Celebrating a Decade of UNESCO Global Geoparks

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On the 6^th of March Staff from the Geological Survey Ireland and the Irish UNESCO Global Geoparks had the privilege of meeting the Irish Ambassador to UNESCO and OECD, David Bruck, and the Irish Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Agathe Hutchinson.

As part of the Irish UNESCO Global Geopark representatives at the 10^th Anniversary of the International Geosciences and Geoparks Programme (IGGP), we were delighted to have an opportunity to discuss the role of UNESCO geoparks in Ireland and the visibility of the wider UNESCO designations together, along with sustainable tourism and geological heritage benefiting local communities through social and economic activity.

The International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) serves as a knowledge hub of UNESCO to facilitate international scientific cooperation in the geosciences. The IGCP mission includes promoting sustainable use of natural resources, advancing new initiatives related to geo-diversity and geo-heritage and geohazards risk mitigation.

Since 1972, the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) has partnered with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) to bring together thousands of Earth scientists from around the world and allowed them to benefit from the cooperative spirit generated under the umbrella of UNESCO. In 2015 the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) was established under this programme.

UNESCO is the only United Nations organization with a mandate to support research and capacity in Earth Sciences and the IGGP is the flagship.

Photo 1: with the Unesco Blue flag; from left to right:

Sarah Gatley; Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark

Darren Rice; Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark

Grainne O'Connor; Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark

Michelle Boyle; Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark

Carol Gleeson; Burren Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark

David Bruck; Irish Ambassador to UNESCO and OECD

Clare Glanville; Geological Survey Ireland

Photo 2: with international flags in back drop from left to right: