The opening of the work of the Conference by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Iceland Ms. Lilja Alfredsdóttir and was attended by more than 400 delegates including UNESCO officials, University and scientific Institute members, representatives from Geoparks that have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Geoparks, representatives of international organizations, local government bodies, etc.
20 years of the Global Network of Geoparks
During the 17th Conference of European Geoparks, a special celebratory event was held to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Global Network of Geoparks, during which the President of the Global Network of Geoparks Professor Nikolaos Zouros presented the actions and achievements of the cooperation between the Geoparks for the protection and promotion of geological monuments with global radiation, which resulted in institutionalization of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Program.
As part of the event, Honorary Diplomas were awarded to 60 personalities from Europe who made a decisive contribution to the development of the Global Network of Geoparks, including three from Greece, Dr. Charalambos Fasoulas, Coordinator of the European Network of Geoparks, Dr. Ilias Valiakos Coordinator of the Hellenic Network of Geoparks and Constantina Bendana, Head of the Secretariat of the World Network of Geoparks.
Professor N. Zouros, President of the Global Geoparks Network of UNESCO, during the celebratory speech, referred to the main milestones in the 20-year history of the Global Geoparks Network and presented, through historical photographic material, actions for the protection, promotion and promotion of geological heritage monuments and the sustainable development of Geoparks. He particularly mentioned the contribution of the Lesbos Geopark, a founding member of the Global Network of Geoparks, to the training of executives of the Geoparks recognized by UNESCO, through the organization of the annual training program which is organized every year in Lesvos. He finally highlighted the positive results for the sustainable development of local societies from the creation and operation of Geoparks, which contributed to the great development of the UNESCO World Geoparks Program which now includes 213 areas in 48 countries from around the world as well as the ongoing efforts to create young people around the world.
International recognition for Lesbos and the Petrified Forest
During the conference and through rich photographic material, the Petrified Forest of Lesvos was presented as a successful example of managing and highlighting a geological monument of international value, and the actions to highlight protected areas of Lesvos, causing a special impression and many positive comments.
Prof. N. Zouros, Director of the Museum of Natural History of the Petrified Forest, referred to the possibilities offered by the UNESCO World Geoparks for the development of sustainable societies and presented to the participants the successful examples of highlighting the new fossil sites along the Kalloni - Sigri road axis and the Petrified Forest Park in the protected areas and the wetlands of Lesvos in the framework of the "Promotion Actions protected areas of Lesvos", which has been included in the Operational Program "North Aegean 2014-2020".
Dr. Ilias Valiakos, Head of the Research and Documentation Department of the Museum, presented the actions of protection - highlighting and maintenance of fossil sites in the Park of the Lesbos Petrified Forest, implemented by the qualified staff of the Museum of Natural History of the Lesbos Petrified Forest. and for the results of the work of highlighting and protecting the new excavation sites along the new Kalloni - Sigri road axis.
Ms. Konstantina Bendana, Head of the Department of Educational Programs of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest presented the educational and awareness-raising activities carried out in the Lesvos Petrified Forest.
At the same time, during the Conference it was also presented by K. The work of N. Zouro, K. Bentana, H. Valiakou, F. Kardatou in collaboration with Ms. Katerina Strataki, Regional Director of Primary and Secondary Education of the North Aegean and Ms. Maria Tzouras, Primary Education consultant, the educational actions carried out in schools of Lemnos with the aim of acquainting students with the geological heritage and geosites of Lemnos using virtual reality tools.
