Geopark Journal is Burren Connect’s new community information column on Geopark status that is featured each week in the "North Clare" section of the Clare Champion. The idea for the column was developed following our series of public meetings on Geopark status last November, as North Clare residents asked us for more information on various aspects of Geoparks. In this column we focus on one or two specific issues each week in a question-and-answer format. Below are the issues that we have looked at so far.
What are the legislative implications of Geopark status?
How big is a Geopark? How much land does it cover?
Are Geopark sites on public or private land?
Case study 1: Managing the Northwest Highlands Geopark, Scotland
Case study 2: Managing the Vulkaneifel Geopark, Germany
Case Study 3: Managing the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Ireland
Case Study 4: Managing the English Riviera Geopark, U.K.
What are the economic benefits of Geoparks?
What does UNESCO have to do with Geoparks?
What kinds of educational activities take place in Geoparks?
How much of the Burren would be covered by a Geopark? Shouldn’t it all be included?
With regard to a Burren Geopark, who are the stakeholders?
Q. What are the legislative implications of Geopark status?
A. Geopark status is not a legislative designation and, as such, carries no statutory obligations or restrictions. It is not a World Heritage Site, a National Park, an SAC or NHA, nor a stepping stone to any of these designations. Because of this non-legislative basis, Geopark status cannot affect planning decisions or agricultural practices. The status is intended to allow day-to-day management of local land to continue “as normal.” The only protection measures present in a Geopark are national legislation measures that existed prior to the Geopark. Representatives of the management team of each of the existing Geoparks in Ireland and the UK have confirmed that the status has never been used a basis to control development or agricultural practices in those regions. To ensure that the non-legislative basis of the status is upheld into the future, the North Clare County Councillors have proposed that a statement summarising the above could be included in the County Development Plan. Back to Top
Q. How big is a Geopark? How much land does it cover?
A. A Geopark must be an area large enough to allow for true development of the regional economy, primarily through ecotourism. In other words, a single site cannot become a Geopark. Most existing Geoparks in Europe have between 10 and 15 “geosites” spread across a region as small as 125km2 (in the case of the Copper Coast Geopark in Co. Waterford) or as large as 2000 km2 (in the case of the Reserve Geologique d'Haute Provence Geopark in France). However, unlike other designations, a Geopark does not have to have continuous or “blanket” coverage of a region. Instead, a Geopark can be simply a network of individual sites, whereby the land in between each site is not part of the Geopark. So although the geosites can be spread over tens or hundreds of square kilometres, the sites themselves – i.e. the land that is part of the Geopark – may total only a few hundred square metres. This approach has worked very successfully in the Copper Coast Geopark, the Marble Arch Caves Geopark in Cos. Cavan and Fermanagh, and the North Pennines Geopark in England. Back to Top
Q. Are Geopark sites on public or private land?
A. Some Geoparks consist solely of sites in public ownership, e.g. the North Pennines Geopark in England. Other Geoparks consist of a mixture of sites on public and private land, e.g. the Copper Coast Geopark in Co. Waterford, and the Marble Arch Caves Geopark in Cos. Cavan and Fermanagh. In many Geoparks, the majority of sites are already accessible to the public, e.g. along existing way-marked ways, at known tourist attractions, and within national parks. Sites of geological interest on privately owned land are welcome in Geoparks but are included only with the agreement of the landowner. He/she and Geopark staff together devise a formal written agreement that covers issues such as the precise boundary of the site, visitor access, and site maintenance and management. These sites can be withdrawn from the Geopark if the landowner so wishes. Back to Top
A. Geopark status does not grant open access to private lands. Instead, Geoparks emphasise the need to respect private property and guide visitors onto specific managed sites and trails. Informing visitors about the vulnerability of the landscape and how it has been shaped by farming is crucial to promoting an understanding of the negative impacts of trespassing and to fostering a greater sense of respect for private property. Back to Top
The management structure of a Geopark is not pre-determined and so varies quite a bit between existing Geoparks. In general, Geoparks are managed by a mixture of representatives from the local authority, tourism and environmental agencies, and the local community. The local authority provides financial and infrastructural support, agencies provide financial support and guidance on tourism and environmental issues, and the community representatives provide insights into specific local issues, as well as local expertise. A balanced mixture of these groups is achieved in the Northwest Highlands Geopark (Scotland) which is our first case study. Back to Top
Case study 1: Managing the Northwest Highlands Geopark, Scotland
This Geopark is managed by a Core Support Group, a Steering Group, and a Stakeholders Group. The Core Support Group consists of two Geopark Officers, the Chair of the Steering Group, and representatives of organisations that promote community development (Sutherland Partnership) and natural heritage (Scottish Natural Heritage). This group reports to the Steering Group, which meets every two to three months and is made up of representatives from the above organisations, tourism agencies (Visit Scotland and Highland Council Tourism Department), community and regional councils, the British Geological Survey, the manager of the local authority (Highland Council Ward), the regional Countryside Ranger, and two local geologists. The Stakeholders Group consists of all landowners and interested parties that were involved in or affected by the Geopark; they are invited to meetings of the Steering Group. Back to Top
Case study 2: Managing the Vulkaneifel Geopark, Germany
This Geopark is managed by the Vulkaneifel Geopark limited company. The local authority and the regional business development organisation each have a 50% share in, and contribute a fixed yearly budget to, the Geopark. The management committee consists of the county commissioner, the mayors of the seven towns in the Geopark, and five representatives from local political parties, with input from regional tourism agencies and local museums. The Geopark also works directly with the forestry authority, private companies, and tourism providers on specific projects. The day-to-day running of the Geopark involves a managing director, a scientific manager, a finance and tourism officer, and an administrator. Back to Top
Case Study 3: Managing the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Ireland
This Geopark is managed jointly by Cavan County Council and Fermanagh District Council, with strategic participation by the Forest Service of Northern Ireland and Coillte. The Geopark Joint Committee is supported by environmental organisations (the Environment and Heritage Service and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), geological agencies (the Geological Surveys of Ireland and Northern Ireland), tourism agencies (Cavan Tourism and the Breifne Mountains Company), educational organisations (Gortatole Outdoor Education Centre and the Field Studies Council), and the Heritage Council. Back to Top
Case Study 4: Managing the English Riviera Geopark, U.K.
The English Riviera Geopark is managed by the English Riviera Geopark Organisation, which includes a Steering Group and various Working Groups. The Steering Group is made up of representatives from the local council, a local show cave (Kents Cavern), a regional business development agency (Torbay Business Forum), various conservation and heritage agencies (Natural England, Heritage South Devon, Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust), a community education group, local schools, third-level colleges, the University of Plymouth, and two Geopark Officers. There are three Working Groups that report to the Steering Group: site access and conservation, education and community, and tourism and marketing. Back to Top
What are the economic benefits of Geoparks?
Global / European Geopark status is recognised as a powerful way to bring economic benefits to a region by promoting the development of sustainable, or “eco”- tourism. Members of the Global- or European Geoparks Networks can use the logos of these networks, and of UNESCO (which supports the Geopark initiative) as quality labels to draw visitors into the region on the basis of its geological diversity and high standards in information provision. Furthermore, Geoparks aim to encourage visitors to extend their stay in the region by promoting local accommodation, local restaurants and cafés, local activities, local services and local produce. In essence, Geopark status provides an opportunity to promote both the natural landscape of a region and a multitude of tourism-related facilities and services in the area. Importantly, Geoparks are not a summer-only attraction – the rocks and landscape exist all year round! – and so can promote local facilities and services both in- and off-season.
The Geopark label can also serve to attract external funding into a region to carry out specific developmental works. Several existing European Geoparks, e.g. the Marble Arch Caves in Co. Fermanagh, the Lesvos Petrified Forest in Greece, and the Vulkaneifel Geopark in Germany, have successfully secured funding from EU programmes such as LEADER and INTERREG, particularly for collaborative, international projects. Back to Top
What does UNESCO have to do with Geoparks?
UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) operates two official programs that focus on the protection of natural heritage: the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) and the World Heritage Convention (WHC). The WNBR deals with biological diversity, and the WHC deals with natural and cultural sites that are of Outstanding Universal Value, i.e. the best of their kind in the world. Because the same rock type can occur in many places across the globe, geological sites rarely meet this OUV criterion. Nonetheless, UNESCO recognises the need to safeguard landscapes and geological formations that are key witnesses to the history of the Earth. Because of this, UNESCO actively supports the Global Geoparks Network, which is the only global initiative dealing specifically with geological heritage. Under the umbrella of UNESCO, internationally important geological sites gain worldwide recognition, are managed in a sustainable way, and are used as focal points for sustainable economic development in what are often disadvantaged rural areas. UNESCO is also heavily involved in maintaining high standards in the Global Geoparks Network, and sets out a stringent list of criteria that must be met prior to Geopark status being awarded. These criteria include the significance of Geopark sites, management structure, sustainable development strategy, sustainability of financial commitments, and the nature of educational activities, and are assessed during a field visit to the area by a group of independent UNESCO experts. The status of each Geopark is reassessed every four years to ensure that standards are maintained. More information on Global Geoparks Network standards can be found at www.unesco.org/science/earth/geoparks/2008guidelinesJuneendorsed.pdf. Back to Top
What kinds of educational activities take place in Geoparks?
Existing Geoparks operate a whole spectrum of educational activities for both visitors to the region and local adults and children. These activities aim to strengthen people’s interest in the exciting and turbulent history, and future, of the Earth, and include activities that are led by a guide or teacher as well as activities that people can undertake independently. Guided educational activities include training courses for school teachers, evening education courses for local adults, evening talks and workshops with experts, workshops for children and guided walks by experts on the geology and landscape of a region. Other successful educational programmes include geology clubs for children, with events such as craft and games days, mine and quarry visits, and fossil hunts. Most Geoparks also provide opportunities for independent learning and exploration through brochures for walking and cycling trails with interpretation of the local geology and landscape. Back to Top
The following are answers to specific questions posed to us by members of the public, that arose following our recent leaflet campaign (January 2009).
How much of the Burren would be covered by a Geopark? Shouldn’t it all be included?
The proposed model for a Geopark in the Burren is that of “serial sites”, whereby the Geopark would comprise simply a network of sites of geological importance, and the land in between each site would not be part of the Geopark. The alternative scenario, “blanket coverage” of the Burren, would not be feasible as (1) this would affect a significant amount of privately owned land, and (2) the size of the area would require considerably more resources for its management and maintenance than are available. Geopark sites would be chosen on a site-by-site basis, depending on the importance, variety and number of geological features present, but also on the ease with which the site can be accessed.
In terms of the area over which sites would be chosen, the most commonly accepted definition of the southern limit of the Burren is the ring of towns consisting of Doolin – Lisdoonvarna – Kilfenora – Kilinaboy – Corofin – Tubber. Geopark sites would be chosen within the area defined by these towns and the north and west coasts of North Clare. Although the initial focus would be on sites within Co. Clare, Galway Co. Co. have expressed their interest in including the Galway part of the Burren in any potential Geopark. Back to Top
With regard to a Burren Geopark, who are the stakeholders?
The stakeholders would include all individuals, groups, and organisations that have a direct interest, involvement, or investment in the Geopark. In other words, the stakeholders would include all local residents (particularly landowners and farmers), teachers and other education providers, local businesses (particularly those involved in tourism), and community groups. Other important stakeholders would be organisations that are already involved in management or development in the Burren, e.g. Clare Co. Co., the Geological Survey of Ireland, Shannon Development, the Burren IFA, Burren Life, Burrenbeo Trust, the North Clare Area Network, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the National Monuments Service. Back to Top
