The Hellenic Geoparks Forum

The Hellenic Geoparks Forum was established to coordinate all the projects undertaken by the Global Geoparks of UNESCO located in Greece.

Two representatives from each UNESCO Global Geopark in Greece as well as candidates awaiting evaluation participate in the Hellenic Geoparks Forum.

The Forum’s mission is to coordinate the Greek Geoparks, draw attention to them as entities, and to embolden attempts for the visibility of the geological monuments and the sites of geological and geomorphological heritage in Greece.

 

Engagements

The Hellenic Geoparks Forum’s engagements include taking initiatives on the Geoparks’ development and national recognition as well as being a source of support and empowerment to the European Geoparks Network and the Global Geoparks Network with initiatives such as:

• Partnership with the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A) through program contracts for drawing attention to the geodiversity and the geotopes in the Geoparks of Greece.

 

• Fostering of community through network building among insular geoparks and design of activities for the promotion of Agritourism with support from the GEO-IN program of the Interreg V-A Cooperation Program Greece – Cyprus 2014-2020.

 

• Coordination of the exhibition “Memories of Earth – UNESCO Global Geoparks in Greece and Cyprus.” The exhibition was displayed in Athens, Nicosia, Sitia, Rethimno, Heraklion, Sigri in Lesvos, Thessaloniki, and Patra. The first edition of the exhibition was completed with support from the GEO-IN program of the Interreg V-A Cooperation Program Greece – Cyprus 2014-2020.

 

• Participation in the ITB Convention in Germany as an exhibitor promoting Geotourism, with support from the GEO-IN program of the Interreg V-A Cooperation Program Greece – Cyprus 2014-2020.

 

• Creation of a clipped teaser video on the Geoparks located in Greece and Cyprus.

 

• Coordination of seminars for educators in primary and secondary education on Global Geoparks in Greece and Cyprus and sustainable development.

 

• An international conference co-organized by the two national committees of UNESCO of Greece and Cyprus, the Hellenic Greek Forum, and the Geological Survey Department of Cyprus is held every year for certified and candidate geoparks from Greece and Cyprus. So far, four conferences have been held in Athens, Nicosia, Ioannina, and Sitia.

 

• Creation of a documentary on Greek geoparks for a screening at the global exhibition in Dubai and the Thessaloniki International Fair, a collaboration with the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A).

 

• Publication of an album book on UNESCO Global Geoparks in Greece, a collaboration with the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A).

 

• Promotion of Greek Geoparks through publications, interviews, and press releases in the media.

 

 

Working Groups

The Hellenic Geopark Forum consists of three working groups with the participation of management bodies of Geoparks and partners focusing on:

• Geodiversity and Geoconservation
• Education
• Communication and Visibility

 

 

The Global Geoparks of UNESCO in Greece are:

1. Lesvos Geopark
2. Psiloritis Geopark
3. Vikos – Aoos Geopark
4. Chelmos Vouraikos Geopark
5. Sitia Geopark
6. Grevena – Kozani Geopark
7. Kefalonia – Ithaca Geopark
8. Lavreotiki Geopark

Περισσότερα:  Hellenic Geoparks Foroum

Coordinators

Elected coordinators of the Geopark Forum for the 2023/2024 period are

• Dr.Charalampos Fasoulas (Psiloritis Geopark)

Natural History Museum of Crete
Phone: 2810-282740
Email: fassoulas@nhmc.uoc.gr

 

• Dr. Ilias Valiakos (Lesvos Geopark)

Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest

17 8^th November St, 811 00 Mytilene,
Phone: 22510-47033

Email: lesvospf@otenet.gr

 

Forum Secretary:
Vaso Plousaki, Lesvos Geopark,

17 8^th November St, 811 00 Mytilene,
Phone. 22510-47033
Email: hellenicgeoparks@hotmail.com