UNESCO chair on Geoparks and Sustainable Development of insular and coastal areas introduces and supports appropriate studies and practices in the universities, the education system stakeholders and governances of insular and coastal UNESCO Global Geoparks or areas wishing to submit an application for their recognition. Such studies are related with innovative geo-conservation techniques, new sophisticated heritage monitoring systems, establishment of a Quality Control Mechanism for local products and services, risks and hazards risk reduction.
UNESCO chair on Geoparks and Sustainable Development of insular and coastal areas organizes and implements capacity building activities on this new approach towards sustainable development and provides scientific support on issues related to heritage-led development in insular and coastal areas, to reduction of risks and impacts of hazards, to climatic change adaptation, to the protection, conservation and sustainable management of insular and coastal resources.
UNESCO chair on Geoparks and Sustainable Development of insular and coastal areas supports better understanding and capacity building of local stakeholders in islands and coastal areas on how a UNESCO Global Geopark uses its geological heritage, in connection with all other aspects of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, to enhance awareness and understanding of key issues facing society, such as using our earth’s resources sustainably, mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing natural disasters-related risks. Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular. Such an approach is currently an integral part of the management and education throughout the region.
Thus the UNESCO chair on Geoparks and Sustainable Development of insular and coastal areas contributes through its activities to the creation of innovative local enterprises and new jobs on heritage management (protection, conservation, interpretation and monitoring), tourism related activities as well as on local products enhancement. High quality training courses is stimulated as new sources of revenue are generated towards the development and the implementation of sustainable tourism activities and new/improved local products linked with geo-diversity, especially produced by women cooperatives, local producers and farms.
The UNESCO chair can also support the sustainable development through transfer of know-how on the establishment of guidelines for a quality labelling system of services and products in insular and coastal UNESCO Global Geoparks. High quality of food products and tourism services is one of the premier goals of for a quality labelling system of services and products in insular and coastal areas. As a general rule, all partners should comply to national safety and hygiene regulations, including a transparent channel for viewing and responding to complaints and negative evaluations. Partners are also encouraged to apply additional quality schemes according to their category that shall increase the visibility and traceability of their products.
Such a quality labelling system of services and products in insular and coastal areas should be developed with the participation of businesses, local administration and other stakeholders that are willing to comply to its provisions. The guidelines for such an agreement for a quality labelling system of services and products shall set the terms and conditions for its partners to be awarded the “Geopark Partner” designation.
Such partners shall abide by responsibilities and obligations, make positive publicity of the SDG’s and the development philosophy of the UNESCO Global Geoparks and accept supervision of the UNESCO Global Geopark authorities in order to keep quality standards.
In such an agreement for a quality labelling system of services and products in insular and coastal areas the following categories of legal entities are eligible to apply for potential partnership:
(I) Local travel agencies;
(II) Hotels and accommodation providers
(III) Restaurants;
(IV) Local communities and cooperatives
(V) Geopark – featured product makers;
(VI) Shops selling local products;
(VII) Providers of rural tourism services;
(VIII) Providers of agri-tourism services;
(IX) Other partners, including local administration, local development companies, etc.
UNESCO chair transfers knowledge, strengthen links between universities and other higher education institutions, Geopark management bodies and development agencies through various activities such as:
a. The International Intensive Course on UNESCO Global Geoparks, organized annually in partnership with UNESCO Science Sector / Earth science and risk reduction section.
b. Participation in Master courses
c. Organization of International Conferences on SDG’s and their implementation
d. Organization of capacity building activities through exchanges of scientists
e. Organization of workshops and short training courses for local stakeholders and local authorities in insular and coastal areas
f. Organization of field courses for University students in insular and coastal areas
g. Support of PhD studies
UNESCO chair also helps governments and other stakeholders which try to develop insular and coastal areas through their participation in the UNESCO Global Geoparks programme.