O PROJEKTU | ABOUT THE PROJECT

Geoparki so bili ustanovljeni z namenom prepoznavanja geografskih območij z vrhunsko geološko, naravno in kulturno dediščino. Geoparki si prizadevajo zaščititi to dediščino in jo deliti z ljudmi z vsega sveta.

Globalni (UNESCO) geoparki in nacionalni geoparki.

Unescova definicija globalnega geoparka je enotno območje z geološko dediščino mednarodnega pomena. Geoparki uporabljajo to dediščino za spodbujanje ozaveščenosti o ključnih vprašanjih, s katerimi se sooča družba v kontekstu našega dinamičnega planeta. Številni geoparki spodbujajo ozaveščenost o geoloških nevarnostih, vključno z vulkani, potresi in cunamiji, mnogi pa pomagajo pri pripravi strategij za ublažitev nesreč z lokalnimi skupnostmi. Geoparki vsebujejo zapise o preteklih podnebnih spremembah in so indikatorji sedanjih podnebnih sprememb ter prikazujejo pristop "najboljše prakse" za uporabo obnovljive energije in uporabo najboljših standardov "zelenega turizma". Promocija turistične industrije v geoparkih, kot geografsko trajnostnem in uporabnem modelu turizma, je namenjena ohranjanju in celo krepitvi geografskega značaja kraja.

Geoparki tudi obveščajo o trajnostni rabi in potrebi po naravnih virih, ne glede na to, ali so izkopani, pridobljeni ali izkoriščeni iz okolice, hkrati pa spodbujajo spoštovanje okolja in celovitost krajine. Geoparki niso zakonodajna oznaka, čeprav so ključna območja dediščine znotraj geoparka pogosto zaščitena z lokalno, regionalno ali nacionalno zakonodajo.

Multidisciplinarna narava koncepta geoparka in turistične promocije v geoparkih se razlikuje od drugih modelov trajnostnega turizma. Dejansko spodbujanje trajnostnega turizma znotraj geoparkov zajema številne značilnosti trajnostnega turizma, vključno z geoturizmom, turizmom v skupnosti in integriranim podeželskim turizmom, ekoturizmom in turizmom kulturne dediščine.

Geoparks were created for the purpose of locating regions with superior geological, natural, and cultural heritage. Geoparks work to protect these heritages and to share them with people from all over the world.

Global (UNESCO) geoparks and national geoparks.

A UNESCO definition of global geopark is a unified area with a geological heritage of international significance. Geoparks use that heritage to promote awareness of key issues facing society in the context of our dynamic planet. Many geoparks promote awareness of geological hazards, including volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis and many help prepare disaster mitigation strategies with local communities. Geoparks embody records of past climate changes and are indicators of current climate changes as well as demonstrating a "best practise" approach to using renewable energy and employing the best standards of "green tourism". Tourism industry promotion in geoparks, as a geographically sustainable and applicable tourism model, aims to sustain, and even enhance, the geographical character of a place.

Geoparks also inform about the sustainable use and need for natural resources, whether they are mined, quarried or harnessed from the surrounding environment while at the same time promoting respect for the environment and the integrity of the landscape. Geoparks are not a legislative designation though the key heritage sites within a geopark are often protected under local, regional or national legislation.

The multidisciplinary nature of the concept of geopark and tourism promotion in geoparks differentiates itself from other models of sustainable tourism. In fact, sustainable tourism promotion within geoparks encompasses many of the features of sustainable tourism including geo-tourism, community-based tourism and integrated rural tourism, ecotourism, and cultural heritage tourism.