Introduction
The European Geoparks Network was established in June 2000 by four Geoparks:
- Reserve Geologique de Haute-Provence – France
- Natural History Museum of Lesvos Petrified Forest – (Island of Lesvos) Greece
- Geopark Gerolstein/Vulkaneifel – Germany and
- Maestrazgo Cultural Park – Spain
Main objective of the cooperation between Geoparks is the protection of geological heritage and the promotion of sustainable development of their territories in Europe.
The above listed Geoparks signed a convention on Lesvos Island, Greece in June 2000 declaring the creation of the European Geoparks Network. The purpose of this general designation was to share information and expertise, as well as definition of common tools.
The Network owns the “European Geopark” trademark registered within all countries in the European Community.
In April 2001 the Network signed with UNESCO (Division of Earth Sciences) an official agreement of collaboration placing the Network under the auspices of the organization.
In October 2005 the Network in the frame of the existing agreement of collaboration with UNESCO (Division of Earth Sciences) signed an official declaration (Madonie declaration) according to which the EGN is recognised as the official branch of the UNESCO – Global Geoparks Network in Europe. With this declaration UNESCO recognises that the European Geoparks Network is a reference to follow for the creation of similar Continental Networks of Geoparks worldwide.
IMPORTANT DATES
3-5 June 2000
FOUNDING MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
SIGNATURE of the CONVENTION for the CREATION of the EUROPEAN GEOPARK LABEL
Place: Mytilene, Lesvos island (Greece)
During a ceremony organised in Mytilene in the presence of representatives of the Greek government and the press, the representatives of the four founding territories signed the convention defining the use of the European Geopark label, its conditions and attributes and its constitutional charter.
October 2000
1st European Geoparks CC Meeting
1st ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Place: Maestrazgo Cultural Park, in Molinos, Teruel, Spain
During the first annual conference, organized in Molinos, Teruel, Spain the establishment of EGN we announced and the procedure to welcome new members in the Network
March 2001
2nd European Geoparks CC Meeting
Place: Vulkaneifel Geopark Gerolstein – GERMANY
New members:
- Astrobleme Rochechouart – FRANCE
- Psiloritis Nature Park – GREECE
20 April 2001
SIGNATURE of the CONVENTION of COOPERATION between UNESCO and the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Place: Parco Cabo de Gata – Nijar, Andalucia (Spain)
This signing took place on the occasion of the opening ceremony of a transnational meeting on the “Management of protected natural spaces and sustainable development” organised by the Junta of Andalucia in partnership with the Regional Council of Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur in the frame of the INTERREG IIC programme.
June 2001
3rd European Geoparks CC Meeting
Place: Cabo de Gata – Nijar Geopark – Andalucia – SPAIN
New member:
- Nature Park Capo de Gata – SPAIN
October 2001
4th European Geoparks CC Meeting
2nd ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
First ceremony for the integration of New Geoparks into the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK (5-10-2001)
Place: Lesvos (Greece)
New members:
- Terra Vita Nature Park – GERMANY
- Copper Coast – IRELAND
- Marble arch caves and Cuilcagh Mountain Park – NORTH IRELAND -UK
- Madonie Nature Park – ITALY
- Rocca di Cerere Cultural Park – ITALY
February 2002
5th European Geoparks CC Meeting
Place: Madonie – Sicily-ITALY
June 2002
6th European Geoparks CC Meeting
Place: Fermanagh Marble Arch caves Geopark – NORTH IRELAND/UK
New members:
l Kamptal Geopark – AUSTRIA
l Eisenwurzen Nature park – AUSTRIA
October 2002
7th European Geoparks CC Meeting
3rd ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Kamptal Geopark (Austria)
February 2003
8th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Terra Vita Geopark – GERMANY
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members (2003-2005)
Coordinator: Nickolas Zouros, Greece
Vice-Coordinator: Patrick MacKeever, Ireland
June 2003
9th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Eisenwurzen Geopark – AUSTRIA
New members:
l North Pennines Natural Park – UK
October 2003
10th European Geoparks Meeting
4th ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Psiloritis Geopark (Greece)
New members:
l Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark – UK
February 2004
ESTABLISHMENT of the GLOBAL GEOPARKS NETWORK
UNESCO Headquarters Paris (France)
In February 2004 the UNESCO international group of experts assembled in Paris where the following items were discussed and decided: a) the establishment of a Global UNESCO Network of Geoparks b) the acceptance of the Operational Guidelines for application on the global Network. It was also decided that the existing 17 European Geoparks and 8 new Chinese Geoparks be included in the Global UNESCO Network of Geoparks.
March 2004
11th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Rocca di Cerere – Sicily – ITALY
June 2004
12th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Reserve Geologique du Haute Province Digne – FRANCE
October 2004
13th European Geoparks Meeting
Madonie Declaration – Cooperation agreement between UNESCO and the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Madonie Geopark (Italy)
In October 2004 during the 5th European Geoparks Meeting held in Petralia Sottana, Madonie Geopark, a new agreement between the Division of Earth Sciences of UNESCO and the European Geoparks Network was officially signed. According to this agreement: ”A European territory wishing to become a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Geoparks must submit a full application dossier to the European Geoparks Network, which acts as the integration organisation into the UNESCO Network for the European continent. The Division of Earth Sciences of UNESCO recognises that the European Geoparks Network is the reference to follow for the creation of other continental networks of geoparks.”
5th ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK 2004
Madonie Geopark (Italy)
Welcome of five new Geoparks. The EGN has already 22 members.
Results of the 1stRevalidation procedure of the EGN members
March 2005
14th European Geoparks CC Meeting
Place: Bergstrasse –Odenwald Geopark GERMANY
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members (2005-2007)
Coordinator: Nickolas Zouros, Greece
Vice-Coordinator: Patrick MacKeever, Ireland
New members:
l Hateg Country Dinosaurs Geoparks – ROMANIA
l Parco Del Beigua – ITALY
June 2005
15th European Geoparks CC Meeting
Place: Copper Coast Geopark – IRELAND
October 2005
16th European Geoparks CC Meeting
6th ANNUAL MEETING of the EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK
Lesvos Petrified Forest Geopark (Greece)
Welcome of four new Geoparks.
The EGN has already 25 members.
Results of the 2nd Revalidation procedure of the EGN members.
March 2006
17th European Geoparks CC Meeting
Place: European Geopark Astrobleme Châtaigneraie Limousine–France
July 2006
18th European Geoparks CC Meeting
Place: North Pennines AONB – European and Global Geopark
New members:
- Cabo de Gata – Nijar Natural Park – Andalucia – SPAIN
- Naturtejo Geopark – PORTUGAL
- Sierras Subbeticas Natural Park – Andalucia – SPAIN
- Sobrarbe Geopark – Aragon – SPAIN
- Gea Norvegica – NORWAY
September 2006
18th European Geoparks Meeting
2nd International Conference on Geoparks
Place: Belfast (Northern Ireland)
Welcome of six new Geoparks.
Results of the 3rd Revalidation procedure of the EGN members.
March 2007
19th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Vulkaneifel European Geopark (Germany)
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members (2007-2009)
Coordinator: Nickolas Zouros, Greece
Vice-Coordinator: Patrick MacKeever, Ireland
New members:
- Sardinia Geominerario Park – ITALY
- Papuk geopark – CROATIA
- Lochaber Geopark – Scotland UK
September 2007
20th European Geoparks Meeting
7th EUROPEAN GEOPARKS CONFERENCE
Place: Northwest Highlands Geopark (Scotland UK)
Welcome of four new Geoparks.
- Papuk Geopark – CROATIA
- Lochaber Geopark – SCOTLAND, UK
- English Riviera Geopark – ENGLAND, UK
- Adamello – Brenta Nature Park – ITALY
Results of the 4th Revalidation procedure of the EGN members.
April 2008
21st European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Beigua European and Global Geopark (Italy)
New members:
Adamello Brenta Nature Park – ITALY
June 2008
3rd International Conference on Geoparks
Terra Vita Geopark (Germany)
September 2008
22nd European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Bohemian Paradise Geopark – CZECH REPUBLIC
New members:
Rocca di Cerere Geopark – ITALY
April 2009
23rd European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Geological and Mining Park of Sardinia – ITALY
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members (2009-2011)
Coordinator: Nickolas Zouros, Greece
Vice-Coordinator: Patrick MacKeever, Ireland
New members:
Geo Mon Geopark – WALES
Arouca Geopark – CZECH REPUBLIC
September 2009
24th European Geoparks Meeting
8th European Geoparks Conference
Naturtejo Geopark – PORTUGAL
Welcome of five new Geoparks
New members:
- Rocca di Cerere Geopark – ITALY
- Geo Mon Geopark – WALES
- Arouca Geopark – PORTUGAL
- Geopark Shetland – Scotland – UK
- Chelmos – Vouraikos Geopark – GREECE
March 2010
25th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Luberon Geopark – FRANCE
April 2010
4th International Conference on Geoparks
Langkawi – MALAYSIA
September 2010
26th European Geoparks Meeting
9th European Geoparks Conference – 10th Anniversary of EGN
Lesvos Petrified Forest Geopark – GREECE
Welcome of seven new Geoparks
New members:
- Novohrad – Nograd Geopark – HUNGARY and SLOVAKIA
- Magma Geopark – NORWAY
- Basque Coast Geopark, Pais Vasco – SPAIN
- Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano, Campania – ITALY
- Rokua Geopark – FINLAND
- Tuscan Mining Park, Toscana – ITALY
- Vikos – Aoos Geopark – GREECE
March 2011
27th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Forest Fawr Geopark, Wales, UK
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members (2011-2013)
Coordinator: Nickolas Zouros, Greece
Vice-Coordinator: Patrick MacKeever, Ireland
New members:
· Muskau Arch Geopark – Germany/Poland
September 2011
28th European Geoparks Meeting
10th European Geoparks Conference
Gea Norvegica – Norway
Welcome of seven new Geoparks
New members:
- Muskau Arch Geopark – Germany/Poland
- Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park, Andalucia – Spain
- Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark – Republic of Ireland
- Katla Geopark – Iceland
- Massif du Bauges Geopark – France
- Apuan Alps Geopark – Italy
- Villuercas -Ibores-Jara Geopark – Spain
March 2012
29th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Subbeticas Geopark
May 2012
5th International Conference on Geoparks
Unzen Volcanic Area – Shimabara – Japan
September 2012
30th European Geoparks Meeting
11th European Geoparks Conference
Arouca Geopark – Portugal
Welcome of four new Geoparks
New members:
- Carnic Alps Geopark – Austria
- Chablais Geopark – France
- Central Catalunya Geopark – Spain
- Bakony-Balaton Geopark – Hungary
March 2013
31st European Geoparks Meeting
UNESCO – Paris
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members (2013-2015)
Coordinator: Nickolas Zouros, Greece
Vice-Coordinator: Kristin Rangnes, Norway
New members:
- Azores Geopark – Portugal
- Karavanke/Karawanken – Slovenia & Austria
September 2013
32nd European Geoparks Meeting
12th European Geoparks Conference 2013
Cilento e Vallo di Diano, Italy
New members:
- Idria Geopark – Slovenia
- Hondsrug Geopark – Netherlands
- Sesia – Val Grande Geopark – Italy
- Kula Geopark – Turkey
March 2014
33rd European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Sobrarbe Geopark, Spain
New members:
- Molina Alto Tajo – Spain
September 2014
34th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Geopark Harz Braunschweiger Land Ostfalen, GERMANY
New members:
- El Hierro – Spain
- Monts d’Ardèche – France
- Ertz der Alpen – Austria
- Odsherred – Denmark
- Terras de Cavaleiros – Portugal
March 2015
35th European Geoparks Meeting
UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
The EGN CC decides that the EGN will continue operating as the Regional Network of the Global Geoparks Network in Europe and approves the EGN Rules of Operation.
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members (2015-2017)
Coordinator: Nickolas Zouros, Greece
Vice-Coordinator: Kristin Rangnes, Norway
New members:
- Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands Geopark – Spain
September 2015
36th European Geoparks Meeting
13th European Geoparks Conference 2015
Rokua Geopark, Finland
The EGN CC approves the statutes of the Global Geoparks Network to become an International Association.
New members:
- Reykjanes Geopark – Iceland
- Pollino Geopark – Italy
- Sitia Geopark – Greece
- Troodos Geopark – Cyprus
November 2015
38th UNESCO General Conference
The UNESCO General Conference approves the IGGP Statutes and the UNESCO Global Geoparks Operational Guidelines.
A new era starts for the GGN and EGN!
March 2016
37th European Geoparks Meeting
Basque Coast UNESCO Global Geopark, Pais Vasco, Spain
September 2016
38th European Geoparks Meeting
7th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks
English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, UK
March 2017
39th European Geoparks Meeting
Buren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, Ireland
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members (2017-2018)
Coordinator: Nickolas Zouros, Greece
Vice-Coordinator: Kristin Rangnes, Norway
May 2017
UNESCO Executive Board endorses the new UNESCO Global Geoparks Members.
Among them 2 new UNESCO Global Geoparks in Europe
- Causses du Quercy, France
- Las Loras, Spain
September 2017
40th European Geoparks Meeting
14th European Geoparks Conference 2017
Azores UNESCO Global Geopark, Portugal
March 2018
41st European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Karavanke/Karawanken Geopark, SLOVENIA & AUSTRIA
Election of EGN Coordinators – EGN AC Members
Coordinator: Kristin Rangnes, Norway
Vice-Coordinator: Babbis Fassoulas, Greece
September 2018
42nd European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Adamello Brenta UNESCO Global Geopark, Italy
8th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks
Place: Adamello Brenta UNESCO Global Geopark, Italy
March 2019
43rd European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Swabian Alb UNESCO Global Geopark, Germany
September 2019
44th European Geoparks Meeting
Place: Sierra Norte de Sevilla UNESCO Global Geopark, Spain
15th European Geoparks Conference
Place: Sierra Norte de Sevilla UNESCO Global Geopark, Spain
April 2020
1st EGN Digital Forum
ONLINE DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC
September 2020
2nd EGN Digital Forum
ONLINE DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC
January 2021
3rd EGN Digital Forum Tuesday, 26 January 2021
ONLINE DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC
April 2021
4th EGN Digital Forum, 13th April 2021
ONLINE DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC
September 2021
5th EGN Digital Forum 31 August – 1September 2021
Place: Papuk UNESCO Global Geopark Croatia
HYBRID DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC
December 2021
9th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks – DIGITAL
Jeju UNESCO Global Geopark, Republic of Korea
March 2022
45th European Geoparks Meeting
De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark, Netherlands
Election of EGN Coordinators
Coordinator: Sophie Justice, France
Vice – Coordinator : Charalambos Fassoulas, Greece
September 2022
46th European Geoparks Network CC Meeting
Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark, Italy
16th European Geoparks Conference 2022
Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark, Italy
March, 27th to 30th 2023
47th European Geoparks Meeting
Hateg UNESCO Global Geopark, Romania
The EGN CC agreed to changes and additions in the EGN Operation Rules.
September 2023
10th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks
M’Goun UNESCO Global Geopark, Morocco
48th European Geoparks Network CC Digital Meeting
March 2024
49th European Geoparks Meeting
Kula Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark, Turkey
Election of EGN Coordinators
Coordinator: Sophie Justice, France
Vice – Coordinator : Charalambos Fassoulas, Greece
September 2024
50th European Geoparks Network CC Digital Meeting
October 2024
17th European Geoparks Conference 2024
Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, Iceland
March 2025
51st European Geoparks Meeting
Paris UNESCO Headquarters – Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of IGGP
September 2025
11th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks
Kutralkura UNESCO Global Geopark, Chile
November 2025
52nd European Geoparks Network CC Digital Meeting
March 2026
53rd European Geoparks Meeting
Karawanken-Karavanke UNESCO Global Geopark, Austria and Slovenia
Election of EGN Coordinators
Coordinator: Ilias Valiakos, Greece
Vice – Coordinator : Cristian Ciobanu, Romania