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UNESCO Global Geoparks in Russia, Azerbaijan, Sweden and EU countries
June/December 2021
part of the PLATFORM Methods Course
Case Study presentation: up to 5 ECTS credits
Contacts: Rod Stevens, [email protected]
Alexander Ivanov [email protected]
Course website:https://kermitcooperation.wixsite.com/platform
Geoparks are created around objects of geological heritage of global importance. UNESCO Global Geoparks are unique, unified geographic areas where sites and landscapes of international geological importance are managed through an integrated vision of education, research, sustainable socio-economic development and heritage conservation. Global Geoparks are sources of unique knowledge of special value.
These are primarily earth sciences, economics, culture, including the culture of nature management. The Geopark takes into account the social and economic needs of the local population, protects the landscape in which they live and preserves their cultural identity. Local customs and local knowledge, practices and management systems should be incorporated along with science in the planning and management of the area.
Geological heritage of international importance must be confirmed by independent experts [Statutes and Operational Guidelines of the UNESCO Global Geoparks].
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the protection of geological heritage locally and nationally. The management body must
not participate directly in the sale of geological objects such as fossils, minerals,
polished rocks and ornamental rocks of the type normally found in so-called “rockshops”
within the UNESCO Global Geopark (regardless of their origin) and should
actively discourage unsustainable trade in geological materials as a whole. Where
clearly justified as a responsible activity and as part of delivering the most effective and
sustainable means of site management, it may permit sustainable collecting of
geological materials for scientific and educational purposes from naturally renewable
sites within the UNESCO Global Geopark. Trade of geological materials based on such
a system may be tolerated in exceptional circumstances, provided it is clearly and
publicly explained, justified and monitored as the best option for the Global Geopark in
relation to local circumstances. Such circumstances will be subject to approval by the
UNESCO Global Geoparks Council on a case by case basis.
Before documents on the inclusion of a Geopark in the UNESCO global system of Geoparks are prepared and sent to UNESCO, it is necessary to develop recommendations for managing the socio-economic development of the territory and creating a comfortable environment. This is the preliminary step that a region or state must take in order to demonstrate the economic viability of the concept of transforming an existing territory into a Global Geopark.
In particular, the following questions need to be answered:
Can tourism and handicrafts be made sustainable sectors of the economy? Will irreparable damage to heritage sites be caused by an increase in economic and social activity?
Actually it is necessary to complete the Case Study based on the Platform project methodology.
For the examination of the proposed Case Study, experts from SGEM, Partners from Sweden, Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as all interested specialists regardless of nationality are invited. At the same time, by the experts of the Platform project, an important additional task will be solved- the identification of Geological Heritage sites as a core of Geoparks in Russia, Azerbaijan, Sweden and other European countries.
We welcome everyone who wants to enjoy the magical symbiosis of Science and Art! Become our partner, enrich your research experience and reap the benefits of extensive cooperation between distinguished scientists from all around the world.