support to established and prospective Geoparks across the continent. The Madonie
Agreement of 2004 provided that all Geoparks recognised by the EGN were also to be members of the UNESCO
Global Network of National Geoparks, sometimes referred to as the GGN.
The EGN was established in 2000 with just four member Geoparks. It has grown to the point that by November 2011 there were 48 Geoparks in 17 countries across Europe. Member Geoparks of the EGN aim to achieve sustainable economic growth in their designated areas by making the most of their cultural, geological and wider natural heritage not least through developing geo-tourism.
Members of the Network meet at different Geopark venues twice a year to debate matters of common interest, to elect new member Geoparks and to revalidate existing members. At the start of each summer, the EGN also promotes 'European Geoparks Week' - a celebration of Geoparks across Europe which, in individual Geoparks, may be manifest as ~ Geopark Fortnight or ~ Festival.
Geopark
A Geopark is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its UNESCO Geoparks International Network of Geoparks programme as follows:...
s across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
formed in 2000 to provide mutual support to established and prospective Geoparks across the continent. The Madonie
Madonie
The Madonie are one of the principal mountain groups in Sicily, southern Italy, part of the Sicilian portion of the Apennines. It is located in Palermo Province...
Agreement of 2004 provided that all Geoparks recognised by the EGN were also to be members of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Global Network of National Geoparks, sometimes referred to as the GGN.
The EGN was established in 2000 with just four member Geoparks. It has grown to the point that by November 2011 there were 48 Geoparks in 17 countries across Europe. Member Geoparks of the EGN aim to achieve sustainable economic growth in their designated areas by making the most of their cultural, geological and wider natural heritage not least through developing geo-tourism.
Members of the Network meet at different Geopark venues twice a year to debate matters of common interest, to elect new member Geoparks and to revalidate existing members. At the start of each summer, the EGN also promotes 'European Geoparks Week' - a celebration of Geoparks across Europe which, in individual Geoparks, may be manifest as ~ Geopark Fortnight or ~ Festival.
List of Current Members
(at 23 November 2011):- Adamello Brenta Geopark (Italy)
- Apuan Alps Geopark (Italy)
- Arouca Geopark (Portugal)
- Basque Coast Geopark (Spain)
- Bauges Geopark (France)
- Beigua Geopark (Italy)
- Bergstrasse Odenwald Geopark (Germany)
- Bohemian Paradise Geopark (Czech Republic)
- Burren and Cliffs of Moher (Ireland)
- Cabo de Gata - Nijar GeoparkCabo de Gata-Níjar Natural ParkCabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is a natural park in Andalusia, Spain, near the city of Almería. It is the largest terrestrial-maritime reserve in the European Western Mediterranean Sea, covering 460 km² including the town of Carboneras, the mountain range of Sierra de Cabo de Gata, and...
(Spain) - Chelmos-Vouraikos Geopark (Greece)
- Cilento and Vallo di Diano Geopark (Italy)
- Copper Coast GeoparkCopper Coast GeoparkThe Copper Coast is a stretch of the southern coast of the Republic of Ireland in County Waterford. It is named for the historic metal-mining industry, the legacies of which now constitute something of a tourist attraction. The area was declared a European Geopark in 2001 and a UNESCO Global...
(Republic of Ireland) - English Riviera GeoparkEnglish Riviera GeoparkThe English Riviera Geopark in Torbay is one of ten Geoparks in the United Kingdom, and one of fifty-three worldwide. It is the only urban Geopark, and was declared a Geopark on 16 September 2007...
(England, UK) - Fforest Fawr GeoparkFforest Fawr GeoparkFforest Fawr Geopark was the first Geopark to be designated in Wales having gained membership of both the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO-assisted Global Network of National Geoparks in October 2005. The Geopark aims to promote and support sustainable tourism and other opportunities to...
(Wales, UK) - Gea Norvegica Geopark (Norway)
- Geological Mining Park of Sardinia (Italy)
- GeoMôn GeoparkGeomonGeoMôn or Anglesey Geopark, was admitted to the European Geoparks Network and to the UNESCO-assisted Global Network of National Geoparks in May 2009...
(Wales, UK) - Harz - Brunswick Land - Eastphalia National Geopark (Germany)
- Hateg Country Dinosaurs Geopark (Romania)
- Katla Geopark (Iceland)
- Madonie Geopark (Italy)
- Maestrazgo Geopark (Spain)
- Magma Geopark (Norway)
- Marble Arch Caves Global GeoparkMarble Arch Caves Global GeoparkThe Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark straddles the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is centred on the Marble Arch Caves and in 2001 it became one of the first Geoparks to be designated in Europe....
(Northern Ireland, UK & Republic of Ireland) - Muskau Arch Geopark (Germany/Poland)
- Naturtejo Geopark (Portugal)
- North Pennines AONB GeoparkNorth PenninesThe North Pennines is the northernmost section of the Pennine range of hills which runs north-south through northern England. It lies between Carlisle to the west and Darlington to the east...
(England, UK) - Northwest Highlands Geopark (Scotland, UK)
- Novohrad - Nograd GeoparkNovohrad - Nograd GeoparkThe Novohrad – Nograd Geopark is an international Geopark in the Pannonian basin, situated in Central Europe. Covering an area of , it straddles the border between Hungary and Slovakia and is the first transnational Geopark in the world...
(Hungary/Slovakia) - Papuk GeoparkPapuk Geoparkthumb|250px|right|Papuk MountainThe Papuk Geopark is a geopark in Croatia which is positioned in two counties, Požega-Slavonia and Virovitica-Podravina, and seizes upland forests of the Papuk and Krndija mountains, and edges of agricultural fields. The total area of Park is 33600 hectares...
(Croatia) - Parc naturel régional du Luberon (France)
- Petrified Forest of Lesvos Geopark (Greece)
- Psiloritis Geopark (Greece)
- Reserve Geologique de Haute Provence (France)
- Rocca di Cerere Geopark (Italy)
- Rokua Geopark (Finland)
- Shetland GeoparkGeopark ShetlandGeopark Shetland is the name used by the Geopark formally established in September 2009 on its entry into the European Geoparks Network. The Geopark extends across the entire Shetland archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland...
(Scotland, UK) - Sierra Norte de Sevilla Geopark (Spain)
- Sobrarbe Geopark (Spain)
- Styrian Eisenwurzen Geopark (Austria)
- Subbeticas Geopark (Spain)
- Swabian Alb Geopark (Germany)
- Terra.Vita Geopark (Germany)
- Tuscan Mining Park (Italy)
- Vikos-Aoos Geopark (Greece)
- Villuercas Ibores (Spain)
- Vulkaneifel Geopark Germany)
Former members of EGN
(at 23 November 2011):- Abberley and Malvern Hills GeoparkAbberley and Malvern Hills GeoparkAbberley and Malvern Hills Geopark covers 1250 square kilometres in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire in England. It was formerly a member of the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO-assisted Global Geoparks Network though withdrew from both in 2008...
(England, UK) - Astrobleme, Rochechouart (France)
- Kamptal Geopark (Austria)
- Lochaber Geopark (Scotland, UK)
- Mecklenburg Ice-age Landscape Geopark (Germany)