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    EGN Magazine - Issue 1

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    Lesvos Petrified Forest, Greece
    The publication of the EGN magazine, which is published twice a year detailing geotourism promotion provides another mode of publicity through its distribution to geotouristic enterprises as well as schools and universities.

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    EGN Magazine - Issue 1

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    Lesvos Petrified Forest, Greece
    532 views28 pages
    The publication of the EGN magazine, which is published twice a year detailing geotourism promotion provides another mode of publicity through its distribution to geotouristic enterprises as well as schools and universities.

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    The publication of the EGN magazine, which is published twice a year detailing geotourism promotion provides another mode of publicity through its distribution to geotouristic enterprises as well as schools and universities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf
    532 views28 pages

    EGN Magazine - Issue 1

    Uploaded by

    Lesvos Petrified Forest, Greece
    The publication of the EGN magazine, which is published twice a year detailing geotourism promotion provides another mode of publicity through its distribution to geotouristic enterprises as well as schools and universities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    europea The idea of Geological Heritage How! to explain, geological Heritage 0) oneeiiee 40 European| Geoparks iz ee A F A 9 fy g A EDITORIAL Welcome to the world of Geoparks Have you ever walked across a landscape and wondered how so many varieties of rock and sha: pes of mountains, hills and val: leys came to be? Have you ever experienced a moment of exhila ration when looking down from the top of a cliff to the sea cras- hing below or across the snowy ridge of high mountains and wondered, how did these things form? Likewise, have you ever picked up a rock from the floor of @ quatry or from the sea-shore ‘and wondered about that rocks long history? Were you able to find the answer for your questions? If not, then welcome to the world of European Geoparks where we aim to explore our geological heritage and provide the ans: vers to many of these questions. .. it is necessary to start new ways and bring motion into thinking to design future. ‘many people when asked about geological heritage think of pla ces such as the Grand Canyon, Ieeland, Mount Etna, the Giant's Causeway or the Alps. However there is more to geological her- tage than these special, often exceptional outcrops. Across Europe there are examples of landscapes and rocks that provi de key evidence of a particular moment in Earth history and they too are part of our geologi cal heritage. Geological heritage is also a recognition, or accep: tance, of Man's role to provide an economically sustainable future for the development of society as a whole, as well as our responsi: bility to share, but also to sale: guard, that heritage. In many ways the geolagical heritage of Europe is as diverse and intere sting and dynamic as the mult cultural heritage of Europes many regions. This might sound strange as many people think rocks. oF indeed landscape are boring or even dead things. However. with the dawn of the 2ist century there Is a growing recognition that this mode of thinking is out dated and there Is an increasing acceptance of the need not only to preserve but also to enjoy our geological heritage. For Europes geological heritage is also our shared history and that history can be read written in stone in the landscapes and rocks that are all around us. The team of European Geopark Network members imprint hed by tain: 10000, Germaty. Novenber 201 EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK MAGAZINE European Geoparks Geological heritage of UNESCO Public relation work - geotourism Public promotion of geosciences and geological heritage Exchanging know how ‘Knowledge transfer - an example Transferring geological heritage to the general public Logistics of geo-tralls How to explain geological heritage to children Regional geopark souvenirs Interview: In dialog with economy @ Foundation menber QO Members in alphabetical oder n R 4 5 16 7 The European Geoparks: © Reserve Géologique de Haute-Provence (France) © Petrified Forest Lesvos (Greece) © Maestrazgo Cultural Park (Spain). © Vulkaneifel European Geopark (Germany) © Astrobleme Rochechouart:Chassenon (France) © Copper Coast Tourism (ireland). © Marble arch and Cutlcagh Mountain Park (Northern lreland/Great Britain) © Natutpark Nérdlicher Teutoburger Wald tnd Wiehengebirge (Germany) © Parque Natural Cabo de Gata-Nijar (Spain) @ Psiloitis, Krete Natural History Museum (Greece) v 6 19 20 a 2 B 25 26 CONTENT D Mm mm < Q THE IDEA GEOPARKS t 4 Guy mart Niclas Zouos The creation of a European Geopark Network is an unusual idea. Why bother? Afterall, Europe has many networks of cooperation but do such networks really ‘work? Moreover, do they work on shared themes? Or does everybo dy have their own individual pro fect and simply presents the results of that project to the others without the creation of an effective network? We hope that the cooperation being developed within the European Geoparks Network is different. The idea behind the creation of the net ‘work arose following a discus: sion between two unusual che: acters Guy Martini (from France) ‘and Nickolas Zauros (from Greece) ‘and occurred when both were far from home in Beijing (China), They met at the International Geological Congress in 1997, where a special section of the Conference was about geological heritage. As usual this meant a series of presentations of indivi dual case studies documenting extraordinary geological pheno mena and outcrops from different EUROPEAN GEOPARKS GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE & EUROPEAN IDENTITY ~ COOPERATION FOR A COMMON FUTURE ‘areas of the world and examples (on how to protect them. Its not unusual for geologists to travel such distances. However to talk about geological heritage at that time was considered pro gressive as the idea of geolagical heritage was stil in its infancy Although some work had already begun, those already working in this field were frustrated that the bridge of understanding bet ‘ween geoscientists and the gene. ral public was proving a difficult ‘one to cross. This led to the deci sion of these two active geolo Gists to initiate work on establis: hing a network. In particular Guy Martini took up the challenge with the European Community in Brussels, applying for a prelimi nary study aimed to finding part ‘ners who shared the ideal and to assist in the preparation of an application for further European funding. In this first challenge, he succeeded. Some work had already been carried out at a regional level, especially in France, for example at the "Réserve Géologique de Haute Provence”, which has been in ex: stence since 1984 Guy Martini started the effort to look across Eutope for potential partners who shared his twin aims of geological heritage and enhancing the public understan ding of earth science and with a third aim of using these to pro: ‘mote sustainable economic deve: lopment on a regional level. It soon turned out that four regions. have been quietly following these very same aims alone Haute Provence (France). Moe: strazgo Teruel (Spain), Lesvos Island (Greece) and Vulkaneitel (Germany). These groups. were largely unaware of each other first but welcomed the idea to exchange experiences and to co operate. This was @ good stat but to bring the idea ofa network to fruition st was essential that these four groups shared the same ideals. Thankfully they di As @ result these four groups founded the European Geopark ‘Network. At the time they felt like Galilei who sai... nd definite ly it movest" even though they knew that it was only the fist step ona long, hard road like Galilei who said jon and definitely it moves!” The first aim behind their will to cooperate is being open to the exchange of ideas, to have confi dence in cooperation, to tolerate the different identities but to work towards solutions to allow development. The second aim is to use their different geological histories and different national ‘mentalities to compare problems and work towards the sustaina ble development of our landsca pe resources for future genera tions. The thitd aim is that, in order to develop these ideals they needed others to join them in the European Geopark Network and help them build a European Community of Regions with a sustainable future.e Mote and more countries have started to develop schemes for recognising important geological and geomorphological sites wit hin their national boundaries. Such Earth heritage sites are important for educating the general public in environmental matters. They also serve as tools for demonstrating sustainable development and for illustrating methods of site conservation as well as remembering that rocks, minerals fossils, soils, landforms and landscapes are both the pro ducts and record of the evolution of our planet Earth and, as such, form an integral part of the natu- ral world, _.the protection and enlightened management of the environment have been widely acknowledged as a top priority. For a number of years now. but particularly since the United Nations Conference on Environ: ment and Development held in Rio de Janeio in 1992, where Agenda 21 (the Agenda of Science for Envitonment and De- velopment into the 21st Century) \was adopted, the protection and enlightened management of the environment have been widely acknowledged as a top priority. UNESCO. the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture, contributes to this by promoting the protec- tion and sustainable develop: ment of geological heritage through mainly two independent programme frameworks. the World Heritage Convention and bilateral co-operation in geologt cal heritage matters through the Division of Earth Sciences. Think globally, act locally (Quoted by Fritjof Capra) GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF UNESCO Through the international con- vention adopted by UNESCO in 1972 ‘Conceming the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage’. the World Heritage Committee, identifies and moni- tors properties of outstanding universal value and decides ‘which properties are included on. the World Heritage List. The crite tia guiding the World Heritage Committee for the selection of these sites are extremely strict The sites included on the World Heritage List have to be of out standing universal value exclusi vely. as. stipulated in the Convention's Article 2 of natural heritage: ‘geological and physio {graphical formations and prect sely delineated areas which con stitute the habitat of threatened species of animals and plants of ‘outstanding universal value from * Dr. F Wolfgang Eder. * Dr Margarete Patzak UNESCO, Division of Earth Sciences, 1, rue Miolls, F-75732 Paris Cedex 15 the point of view of science or conservation’ Only around 20 sites are inscribed primarily because of their geological interest. ‘As of today, a total of 690 sites have been inscribed on the World Hertage Uist of which 138 are natural, 23 mixed and 529 cultu ral. Only around 20 are inscribed primarily because of their geolo: gical interest. Among the out- standing sites currently inscribed on the World Heritage List are inter alia the Grand Canyon, the Carlsbad caverns, the Havail Voleanoes, the Mammoth Cave, ‘the Yellowstone Park, and the Yosemite National Park (in the United states of America), the Rocky Mountain Parks. and the Dinosaur Provincial Park (both in Canada), the Great Barrier Ret Shark Bay, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta (ayers Rock) National Park, Macquarie Island, and the Fossil Mammal Sites of Riversligh and Naracoorte (ll in Australia). the Scocjan Caves (Slovenia). the Caves of the Aggtelek Karst (tungary and Siovak Republic the Giants Causeway (N Ireland), and the Messel Pit Fossil Site (Germany). The World Heritage List is predicted to eventually contain up to 1,500 sites in all (cultural as well as natural). This scenario suggests that the World Heritage List will eventually accommodate an additional 100 new sites nomina- ted primarily because of their paramount geologicaligeomor- phological interest. Seen on a world-wide scale this is an ama- zingly small number. what should be done with the nume- THEME pe GEOPARKS 5 THEME in ne 4 Py 0 Tous sites, which are also of out It recognises as central FEE] sanding value but only of nati. principle the relationship 20 nal and local value and do not between people and geology ... meet the strict criterion of the World Heritage List? An alternati ve is required to meet this demand. ‘Member States to recognise, pro: tect and enhance Earth heritage site at the global level, whereas : the Network of European ~-the rising need for a global ang needs for concentiation - Geoparks, on the other hand, promotion of geological heritage -... gecided not to pursue the deve- focuses on European sites. This UNESCO has received a large lopment of a new Geoparks new potential for interaction bet umber of requests from allover Programme. However UNESCO's ween the socio-economic deve the world during recent years, role was considered as crucial in lopment and conservation of the ffom geological institutions and enhancing the public awareness natural envionment adds a new geoscientsts and non-govern- of geological heritage matters. in dimension tothe scheme of the imental organizations, reflect the achieving their fullest internatio-. World Heritage List. It recognises rising need for the global promo- nal recognition, and in securing as a central principle the rela tion of geological heritage. at their most effective political tionship between people and present recognised only national- impact. Therefore the Division of geology and the ability ofa ste Iy ornot recognised at all Alera. Earth Sciences will continue to. to serve as a focus for economic period of consultation and prepa- pursue the general objective of development, particularly ration, the Division of Earth ‘Education in Earth Sciences, through geological tourism Sciences at UNESCO presented @ through the promotion of geolo- (Such sites wil normally repre new concept named the UNESCO gical heritage activities. provi- sent landscape elements rather “Geoparks Programme’ to the ding UNESCO support to, and than small geological outcrops of governing bodies of the O:ga- co-operation with, national inti- limited areal extent) nization. The Programme has atives on an ad-hoc basis when With respec to sustainable deve been discussed thee times since requested by Member States. lopment, numerous areas in the 1909 by the Executive Board of Few intemational programmes world offer immediate potential UNESCO which came to its final eit today, which ofe the abili- for substantial economic deve: conclusion in June 2001. ty to identity, protect and promo- lopment because of the presence Although high importance was. te sites of geological and geo: of a diverse range of geological attached to geological heritage morphological importance. phenomena including, amongst matters, the delegates - driven Taking into account their com- others, structures, minerals and by the real budgetary constraints mon goals of pursuing activities fossils. Geological heritage sites, in educating the public at large properly managed, can generate on environmental issues, promo: employment and new economic ting regional sustainable deve- activites, especialy in regions in lopment and in supporting trai need of new or adeltional sour ring and developing scientific ces of income. We are glad to research in the various discipi-_ note that all around the world nes of Earth Sciences, the there isa growing public aware Division of Earth Sciences of ness of the necessity to conserve UNESCO has established close nature and more and more peo ties of co-operation with the ple recognise that geological fea Network of European Geoparks. tures play an essential part in UNESCO, onthe one hand, offers managing our envionment in a it's sponsorship to interested ‘Wise woy.6 tourist marketing How can the aim of the LEADER UC proje tourism in Europe ‘Development of geo be achieved? his was the main focus at the first working meeting of the group in Digne (France) and sub: sequently, in Lesvos (Greece, the discussion concentrated on coming up with constructive pro posals. An internet chat-room was chosen fora quick exchange of opinions and 10 inform each other abou the operation of nd vidual projects. However due to time constraints and technical problems, the good old phone established iself asthe most ef time being a tings even though an idea might be good, it still needs to be economically viable. -ommunication tool for the additional mee How does one develop geotou: rism related to geological pheno: in Europe? At the outset ideas were proposed to develop men eld of ng aking all the ‘common projects in the ‘geotourism” such as offer trips across Europe Geoparks. Those with experience (of the wider tourism sector, such a the Vulkaneifel which uses the Eifel its marketing Tourism Company Lid. for were able fo ask aU ASO - GEOQTOURISM and international tourism bourse he experts about the merits of his idea. The tourism sector lives in the world of pragmatic econo: mics and, even though an idea might be good, It still needs to be economically viable. The experts decided the "Geopark Tip’ would not be viable. So what other ideas could be developed? idea Such criticism can be positive ‘and encourage you to think on different ways. If you definitely ink the idea is good, perhaps it s the development plan thai needs to be more carefully thought about. Maybe you need to think again about what geo tourism actually means and what could be done to develop it in agreement with the philosophy and aims of the Network and for the benefit of various regions. Perhaps i means taking a decision to con: centrate on a particular market sector. €.. university groups or those interested in environmen ty of lands: tal matters or to be capes, list step then is, in addition to having information on a geolog} cal activity or project, is to make that information ublic, possibly through an offi cial_network though the known to the To be successtu Geopark Network needed to have its aims European and philosophy written down in €@ charter and agreed upon by its members as the basis for future cooperation. The charter was y the French team in the prepared Digne Spanish partners in Molinos. The published an explanatory leaflet that contains some infor about the four partner regions and which has been distributed it to about 800 LEA DER addresses across Europe as well as to the four partners. PR-WORK ‘What else do we need to promo: te the network's philosophy and work around Europe? Exchange of detail of the work being done {in each region was already done through an information leaflet compiled by the Spanish team, They also worked on the logo with the French team, who pro- Nevertheless this did not preclu- Geopark partners as well as for duced and distributed the leaflet. de targeting the general public potential new tourism markets This really marked the start of as well. The organisation respon- that might open up through pla- building up the image of the sible for regional tourism marke- ces such as Hahn airport). The EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NET- ting in the Vulkaneifel area pro- magazine provides information WORK. The second step was to posed a new strategy. They pro- on the existing Geo-parks, tail. expand the network. This process posed that the Network attend museums end other activities really commenced at the Ist the Intemational Tourism Fair available in the Vulkaneifel Geopark conference. which was (ITB) in Berlin, March 2001, and held in Molinos, Spain in October present the European Geopark 2000. AS the Networks first idea Network to a specially arranged of offering "Geopark Trips" across press conference with the By being part of a working ses Europe was dropped, the next Minister of Culture for Rhenania- sion at the ITB the European idea. which came from the Greek Palatinate in attendance. Also at Geopark members got close con: team, seemed more plausible. the fair the national project tact with professional tourism They suggested targeting univer- “Geouife Vulkaneifel,” which is marketing strategies. Discussions sity groups as future potential partially financed by LEADER IIC_ were held in the presence of a Visitors 10 the European Geo- was presented to the market as representative ofthe Ministery of the Economy for Rhenania: Palatinate. At this session the partners also spoke about their own strategies eg. the Geologi cal Reserve de Haute Provence talked about their aim of leading visitors away from main arterial routes such as the Lyon-Avignon motorway eastwards towards Digne, Haute Provence and to the "Antennas." the museums that are managed from the Geo: logical Reserve in Digne. The parks. They collected texts and one of the new tourism magazi- Spanish group talked about their photographs from the various nes that forms part of the marke- alms of focussing on schools and Geoparks focussing on the scien- ting strategy for the Eifel region. universities as their main target tific research potential in each The magazine is published in group of visitors while the Greek park for use in a promotional German (30,000 edition), Dutch team reported their activities of brochure "A trip through Euro- (20.000 edition; people from the working closely together with pean Geoparks Earth History" Netherlands make up around hotels and creating and promo: and which was published in 40% of the overnight visitor ting thematic trails. October 2001 on Lesvos at the 2"! groups in the Vulkaneifel) and EU-Geopark Conference. English (2.000 edition; for other + *) A sé ee < Q : got close contact with professional tourism marketing strategies. PUBLIC PROMOTION OF GEOSCIENCES AND GEOLOGICAL HERITAG The aim of the established Euro ean geopark network is trans ferring geological knowledge to the public and by combining the idea of geological heritage with economic and social aspects to create perspectives for a new quality of life with the planet Earth as an important basis for ur existence and society Facts shown and a discussion in Public promotion of geological ftems’ (2g. KASIG 1993, 1996) as well as referring this to”... an option for the future" (FREY, SCHAFER & BUCHEL, 2001) have lately shown that this is a very complex field. They picked up the example of a modern electro cable. By referring to the modern development of computer techni ue as well as modern communi cation by multi-media they sta ted that in the 1970's by passing a dues totally new fields were created which dominate daily lite, especially holiday behavior and free-time arrangements, Secondly they stated that these approaches, too, need 10 be thought about and integrated into public promotion of geo: sciences, as itis the daily life basis of human beings today. The consequence of this is that there are different fields and by this different levels of target groups to transfer geosciences and geo: logical heritage. too. The aim. philosophy, tasks and options of the European geopark network co-operation lie within the posit ve respond to them. At the end of this magazine you will have some reflections on main expe. riences of the work of this LEA DER IIC Project "Development of Geotourism in Europe The fields named above are for example finding 1) co-operation partners joining the idea of geological heritage, public promotion of geosciences ‘and supporting sustainable development and transferring 2) new geological results of ese: arch work done in the regions of the European geopark network to the scientific community, e.g geologists. archaeologists, biol gists - a basic concept for sustainable development of our network co-operation 3) highlights of the landscape earth history. the geological her itage, actually processes of for: ming landscape as well as using landscape for human activities like building purposes. water supply. settlement and related information of discipline like dra ‘wing up relationship to cultural ‘and historical development and so on - to the general public by creating geo-trals and museums 4) necessity of conserving geolo- gical sites for public presentation ‘and having exchange on metho- dological aspects 5) aspects of new job perspect ves fo persons in the 3rd life as well as to young people like e.g, ‘geopark ranger 6) value of earth history proces se fixed in geological heritage of @ landscape and resources in rocks building up a landscape by educational programs to grades. ‘adult groups etc. of the region and to visitors etc 7) fascination and value of earth history potential of the regions to visitors by preparing tourist packages for grades, visitor ‘groups, ete. PROMOTION. PROMOTION GEOPARKS european, £8) geological heritage image to the economic level of producing products to be sold in shops, hotels, museums and tourist information-centers of the region (orto invent new labels for a long term integration of geological heritage image into economic thinking 9) making geological heritage image obviously into the daily life by artistic creations or e.g, taking the items for the design of roundabouts 10) promoting the necessity of European, regional know-how exchange by geotourism. 11) showing to political bodies the necessity of know-how exchange to build up @ manage ment unit to organize along term strategy on geo-monitoring and conservation of geological. her: itage, geotourism, economic and sustainable development as well as 12) creating an official network organization with support of over-regional and/or internatio nal political units like eg UNESCO, to stabilize the given investments. The above aspects have been developed and worked on in the regions working together in the European Geopark Network. In the following articles the way of realizing and working on the dit ferent levels as wel as the achie ved results are shown. During the years of working together in LEADER IIC successful steps have been made especially on the level of creating @ common image on geological heritage in the European geopark network ‘as basis for an economic and sustainable development. | ia EXAMPLES OF THE EUROPEAN GEOPARK NETWORK REALIZING ITS AIMS BY EXCHANGING KNOW-HOW The following examples demon- why it is necessary to support strate how communication at scientific work by general tax various levels between the net- money. ‘work partners during the last few The LEADER TIC Project started in years exemplifies the philosophy 2000 for the partners having a behind the European Geopark basic structure and infrastructure Network. The articles also focus to transfer geoscientific pheno: ‘on how activities can come toget- mena and geological heritage to her to help create a common goal visitors. ‘and how knowledge exchange can lead to new developments ‘and activities. They help to illu strate that the future continua: tion of the Network Is essential not only in order to cement those relationships already formed but also to ensure that future European development is built on regional stability, let's start with the origin of activities where most of the partners, started off, This is the knowledge side or universities research work in landsca pes. Each of the regions in the European geopark network has ‘contacts to universities that have regular research activities in the territories. Some of them have How science ‘own research tasks and budgets, normally trans: ‘and some not. This is the best fers actual results way of having an actual infor and how Geoparks do ming pool for the public about this? scientific work and results. It also It will be shown in the following offers the opportunity from the contributions. scientific point of view to show =) Many activities 10 promate geolo gical heritage ate possible because university institutes do research work in landscapes and publish their results which show interesting andior extraordinary facts of earth history and/or other {geological heritage phenomena, As already told, one level is the transfer of new regional geo: scientific results to the scientific community. Let's show you the way in which this is usually done. In the following the impor tance of the transfer in the European geoparks - as well as the role in a territory will be shown, The quality of the way of transfer to the broadest public, to politicians etc. and its role for a sustainable development will become obvious. It will be given for Vutkaneifel. Scientific work is also done in the Geological Reserve in Haute Provence (e.g, on Sirenians) of in the Petrified Forest by the Natural History Museum (e.g. impregnation con: servation on pettified trees etc.) with a budget. However. if it is not there, new ways have to be looked afte, AN EXAMPLE FROM THE VULKANEIFEL, GERMANY ‘Some years ago in preparing the trails of Geopark Gerolstein, field ‘work led to interesting results Looking for useful outcrops, quarries and items for informa: tion panels some strange mater al in the Westelfel Volcanic Field ‘was found. It looked like pumice! Trying to prepare some practical things a still better thing happe ned, it floated on water. - Good indication for being pumice, _reates a new develop: ment without creating a concurrence situation However, questions to volcano scientists led to the answer - this {s not possible - there is no pumi ce in the western volcanic field Parallel to ths in some ofthe out crops glass “jacket” coated frag ments of sandstone were found, Asking for Information scientists ‘were critical because of the fact they could not believe the ex stence of the described pheno: mena. Later the item was picked up after some time as thesis ‘work, done by University of Jena, Institute for Applied Geosciences, Prof. Dr. G. Buchel / Prof. Dr. K. Heide. - This happens all over in European Geoparks, what to do? ‘An enthusiastic individual from the Vulkaneifel who acted as a guide around the geotrail in Hillesheim and who wanted to know more about volcanism offe red to write up the discoveries in the paper, "Systematic documen tation of the discovery of special phenomena in lava quarts: & basis for the transfer of geologi cal knowledge to help explain the functioning of Planet Earth. His name was Horst Burgel, aged ‘around 70 years (Photo with G. Buchel), From this paper. the fol lowing text was written for an exhibition to the general public ‘on volcanic processes and the volcanic heritage of the region KNOW HOW sEOE C KNOW HOW In July 2000 systematic docu ‘mentary work started on a lava sand quarry cose ta Hohentelsin the community of Gerolstein (Westefelian Volcanic Field). The geological setting is described as lavad dyke like outcrop lass coated rock fragments of dif rent colours, being found at the base. the top and from the mid Ie of the eastern pat of the quar ry cose to the dyke or former fis sure These glass-coated xenoliths. 5 ‘which are distributed like raisins 5 in a cake, were sampled along with non-glass-coated, rock enolith fragments trom the basaltic rock dyke material. The # material would otherwise have “Sandstone Pumice" and Glass-coated Rock Fragments as thermo-metamorphic Implications, Documentation and macroscopic Description been destroyed by industrial extraction for the road construc: tion industry, The macroscopic description sho- wed the following results. Within 25m of a dyke both glass-coated and non glass-coated rock frag ments are found. The colour of the glass-coated xenoliths can be yellow or yellowish, brownish with green-black spots, pinkish, ‘rey-greenish, bottle-green or azure-bluish (see photo). The non Glass-coated fragments range in KNOW-HOW EXCHANGE TRANSFERRING GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE TO THE GENERAL ‘The European geopark founding members did already have a management structure and infra structures to transfer geoscienti fic phenomena and geological heritage to the public and to visi tors when they started the LEA: DER IC Programme in January 2000. But the stages of progress to a common quality level were different and for diferent items. Without geological phenomena no presentation! The philosophy fof the European geoparks net ‘work is to leave the geological heritage subjects in place. This size from Lem in diameter up to fragments measuring 0.6 x 0.5 x 0,2 min siz and show a thermo metamorphic influence. The fragments range trom unaltered bits of Devonian or Triassic red sandstone lying in solid lava up to porous, pumice-like rock pie ces of sandstone origin, which have been structurally totally changed. Such fragments are referred to as sandstone pumice. This pumice also exhibits a colour change from orange-red (the original colour) to olive green. pink-violet oF light grey. Two transitional phases, between fragments that have been totaly structurally altered and frag ‘ments with relicts of sedimentary layering, are documented. @ * Dr Marie-tuise Frey, + Horst Burgel PUBLIC AND TO VISITORS Conservation of geological heritage - geo-trails and museums. means conservation outside @ museum is necessary and also @ special tool to explain it to the public. Sometimes this also means there is no direct contro: ling mechanism e.g, by a ranger. Earth has already preserved documents and tes by lithifica tion in layers its history belon ‘ging to the subject. But it is necessary to transfer this to the public to valorize the existence of the litified documents, e.g. fos sil. All partners have fossilized strata packages of extraordinary impor tance and beauty. In France this is the ammonite slab with its un believable number of ammoni tes, near Digne. On Lesvos Island in Greece these are the multicalo red pettified tee trunks, covered by acid volcanic ashes as well as ‘well preserved leaves etc..In the _vresue airhase (See photo uring digging-otf and ater wards presentation below), This tol is usually used for concrete taking off. The dimensions of needed con servation became obvious, 00, * when a tree trunk of some meters high and a diameter of 05 m ® onwards needs e.g. an additional Cultural Pare of Maestrazgo § impreanation to get a long-term deformation structures of young stabilization and to protect tno mountain formation (alpine) are only because of natural weathe- conserved 5 well 35 ciosaur Ting and erosion but also boca footprints. In GeoparkVulkaneitel se of touching vistors, Ths fac the enormous number of maar also becomes obvious by having craters, created by water and the sienians conserved in the basaltic magma interaction mile of nowhere, some klome some of them filled with water, as ig ters north from Castellane ‘well as the tertiary maar lake fil (France). And - the technique to ling of Eckfeld with fossils like ig have it stable, putting around a pre-horse with foetus and the concrete fim, to protect it fom Devonian trilobite fields near overrunning fain water in winter Geoistin ae extraordinary sites with afterwards weathering pro cesses on the surface. You even can preserve it from sun by crea ting @ protection frame with sed, s0 that nobody can takeoff the fossilized bones ofthe site ans, KNOW HOW EO ..- that different regions had different methods and strategies to realize conservation. Some of the extraordinary sites are protected and open to the public. Starting the LEADER 1IC rogram "Development of Geo: tourism in Europe” the partners got fo know Db that ditterent re gions had diffe rent methods and strategies to rea: lize conservation, Wis interesting to get a new appro ach by seeing the Greek colleagues digging out their buried pettified tree trunks with large. high nobody thought of getting onto the extraordinary site and inventing new presentation possibilities. Also see this means for German circumstances getting a totally new view, because usually in nature protected areas, even pro: tected because of earth tistory reasons but years ago, nobody F thought of getting onto the extra § ordinary site and inventing new presentation possibilities. No * question having a metal frame with alass plates and transpor ting this by helicopter means new dimensions for financing this. Buti sows - ifthe value of F this heritage is clear to the popu lation and people are aware ofits extraordinary value, they are interested in keeping it “ It is a success to See that discussion and exchange of ideas work. Just having an extraordinary and conserved object is usually not enough because a lot of people have no relationship towards earth history except those wor king mines in and even then their information status and understanding is limited. al founding members had lady first presentations outside for Visitors. Some of them focused on general understanding of geolo ical cycles, others on details referring to the extraordinary situation. Some were already bilingual, some were produced only in native language. There are diferent techniques. which exist for producing information panels to put them outside the museums aside the walking trails or close to roads. The photo series shows different types of panels, some done already before, some ‘new, Discussion about not indica: ting “No Entrance’ or how to avoid visitors touching and destroying conserved areas, arose already during the pre study as well as on the bilingual necessity of panel texts for visi tors. However, the situation also became obvious in different PRESENTING | GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE - LOGISTICS OF GEO-TRAILS tissues to see that discus son and exchange of Wess work The Greek colleagues realzed tis 20. in developing astateay forthe newalve paths acs he hole land of Lees as having vetking was aswel axa tek kg ith vew pots swell as inthe type of panes ond having them bilingual. Following the ide of having outdoor als the neces of management arses [5 in the Reserve Geologique de Hf waute Provence a responsible tea wih geologists isworking and ging constang In he fed. On Lesios (Grece) the Natural History Museum with & geolgiss, some of them sso nally employed, cares for this togetter with parttime employ. ces Inthe Vukanetl Germany) Toca ian ave ta gen logit fora geopark. ge ine lf woes tially about 10 uns ex sing, Ashe neesiyata common management has been understood fo the existing geo-tais Sy for keeping the out cops and the panels Js in good condition as wel as the way mar ting of the ‘rls btn spore achto create anew common manage uopean regions dierent main. ment unit was visor groups ext, Theor, inated and diferent mentalities have tobe came nearly to Wen hacen othe sign. elizatin.e of the panels nd lefts prepa ved then not all guides are able to speek the foreign languages. Questions arose about the length of stay necessary fore valuable exchan: Ge of ideas. Because time was too short, we decided to leave this idea fora while and to look at it again inthe future. $0 what could we do in the short time available? HOW TO EXPLAIN GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE TO CHILDREN? GEORIUM, LEOPOLDIA AND WILL! BASALT NEW TEACHING TOOLS The founding members were already well advanced in develo ping teaching material for chil dren before the start of the LEA: DER IC initiative. However to progress these ideas the partners ‘agreed that the best approach ‘was to take only those parts of the various teaching program: mes that they could use. This provides @ good basis for part nership as it involves being crit cal and honest. Its important to learn about the success of various ideas but it is also useful to understand why others do not work ‘The world of children is different from that of adults. Its diferent in the ability to observe as well 5 to understand and image, something that we usually forget as adults. Additionally the gene ral public have very little know. ledge of the Earth and its history ‘and often have great difficulty in visualising the time-scales inv: ved. During discussions about com: mon projects, we first thought about having an exchange of Quides as all of us already offe Ted trips for school children of different age. But School systems are different in each country, and The following projets are done ‘on national level and the results are being exchanged. After having developed "Leopol dia" the small ammonite, with her friends and transferring them into present day situations, crea ting the GEORIUM 1996, 2 box sysem with 8 boxes 1.2 x 1.2 m size filled with moulds of typical fossils from throughout Earth history the Geological Reserve in Haute Provence, funded by LEA- DER IC. developed a teaching Package in 2000 covering aspects of evolution. paleo-eco logy and Earth history to be used in schools and on schoo! trips. Spain developed teaching mate tial that could be downloaded from the World Wide Web. Greece created new tools such as com: Puter-based, interactive lectures for small children as well as Mini-GEORIUMS for schools that are given by the geologists of the Natural History Museum. They also offer new programmes like patticipating in excavation work in the Petrified Forest ‘After having seen Leopoldia, the small ammonite from France, in 1904 Willi Basalt and his Vulkan eifel Family seemed to be en appropriate development for both kindergarten and primary school activities in Germany. The concept ofthis family is based on having geological names used in combination with familiar Chris tian names with the aim of brin- ‘Ging geological information to small children. As the "leading figure’ will Basalt was chosen because of the geological herita: 49 ofthe Eifel region, i.e. vola oes. The story ofthe water cycle ‘and the formation of mineral water is now told around will Basalt and his family. To promote this concept he was adopted as the logo for teaching trips with children as well as label for economic pro ducts. Indeed he now appears on caps, Tshirts, in drawing book for children, drawing sheets for hotels, cafés ete. A local. female Puppet maker. Jutta Michels (Gees) has even produced a puppet pro: totype. The high quality product can be bought from her. A local trade company is producing a simpler version on a larger scale. A product explanation accompa: nies the puppet allowing the buyer a chance to get to know Willi Basalt, his task, his history and his function The exchange of information bet ‘ween the partners about their products was a fist step - there is still a lot to do in developing {good teaching tools for children. 7 EDUCATION A Ne ee i< Q 2 0 2 ps PRODUCTS Each of the European net: ‘work partners has its spe: cial focus. in. develo: ping economic products the French team ofthe Geological Reserve is ahead. They already started to create souvenirs toget: her with atists e.. ceramic pots etc. in the 19975, The variety of possibilities of geo-relevant, regional products ‘was shown fo the founding mem: bers in the beginning of the GEOPARK SOUVENIRS ‘ses 20 tation of this kind of products in Common and regional products s+ 8% ot te ceolsia : Reserve of Haute Provence. The With economic ValUE seman on iis item was there fore not stong forthe French team The focus was ladon the realization ofthe web st For the Greece 4s well as forthe German tam economic products how? And what to do as common - & economic product with all fur partners together? There have been three tines which have been developed % =e during the progress of the com: ‘mon LEADER IC project: 1) the national level with inven: ting, creating and producing a ew geo-relevant product, fin ding regional companies to pro: duce them 2.) the line of common "European Geopark" products of the four European partners together for the network as promotion mater al as well as for selling purposes (see posteard-set) and 3, the line of trade, how to get the products into market together with studying the market of how to develop geotourism, ‘tum ‘At the end of the LEADER IC Project there are twenty-three products existing as visible com. mon results, beside the work of the two existing committees checking and deciding the acceptance of 8 new members 10 have a network built up of 12 regions and 7 nations (see map ‘on page 1) and beside the natio- nal projects being realized. @ Wherever the visitor goes in the "Réserve Géologique de Haute: Provence” the history ofthe Earth cover the last 300 million years is well illustrated Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence Europe's biggest geological open-air museum with numerous fossil-rich sites and fascinating rock formations The geological reserve covers an ‘area of 190,000 hectares of the southern Alps in France incorpo rating a total of 47 communities, It can also be regarded as Europe's biggest geological ‘open-air museum with numerous fossil-tich sites and fascinating rock formations. The area stret ches from the north of Digne-les Bains to the Grand Canyon of Verdon in the south, Assocation pout a gestion de Réserve genlogique de breed Havic Provence Location: Departement Haute-Provence, Digne les-Bains, South-east of France . Publications: Itinerary book Les Hautes Vallées de Tasse” Par les chemins..8 avers la Reserve Geolagique’ Pedagoaic books Art books Contact Réserve Geologique de Haute Provence Syive Giraud Pare St Benoit BP 156 (04005 Digne les Bains Cedex Tel. 0033 4 92 36 70 70 Fax 0033 4 92 36 70 71, resgeolatree + Barbara Koziol + Dt. Martin Koziol Sign-posted discovery trails around the different sites can be reached from a series of interpre tive centres within the reserve: The "Musée Promenade" in Digne-les-Bains, the “Terre et Temps" museum in Sisteton, the Maison des Siréne et Siréniens’ in Castellane and the "LAtenne Temporaire” in Barles The "Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence’ was founded in 1979 after the plundering of the fossiliferous sites. by collectors ‘and dealers that had got out of control and threatened to destroy the sites completely. in 1984 an area of 269 hectares within the Réserve Géologique de Haute. Provence’ was designated as the “Geopark Haute-Provence.” This protected area is divided into 18 nature zones. Most of them are accessible to the public. Fossilised footprints of birds can be found in the reserve as well as fossilised plants. An extraordina Ty monument occurs within the attractive, wooded area of Saint Benoit two kilometres north of Digne. Here a huge rock shelt is covered with ammonites. More than 1,550 ammonites are pre served on a limestone wall 350 square metres in size The northern part of Digne is also the location of the administrative Centre de Geologie” that inclu des exhibition rooms on the regional geology as well as libra Ties of both books and video tapes. Guided tours are provided to sites, where, for example, the imprint of an Ichthyosaurus can be found while the Verdon gorge offers the opportunity to discover the beau tiful landscape of Haute-Pro: vvence. Verdon is the most specta: cular of the French canyons with a length of 21 kilomettes and cliffs of up to 700 metres height. Approximately 9,000 school stu dents visit the geological reserve every yeat. On discovery tours ‘and educational trips they learn ‘about the need for, and the mea ning of, geological heritage and protection. Information centres and exhibitions in Digne-les Bains, also offer guided tours ‘and special publications for all Visitors. The museums in Digne les-Bains, Sisteron and Castel lane are opened all year round ‘and also act as places where art ‘and science meet, Occasionally exhibitions are organized illu strating how themes of con temporary art are influenced by the relation of the artists to the natural environment. The "Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence” is an associa tion of local enterprises that work together for a systematic deve lopment of tourism in zones which have so far been ignored by the public. An example has been the establishment of foot paths in the "Haute Vallées de lasse’, which was included in the European rural innovation programme, Leader Il. FRANCE OPARKS GE ” x 3 iD ne im < EB tos nue geousialons Fay ment is located on the western B _paetecekison ass ‘and covers an area of 15,000 hectares. The most important sites are found in the vicinity of Sigil, Eressos and Antissa not only a group of ancient trees, but an entire eco- system was fossilized in situ. The visitor to the Petified Forest of Lesvos wl discover ane of the worlds: most important natural heritage sites where, not only @ group of ancient tees, but an entire ecosystem was fs slsed in situ. Besides the many fossilised trunks found in fallen positions, a lege number ae found standing upright with intact rot systems proving that they were peti in thei natu tal poston. The tees can be found scattered acoss the area. Some of the upright examples are more than seven mettes high wile some ofthe fallen tees ae up to 20 metres long and 3 metres in diameter The fossilised trunks have retained fine detail of their bark and interior and they reveal a great variety of colors. Brenches, fut and lea ‘ves have also been preserved The Lesvos Petfied Forest was created during the Miocene pe ed when the northern Aegean ea was characterised by intense Volcanic activity. Major craters are located in cental Less. As a rest of these volcanic erup tons huge amounts of lava, ash ane other materials were spewed into the atmosphere and covered wide areas. Heavy rainfall follo: PETRIFIED FOREST OF LESVOS The fossilised trunks of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos appear like bizarre, stiff silent giant witnesses to a history that stretches back some 15 to 20 million years. ‘wing those eruptions saturated the ash and created huge mud: flows of pyroclastic material These flows moved from east to west with considerable speed and engulfed the trees of a dense, sub-tropical forest that covered the western part of Lesvos at that time The forest was comprised of enormous trees similar to the those of the Sequoia family found today on the Nosth American continent as well as pines, oaks, conifers and cinna: ‘mon trees. The pyroclastic mate: rial protected the plant tissue from external conditions and the intense hydrothermal ciculation of silca-rich fluids led to its per fect petificaton Recognizing the major environ mental. geological and palaento logical importance of the Pet fied Forest of Lesvos. the Greek State declared the area an offic ir, iin NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PE. RIFIEG FOREST OF LESYOS Location: Siar, Lesvos Island, Greece Publications: 1999; The Roads of Water 2000; The Petrified Forest of Lesvos Guide tothe Lesvos Petrified Forest Park Watermils of Lesvos Sequoia (magazine) contact Dr Nickolas Zouros ountouriotou 472, £81100 Mitilene, Greece tel +30251047033 lesvosplacotenet gr wane petifiedtorest ally "Protected Natural Monu: tment” in 1985, Within the forest specific sites have been further esignated as “absolute protec tion areas”, Thousands of tourists that come every year can see for themselves the fossilised trunks of the Lesvos Petified Forest in cluding those at the Sigri Geo park and on the isle of Nisiop In 1994 the Natural History Museum was founded in the town of Sigri with aim of study ing, researching, conserving protecting and developing the sustainable use ofthe area The Peitified Forest of Lesvos

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