Andrasanu EIP Sinaia GEoconservation 2013 Wednesday

Project LLP nr. 12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09 1

GEOCONSERVATION & GEOPARKS

Alexandru Andrăşanu

University of Bucharest, Romania

Hateg Country Dinosaurs Geopark

Project LLP nr. 12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

Geotop

Geosite

Geodiversity

Geological heritage

Geoconservation

Geoeducation

Geoparks

90` - New words & new concepts

The Stein Family - GeaNorvegica

Geosciences play a pivotal role in the well being of people… BUT - Almost absent in public perception; - Brilliant minds do not pursue

geosciences as a career; - Does not even find a proper place in

school curriculum...

Geosciences perception in the broad society

Geosciences - just rocks – boring!?


• 1992 Rio Summit / Agenda 21 / Geosciences play a pivotal role in the well being of people… it does not rank high in the eyes of the society. Policy makers and bureaucrats make wrong decisions;

(IGEO Newsletter, no 1, Florenta, 2004);

• Geoconservation - the “forgotten half” of the nature conservation (Sharples, 2002);

• Important part of natural and cultural heritage to be protected

(Earth Memory Declaration - Digne declaration, 1992 )

Geosciences position in nature conservation activities


1909 Sarek and Padjelanta national Park

The first National Park in Europe, North Lapland, Sweden

National Parks


1976 MAB – Man and Biosphere Reserves

1981, Greece, Mt Olymp, Biosphere reserve

The World Heritage Convention World Heritage List

• Established in 1972

• 180 / 191 UN member states are signatories

• Governed by a Committee of 21 Members

• 166 natural sites from a total of 851 sites (2007)

• 71 from 191 properties inscribed for natural values are primary value for Earth Science


Organizing the new words and concepts

• Geodiversity - variety of rocks, fossils, minerals, landforms, soils, tectonic, hydro geologic features, processes shaping the landscape;

• Geotope / Geosite – a place / an area with unique or rare geological features, important for science and / or education;

• Geological heritage (geoheritage) - part of geodiversity we enjoy more;

• Geoconservation a new area of applied geology aiming to assure the sustainable use of geological heritage and to promote geosciences. Main areas of activity:

– Geodiversity evaluation

– Geotourism

– Geoeducation

– Geoparks

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CULTURAL IDENTITY

BIODIVERSITY

Geological heritage

Natural heritage

(except the geological one)

Cultural heritage

GEOTOURISM (Economic benefits)

GEOPARKS Geopark networks

(Economic, social & cultural

benefits)

(Local identity)

Geodiversity evaluation

(Geodiversity Action Plans

Geodiversity audit)

GEODIVERSITY

Geoconservation - basic concepts, relationships and activities

Legal and institutional framework

History

• Up to 1991 – Subordinated to other activities related to nature conservation

• 1991/1992 – 2000: development of different methods for geological heritage conservation;

• 2000 – 2004 – Geopark - Global concept

- Development of EGN

- Setup of Global Geoparks Network (GGN)

• Since 2004 – new area of applied geology

- CE Recommendation 3 / 2004 (Geologic heritage)

- IUCN (2012); / Worldwide activities

- UNESCO (program ?)

Geoconservation development Scientific publication GEOHERITAGE - ProGEO publication (Wimbledon. W., & Brilla, J. )(edts)

Books Geoheritage in Europe and its conservation (Wimbledon, W., Smith – Mayer, S.) (edts)

Research projects Educational programs (EVS case study) Geoparks development


Geoconservation is giving “life” to rocks, is telling stories about our planet to make people to understand and love it.


Create and organize stories into a context, based on scientific data

Cutie / Cuchie, Hateg (Ro) The sharpening stone (Eng)

Earth materials used for different human needs can tell us two stories: an anthropological one and a geological one.

Hay making

The object has an anthropological story about…

…connected to rural economy

The sharpening stone is made from sandstone formed in a tropical environment of the Tethys Sea, 72 million years ago, DURING THE DINOSAUR ERA

And also has a geological story



National promotion of GEOTOURISM - Thematic trail

Romania

France

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 3 x 10 objects x places = 30 object and 60 stories

St Vincent Stars

Lower Jurassic crinoids, 190 my

DIGNE (F)

Châtaigneraie Limousine (F)

Faiance

Kaolin, 2 my

The identified rocks are covering more than 800 million years of geological evolution of Europe

Copyright RGHP

Continental rocks

Marine rocks

Publications

3 simultaneous exhibitions (France and Romania) – PARIS / EYID

Intangible Heritage Geologic sites as source of legends and scientific interpretation

Design Dan Palcu

Design Dan Palcu

GEOPARK A GEOpark – is not about geology is about the Earth (GEO - Earth)

A Geopark is about people, about the dialogue between Man and Earth A geopark connects all stories for local development: cooperation, education , tourism

A GEOPARK MEANS

• A territory / local communities / local heritage;

• Strategy for economic development /Tourism destination; (Geotourism and Geoproducts);

• Nature conservation (Geoconservation);

• Innovation in education (Geoeducation);

• Strengthen local identity (rural areas);

• To be partner in European & Global Network (UNESCO)

EGN Charta (2000)

UNESCO Guidelines 2004, 2008)

KEEP IN MIND! A GEOPARK IS A LIFE PROJECT

CREATION & MANGEMENT ARE STRONG CONNECTED

Identify local values and assign a role for future activities (Interdisciplinary studies and researches) (geopark borders) Partnership for the Geopark`s Charta and Management Plan (commitment, geopark`s team and budget) - Each geopark is unique and has its role to play both in local communities and international bodies (innovative activities / approach)

National framework

Local context

Buzau Land Geopark

A balanced territory

18 localities

147 villages

134 000 ha

50000 inhabitants

30 geological sites

25 biological sites

35 cultural, historic sites

5 N2000 sites

Optimal territory A comparison between initial (light yellow) and final areas for the geopark (dark yellow)

The role of a geopark . Local business Support for development of traditional and new local products

geo-products, geotourism, local brands

Interpretation and public awareness about geological heritage / Geo-products

Spain

Germany

Portugal

Germany

France

Romania Brasil

Could generate strong brands

The role of a geopark. Geo-education

Educational materials, special toolkit (GEORIUM) or

programs: Geo-kids, Rocks detective

Mini-Georium

Discovering the plants

of the Petrified Forest

RGHP – Georium, 8 Boxes,

Fanerozoic fossils (marine and terrestrial) research methodology

New approach in education

Innovative tools and activities

Geo-kids (Germany), Rock detectives (UK)

Learning about rocks

Moulding fossils

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nature-art/3862361880/in/set-72157622034485697/


























http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/photoset.gne?set=72157622034485697&nsid=44902602@N00&lang=en-us

Local support and cooperation


European Geoparks Network – a brand of quality / Charta 2000 – 2013 (from 4 to 54 geoparks) + hundreds of other initiatives


Chinese & global stories

Global Network of National Geoparks

/ UNESCO (90 geoparks)

Margaret Patzak – UNESCO

Patrick McKeever – UNESCO


China is giving a strong

support to geopark

development program

26 Chinese geoparks

EGN structure and activities

• Committee meeting / spring and autumn – open session (iTALY, September, 2013)

• Two presidents / Advisory committee;

• Partnerships with UNESCO, IUGS, IUCN (representatives)

• European Geoparks Week;

• Promotion (website, magazine, books, media coverage)

• Conferences / courses / projects

• Validation and revalidation (every 4 years)

Dr Guy Martini

The Geoparks` story… …a French story about the ammonite slab

A piece of rock for almost everybody An good place for fossils` hunters An exciting site for geologist (190 my) A big trouble for GRHP administration

The ammonites Kings of the Mesozoic seas Extinction like dinosaurs at K/T

1992 - Kamaishi Region (Japan) decided to buy the ammonite slab RGHP made a 160 sqm cast (in 30 pcs), big exhibition in Japan, museum, twining

Lesvos

A Greek story…

Dr Nikolas

Zouros

Petrified Forest / Site museums Sigri Museum Tourism development / promotion / projects / education


• And a German story…

53

Dr Marie Luise Frey

GEOPARK

GEOTOURISM


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/08 http://www.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=2937

Messel Pitt

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/08

http://www.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=2937


Grube Messel Visiting Centre - Germany

Geoparks – future development Geoparks and UNESCO

Geoparks vs Biosfere reserves Geoparks and World Heritage List Geoparks and education

Rules to restrict the accession (by countries / by subjects) Evaluate the economic impact

The PPF CONCEPT - continuous landscape

evolution

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

“)

STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN LANDSCAPE

EVOLUTION AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES

THERE IS ALWAYS A GEOLOGIC STORY TO BE TOLD!

“The best geopark is the next one”(Guy Martini)

Thank you!

Andrasanu EIP Sinaia GEoconservation 2013 Wednesday

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