Activities in UNESCO Global Geoparks

• This call to host the 10th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks in 2022 is open to countries or regions that already have functional UNESCO Global Geoparks, whose contribution will be essential for the success of the event. If your organization or country is interested in hosting the 2022 Conference, you are kindly invited to submit a well-developed technical proposal specifying the offer. 
• To apply, please follow the instructions of the full call for hosts of the 10th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks in 2022 (pdf) and send your applications by 30 April 2020.
• The candidates will then have an opportunity to reply to comments on their application by the UNESCO Secretariat and GGN Executive Board until 20 June 2020. The candidates will have the opportunity to present a final version of their bid (10-15 min) before the GGN Executive Board at its meeting on 16 September 2020.
• For more information: http://globalgeoparksnetwork.org/?p=3850

• The venue of the symposium will be either Qeshm Island, Iran

• The official registration for the 9th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks will start in January 2020. Please register for participation through the registration webpage in January next year.
• The regular fee ($300) applies to those who register by May 1th, 2020, and the registration fee will gradually increase afterwards.
• Programe: September 14-22, 2020
• Geofair : Application deadline : May 1st, 2020. To apply, after you sign-up and fill out the requested information for E-registration.
• Field trips: September 18, 13:00-18:00

• The GGN Executive Boardsupports the participation of UNESCO Global Geoparks in Tourism fairs and encourages Geoparks in their Collective participation through the GGN Stands in ITB Berlin (4-8 March 2020) and FITUR Madrid (22-26 January 2020), as well as in other International Tourism fairs in other countries i.e. China, UK, Italy, Japan etc.
• The need of coordination of these activities will be achieved through the GGN Working Group on Tourism.
• The GGN ExB asks all UNESCO Global Geoparks to reply the possibility to participate in 2020 in International Tourism Fairs • either BY Geopark Stand • or BY Country/Region stand.
• Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark, Portugal is coordinating with the GGN WG on Tourism and the EGN, the common participation in FITUR Madrid and ITB Berlin in 2020.
• We request that you fill your Registration form and send it to Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark Carlos Carvalho   E-mail: geral@naturtejo.com until the 30th November 2019 so that we can better organize the Geoparks common booth and agenda for the fairs. 
• Registration document for participation in FITUR Madrid 2020 and ITB Berlin 2020 [pdf]

• The Course will take place from 1st to 10th June, 2020.
• Application deadline: April 30th, 2020
• The Course is hosted and delivered by the University of the Aegean – Department of Geography and the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest at Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark, North Aegean Region, Greece, one of the first Global Geoparks in the world.
• Target Groups: The course is open to Geopark staff members, geoscientists, local development professionals, PhD and Master students and graduates involved in geo-education in relation with geo-conservation, popularization of Earth sciences, geopark management, geotourism and sustainable development of rural areas.
• All participants are kindly requested to complete the Application form (www.petrifiedforest.gr/geoparks2020) and submit it electronically to the Organising Committee.
• Registration Fee 500 €
• For further information all participants are kindly requested to contact:

• The GGN Awards will be presented during the 9th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks 2020
• Please ensure that the Geopark Managers and the Geopark Evaluators proposals  is submitted by December 31st,  2019 for the Geoparks who received evaluation/revalidation missions done during 2018 and 2019 to: E-mail: ggnassociation@hotmail.com

• The 15th Conference of the European Geoparks Network will be held from 23 to 27 September 2019 in Seville in Spain
• The slogan chosen for this conference is “Memory of Earth, future for people”, focusing on the Sustainable Development of Geoparks and Protected Nature Areas.

• International Mountain Day is a chance to highlight that for rural youth, living in the mountains can be hard. Migration from the mountains leads to abandoned agriculture, land degradation and a loss of ancient cultural traditions.
• Education and training, market access, diverse employment opportunities and good public services can ensure a brighter future for young people in the mountains.
• This year, youth will take the lead and demand that mountains and mountain peoples become central in the national and international development agendas; receive more attention, investments and tailored research.

• On Friday 22th November 2019, during the 2nd National symposium of Morocco Geological Heritage held in Rabat (Morocco),  the official ceremony for the signing of the Fundatory Declaration for the creation of the African UNESCO Global Geopark Network between M’Goun UGGp (Morocco) and Ngorongoro-Lengai UGGp (Tanzania). 

• The 10th National Conference of the Japanese Geoparks Network (JGN) was held from November 2 to 5, 2019 in Oita, Japan.
• Over 1000 participants gathered from all over Japan mainly from 9 UNESCO Global Geoparks, 35 National Geoparks and 15 aspiring Geoparks

• Rinjani-Lombok UNESCO Global Geopark, Indonesia
• September 3rd - 6th 2019

• UNESCO Global Geoparks Promotion and Activities in ITB Berlin 6-10 March 2019
• The GGN booth at ITB (Hall 4.1b Adventure Travel – Responsible Tourism) presented under the same umbrella the UNESCO Global Geoparks as sustainable tourism destinations and the activities of the Global Geoparks Network – GGN, APGN and EGN!
• The GGN booth was coordinated by Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark together with Messel Pit WHS and the Global Geopark partners.
• This year the GGN stand gave special emphasis to the presentation of the collaboration projects and activities between Geoparks which help to disseminate best practices and the creation of new tools in communication and geo-products.

• From 24 to 28 February 2019

• The presence of the Geoparks stand and activities in FITUR 2019, one of the biggest tourism fairs in the world, was very successful and contributed significantly to our common efforts to raise the profile and visibility of the UNESCO Global Geoparks as quality brand in tourism and sustainable tourism destinations!

• Lesvos Island – Greece
• Registration deadline: May 15th, 2019
• The Course will take place from 31st May to 10th June, 2019.
• Target Groups: The course is open to Geopark staff members, geoscientists, local development professionals and students involved in geo-education in relation with geo-conservation, popularization of Earth sciences, geopark management, geotourism and sustainable development of rural areas.

• The IGGP of UNESCO is launching a Mentorships and Knowledge Exchange programme, which will contribute, in particular, to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4, 8 and 17, with the financial and operational support of UNESCO’s two partner organisations, the Jeju Province Development Corporation (JPDC) of the Republic of Korea and the Global Geoparks Network association (GGN).
• As Mentors, you will be an experienced UNESCO Global Geopark, willing to be hosting Trainees from aspiring UNESCO Global Geoparks. You will immerse them in the day-to-day running of an existing UNESCO Global Geopark, sharing techniques and methods of Geopark development and management with them, including geological, educational, socio-economic and cultural aspects. Please submit your expression of interest to the IGGP Secretariat by 31 May 2019. Once the UNESCO Secretariat receives your interest, we will arrange further modalities for the financial support of UNESCO will give to the Host Geopark.

• September 8 th -14 th, 2018 - Adamello Brenta Geopark, Trentino 
• The Conference, with the main theme “Geoparks and Sustainable Development”, would be an opportunity to all participants to share their experiences, create network and exchange the best practices applied in their territories.