CO-ORGANIZERS:

• UNESCO – Earth Sciences and Geohazard Risk Reduction Section
• UNESCO Global Geoparks
• Global Geoparks Network

ORGANIZERS:

• UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN
• NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF THE LESVOS PETRIFIED FOREST UNESCO,
  and the Global Geoparks Network are co-organizing the 10th session of the International Intensive Course on Geoparks 2018 “UNESCO Global Geoparks and Geoheritage management”.

The Course is organized by the University of the Aegean – Department of Geography and the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, in Lesvos island – UNESCO Global Geopark, North Aegean Region, Greece, one of the first Global Geoparks in the world.

The Course will take place from June 7th to 17th June, 2018. The Intensive Course on Geoparks 2018 aims to focus on the UNESCO Global Geoparks contribution on shared and sustainable outcomes related to Earth heritage protection, conservation and management – tying sustainability together with community pride and benefit, economic development and new employment as well as holistic territorial identity promotion.

UNESCO Global Geoparks, through broad stakeholder engagement, celebrating the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, provide a global platform of cooperation for Earth heritage management supporting sustainable local development, local communities cohesion and development world-wide.

Through the Intensive Course on Geoparks 2018, the annual capacity building activity of the Global Geoparks Network, attendees will have the opportunity to widen their knowledge and expertise on UNESCO Global Geoparks and Earth heritage protection, conservation and management as a tool for sustainable tourism development, to cooperate with different disciplines and countries.

The Intensive Course on Geoparks 2018 comprises of theoretical background together with extensive fieldwork. The main activities of the Course include:

• pre-lectures activities which will take place through e-class and distribution of the latest documents regarding Geoparks and Earth Heritage Management,
• 10 days – 80 hours ‘hands on programme’ distributed as following: 40 hours lectures by top UNESCO and Global Geoparks Network experts, as well as specialists in Earth heritage management in theory and practice and 40 hours field training and activities.
• an Activity Report, long distance assisted work, which shall take place after the end of the course.

The course is open to Geopark staff members, geoscientists, local development professionals and students involved in geo-education in relation with geo-conservation, popularization of Earth sciences, geopark management, geotourism and sustainable development of rural areas.

Those who are interested in participating in the course are invited to submit the respective application form accompanied by a short CV and an abstract (one page) of their presentation, which they will present during the Course. ECTS Credits Participants will gain 5 ECTS credits after successful completion of the Intensive course on Geoparks.

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