21 April 2022, at 12:00 GMT

The Global Geoparks Network in collaboration with UNESCO Earth Sciences and Geo-Hazard Risk Reduction Section are organising a live WELCOME DIGITAL EVENT for the 8 new UNESCO Global Geoparks:

• Buzău Land (ROMANIA)
• Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul (BRAZIL)
• Kefalonia-Ithaca (GREECE)
• Mëllerdall (LUXEMBOURG)
• Platåbergen (SWEDEN)
• Ries (GERMANY)
• Salpausselkä (FINLAND)
• Sérido (BRAZIL)

The WELCOME DIGITAL EVENT will be held on April 21st, 2022 at 12:00 GMT.

The Global Geoparks Network and UNESCO Earth Sciences and Geo-Hazard Risk Reduction Section are happy to invite in the WELCOME DIGITAL EVENT: 

• The 8 new UNESCO Global Geoparks Representatives
• The Permanent Delegations at UNESCO of the respective Member States
• The National UNESCO Commissions of the respective Member States
• The 169 UNESCO Global Geoparks Representatives
• The UNESCO Global Geoparks Council Members
• The Global Geoparks Network Executive Board Members
• The Global Geoparks Network Individual and Honorary Members

The event will be orgnanised on the occasion of the celebration of the International Mother Earth Day 2022. 

The International Mother Earth Day provides an opportunity to raise global public awareness on the challenges to the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports.

Please watch the event via YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUghhLY2we8YMUHoa6JGBbQ

PROGRAMME OF THE EVENT

11:30-12:00 GMT	Connection of the participants
12:00-12:10 GMT	Welcome opening  speeches Nickolas Zouros, Global Geoparks Network President Shamila Nair Bedouelle, UNESCO Assistant Director-General
12:10-12:20 GMT	UNESCO Global Geoparks Guy Martini, UNESCO Geoparks Council Chair Kristof Vandenberghe, Chief of UNESCO Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section, UNESCO Global Geoparks Secretariat
12:20-12:30 GMT	UNESCO Global Geoparks & Global Geoparks Network Nickolas Zouros and Guy Martini
12:30-12:40 GMT	Presentation of the new UNESCO Global Geopark Buzău Land (ROMANIA) Răzvan-Gabriel Popa, Manager of Buzău Land Geopark Petre Emanoil Neagu, President of the Buzău County Council   MUSIC EVENT Live music will be presented by the new UNESCO Global Geopark Buzău Land (ROMANIA)
12:40-12:50 GMT	Presentation of the new UNESCO Global Geopark Kefalonia-Ithaca (GREECE) Prof. Maria Papadopoulou, President of NECCA Organization Mr. Stavros Travlos, Governor of Kefalonia and Ithaca islands Dr. George Drakatos, Representative of the Advisory board of Kefalonia-Ithaca Geopark MUSIC EVENT Live music will be presented by the new UNESCO Global Geopark Kefalonia-Ithaca (GREECE)
12:50-12:55 GMT	Welcome greeting by the European Geoparks Network (EGN) Kristin Rangnes – Norway, European Geoparks Network Coordinator
12:55-13:05 GMT	Presentation of the new UNESCO Global Geopark Mëllerdall (LUXEMBOURG) Dr. Claude Petit, Director MUSIC EVENT Live music will be presented by the new UNESCO Global Geopark Mëllerdall (LUXEMBOURG)
13:05-13:10 GMT	Welcome greeting by the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Xiaochi Jin – P.R. China, Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Coordinator
13:10-13:20 GMT	Presentation of the new UNESCO Global Geopark Platåbergen (SWEDEN) Anna Bergengren, Geoscientist and Geopark Manager MUSIC EVENT Live music will be presented by the new UNESCO Global Geopark Platåbergen (SWEDEN)
13:20-13:25 GMT	Welcome greeting by the African UNESCO Global Geoparks Network (AUGGN) Driss Achbal – Morocco, African UNESCO Global Geoparks Network Coordinator
13:25-13:35 GMT	Presentation of the new UNESCO Global Geopark Ries (GERMANY) Heike Burkhardt, Managing Director MUSIC EVENT Live music will be presented by the new UNESCO Global Geopark Ries (GERMANY)
13:35-13:40 GMT	Welcome greeting by North America John Calder – Canada, Canadian Geoparks Network
13:40-13:50 GMT	Presentation of the new UNESCO Global Geopark Salpausselkä (FINLAND) Peter Gabrielsson, Chairman of the board of directors of Lahden seutu – Lahti Region Ltd Kati Komulainen, Executive manager of Salpausselkä Geopark Raija Forsman, CEO of Lahden seutu – Lahti Region Ltd MUSIC EVENT Live music will be presented by the new UNESCO Global Geopark Salpausselkä (FINLAND)
13:50-13:55 GMT	Welcome greeting by the Latin America and Caribbean Geoparks Network (GeoLAC) Eugenio Bidondo – Uruguay, Latin America and Caribbean Geoparks Network Coordinator
13:55-14:05 GMT	Presentation of the new UNESCO Global Geopark Seridó (BRAZIL) Odon Oliveira de Souza Júnior, President of the Intermunicipal Public Consortium Geoparque Seridó Janaína Medeiros, Executive Director of the Intermunicipal Public Consortium Geoparque Seridó Marcos Nascimento, Scientific Coordinator of Seridó Geopark MUSIC EVENT Live music will be presented by the new UNESCO Global Geopark  Seridó (BRAZIL)
14:05-14:15 GMT	Presentation of the new UNESCO Global Geopark Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul (BRAZIL) Carlos Souza, Geopark President  Fabiano Souza, Education Coordinator MUSIC EVENT Live music will be presented by the new UNESCO Global Geopark Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul (BRAZIL)
14:15-14:20 GMT	Global Geoparks Network Film Festival
14:20-14:25 GMT	Discussion Q&A
14:25-14:30 GMT	Closing speeches Nickolas Zouros, GGN President Kristof Vandenberghe, Chief of UNESCO Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section, UNESCO Global Geoparks Secretariat
14:30 GMT	End of the Welcome Digital Event