The work of the International School of Geoparks, with the subject of "UNESCO Global Geoparks and Geotourism", which is organized by UNESCO and the Global Network of Geoparks in collaboration with the University of the Aegean and the Museum of Natural History of the Lesbos Petrified Forest, began with great success.
The International School of Geoparks is the leading training activity for executives of the "UNESCO Global Geoparks" International Program that takes place every year in Lesvos. This year, for the third year in a row, it takes place online from November 15 to 25, 2022.
More than 150 geopark executives, tourism executives, researchers, PhD candidates and postgraduate students, University professors from 42 countries around the world and especially from England, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Vietnam, participate in the School. Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Georgia, Ghana, Ecuador, Japan, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo , Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Hungary, Uruguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, Tanzania, Jersey, Tunisia, Chile and Greece.
At the opening of the School, greetings were addressed by Mr. Kristof Vandenberghe, Head of the Department of Geosciences and Global Geoparks of UNESCO, Dr. Guy Martini, President of the UNESCO World Geoparks Council, Professor Xiaochi Jin of the Chinese Academy of Geosciences and coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network and the Director of the International School of Geoparks is Prof. Nikolaos Zouros, UNESCO Chair for Geoparks and Sustainable development of island and coastal areas, University of the Aegean.
Among the participants are Om. Professor Ibrahim Komoo of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Professor Jianping Zhang, Director of the Geopark Research Center of Beijing University of Geosciences, Dr. M. - L. Frey, Director of the Messel Pit Fossil Site of Germany - UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dr. Sophie Justice, Director of the UNESCO Chablais World Geopark from France and coordinator of the European Geoparks Network, Mr. Eugenio Bidondo, Director of the UNESCO Grutas de Palacio World Geopark from Uruguay and Coordinator of the Latin American and Caribbean Geoparks Network, Mr. Driss Achbal, Director of the UNESCO M'Goun World Geopark from Morocco and Coordinator of the African Geoparks Network. Also, distinguished scientists from UNESCO, Universities, Research Centers and Institutes, University professors and Geopark Directors from England, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, China, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Tanzania and Greece.
In addition to the lectures, participants will have the opportunity to attend special online tours of Lesvos.
The International Summer School of Geoparks gathers global interest while at the same time promoting Lesvos as a center of education and a model for the creation and operation of Geoparks around the world.
