A territory…
A European Geopark is a territory, which includes a particular geological heritage and a sustainable territorial development strategy supported by a European program to promote development. It must have clearly defined boundaries and sufficient surface area for true territorial economic development.
… with a great geological heritage
A European Geopark must comprise a certain number of geological sites of particular importance in terms of their scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic appeal or educational value. The majority of sites present on the territory of a European Geopark must be part of the geological heritage, but their interest may also be archaeological, ecological, historical or cultural.
A territory developing the «Geotourism »…
A European Geopark has an active role in the economic development of its territory through enhancement of a general image linked to the geological heritage and the development of Geotourism
…in cooperation with its inhabitants
A European Geopark has direct impact on the territory by influencing its inhabitants’ living conditions and environment. The objective is to enable the inhabitants to reappropriate the values of the territory’s heritage and actively participate in the territory’s cultural revitalization as a whole.
An experimental territory…
A European Geopark develops, experiments with and enhances methods for preserving the geological heritage
…inside a thematic network
A European Geopark must work within the European Geopark Network to further the network’s development and cohesion. It must work with local enterprises to promote and support the creation of new by-products linked with the geological heritage in a complimentary spirit with the other European Geoparks Network membersUn territorio…
Un Geoparco europeo è un territorio che possiede un patrimonio geologico particolare ed una strategia di sviluppo sostenibile sorretta da un programma europeo idoneo a promuovere tale sviluppo. Deve avere confini ben definiti e una sufficiente estensione per consentire uno sviluppo economico efficace del comprensorio.