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Definition of a Geopark

According to AGN, a geopark is an area where the geoheritage and all heritage components (archaeological, ecological, historical, tangible and intangible cultural elements) should be used as a tool to:

  1. improve the infrastructure of rural areas through the development of geotourism by building roads, creating and improving accommodation, supplying remote areas with electricity and drinking water, creating adequate spaces to sell local products, including the development of museums and cultural/information centres;
  2. enhance human development; and
  3. promote sustainable peace

Local communities should use their territories and become more involved in their development and their protection, and thus benefit directly from the revenues generated by activities conducted, such as geotourism.

(copy from Ezzoura Errami, Margaret Brocx, Vic Semeniuk (eds.) 2015: From Geoheritage to Geoparks. Case Studies from Africa and Beyond [[Series: Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism]], page 5)

Detailed information can also be found in: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/unesco-global-geoparks/