16 September, 2011

SIXTEEN NEW SITES SEEK ADMISSION TO UN-BACKED GEOPARKS LIST

SIXTEEN NEW SITES SEEK ADMISSION TO UN-BACKED GEOPARKS LIST
A glacier-covered volcano in Iceland, a mountainous headland in Japan and a
mineral-rich outcrop in Brazil are among
<"http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/sixteen_sites
_poised_to_join_global_geopark_network/
">16 new sites being examined this
week for admission to the United Nations-backed Global Network of National
Geoparks.
Created under the aegis of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) in 2004, the network currently numbers 78 sites in 26
countries. The 16 new applications will be examined by the Bureau of the
Global Geopark Network at a three-day beginning tomorrow in Norway's Gea
Norwegica Geopark.
To qualify for the
<"http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/g
eoparks/
">geopark label, sites must present important geological heritage,
and benefit from a sound management structure and economic development
strategy with particular emphasis on sustainable tourism.
The 16 candidates are: Carnic Alps (Austria), Bodoquena-Pantanal (Brazil),
Quadrilatero Ferrifero (Brazil), Hong Kong park (China), Tianzhushan
(China), the parks of Bauges (France), Chablais park (France), Katla
(Iceland), Batur (Indonesia), Pacitan (Indonesia), Aras (Iran), Burren and
Cliffs of Moher (Ireland), Alpi Apuane (Italy), Muroto (Japan), Sierra Norte
di Sevilla Geopark (Spain), Villuercas Ibores Jara (Spain).
Last year the Bureau added 11 new sites ranging from subterranean rivers in
China and Ice-Age-shaped landscapes in Finland to volcanic Jeju island in
the Republic of Korea and mountainous landscapes, cave formations and
coastal features in Italy's Apennine Mountains.

Sep 15 2011 12:10PM
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