G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO
Les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO sont des zones g¨¦ographiques uniques et unifi¨¦es o¨´ des sites et des paysages d'importance g¨¦ologique internationale sont g¨¦r¨¦s selon un concept holistique de protection, d'¨¦ducation et de d¨¦veloppement durable. Leur approche ascendante, qui combine conservation et d¨¦veloppement durable tout en impliquant les communaut¨¦s locales, est de plus en plus populaire. Il y a actuellement 213 g¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO dans 48 pays.
c¨¦l¨¨brent les liens entre le patrimoine g¨¦ologique et tous les autres types de patrimoine
Qu'est-ce qu'un g¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO ?
Les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO sont des zones g¨¦ographiques uniques et unifi¨¦es o¨´ les sites et les paysages d'importance g¨¦ologique internationale sont g¨¦r¨¦s selon un concept holistique de protection, d'¨¦ducation et de d¨¦veloppement durable. Un G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO utilise son patrimoine g¨¦ologique, en relation avec tous les autres aspects du patrimoine naturel et culturel de la zone, pour am¨¦liorer la sensibilisation et la compr¨¦hension des questions cl¨¦s auxquelles la soci¨¦t¨¦ est confront¨¦e, comme l'utilisation durable des ressources de notre plan¨¨te, l'att¨¦nuation des effets du changement climatique et la r¨¦duction des risques de catastrophes li¨¦es aux al¨¦as naturels.
En faisant prendre conscience de l'importance du patrimoine g¨¦ologique de la r¨¦gion dans l'histoire et la soci¨¦t¨¦ d'aujourd'hui, les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO donnent aux populations locales un sentiment de fiert¨¦ pour leur r¨¦gion et renforcent leur identification avec celle-ci. La cr¨¦ation d'entreprises locales innovantes, de nouveaux emplois et de cours de formation de haute qualit¨¦ est stimul¨¦e car de nouvelles sources de revenus sont g¨¦n¨¦r¨¦es par le g¨¦otourisme, tandis que les ressources g¨¦ologiques de la r¨¦gion sont prot¨¦g¨¦es.
Une approche ascendante
Les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO donnent des moyens d'action aux communaut¨¦s locales et leur permettent de d¨¦velopper des partenariats coh¨¦rents dans le but commun de promouvoir les processus g¨¦ologiques, les caract¨¦ristiques, les p¨¦riodes, les th¨¨mes historiques li¨¦s ¨¤ la g¨¦ologie ou la beaut¨¦ g¨¦ologique exceptionnelle de la r¨¦gion. Les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO sont cr¨¦¨¦s dans le cadre d'un processus ascendant impliquant tous les acteurs et autorit¨¦s locaux et r¨¦gionaux concern¨¦s par la zone (par exemple, les propri¨¦taires fonciers, les groupes communautaires, les prestataires de services touristiques, les populations autochtones et les organisations locales). Ce processus exige un engagement ferme de la part des communaut¨¦s locales, un partenariat local solide et multiple avec un soutien public et politique ¨¤ long terme, et le d¨¦veloppement d'une strat¨¦gie globale qui r¨¦pondra ¨¤ tous les objectifs des communaut¨¦s tout en mettant en valeur et en prot¨¦geant le patrimoine g¨¦ologique de la r¨¦gion.
Sont-ils centr¨¦s sur la g¨¦ologie uniquement ?
Si un G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO doit pr¨¦senter un patrimoine g¨¦ologique d'importance internationale, il cherche ¨¤ explorer, d¨¦velopper et c¨¦l¨¦brer les liens entre ce patrimoine g¨¦ologique et tous les autres aspects du patrimoine naturel, culturel et immat¨¦riel de la r¨¦gion. Il s'agit de reconnecter la soci¨¦t¨¦ humaine, ¨¤ tous les niveaux, ¨¤ la plan¨¨te qui nous abrite et de c¨¦l¨¦brer la fa?on dont notre plan¨¨te et son histoire longue de 4 600 millions d'ann¨¦es ont fa?onn¨¦ tous les aspects de nos vies et de nos soci¨¦t¨¦s.)
Est-ce que la d¨¦signation est permanente ?
Chaque G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO re?oit cette d¨¦signation pour une p¨¦riode de quatre ans, apr¨¨s quoi le fonctionnement et la qualit¨¦ de chaque g¨¦oparc sont r¨¦examin¨¦s en profondeur au cours d'un processus de revalidation. Dans le cadre du processus de revalidation, le G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO examin¨¦ doit pr¨¦parer un rapport d'activit¨¦, et deux ¨¦valuateurs effectueront une mission de terrain pour revalider sa qualit¨¦. Sur la base du rapport d'¨¦valuation de terrain :
- Si le g¨¦oparc continue de remplir les crit¨¨res, la zone restera un G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO pour une p¨¦riode suppl¨¦mentaire de quatre ans (soit un "carton verte").
- Si le site ne remplit plus les crit¨¨res, l'organisme de gestion en sera inform¨¦ et devra prendre des mesures appropri¨¦es dans un d¨¦lai de deux ans ("carton jaune").
- Si le site ne remplit pas les crit¨¨res dans les deux ans suivant la r¨¦ception d'un "carton jaune", la zone perdra son statut de G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO (soit un "carton rouge").
Liste des Geoparcs mondiaux UNESCO
ayant recours ¨¤ la protection, ¨¤ l¡¯¨¦ducation et au d¨¦veloppement durable
Caract¨¦ristiques fondamentales
Un G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO pr¨¦sente quatre caract¨¦ristiques fondamentales. Ces caract¨¦ristiques constituent une condition pr¨¦alable absolue pour qu¡¯un site devienne un G¨¦oparc mondial de l¡¯UNESCO. Les crit¨¨res exacts pour qu¡¯un site devienne un G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO sont d¨¦finis dans les Directives op¨¦rationnelles pour les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO. Les quatre caract¨¦ristiques fondamentales d¡¯un g¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO sont (en anglais) :
Geological heritage of international value
In order to become a UNESCO Global Geopark, the area must have geological heritage of international value. This is assessed by scientific professionals, as part of the ¡°UNESCO Global Geopark Evaluation Team¡±. Based on the international peer-reviewed, published research conducted on the geological sites within the area, the scientific professionals make a globally comparative assessment to determine whether the geological sites constitute international value.
Management
UNESCO Global Geoparks are managed by a body having legal existence recognized under national legislation. This management body should be appropriately equipped to address the entire area and should include all relevant local and regional actors and authorities. UNESCO Global Geoparks require a management plan, agreed upon by all the partners, that provides for the social and economic needs of the local populations, protects the landscape in which they live and conserves their cultural identity. This plan must be comprehensive, incorporating the governance, development, communication, protection, infrastructure, finances, and partnerships of the UNESCO Global Geopark.
Visibility
UNESCO Global Geoparks promote sustainable local economic development mainly through geotourism. In order to stimulate the geotourism in the area, it is crucial that a UNESCO Global Geopark has visibility. Visitors as well as local people need to be able to find relevant information on the UNESCO Global Geopark. As such, providing information via a dedicated website, leaflets, and detailed map of the area that connects the area¡¯s geological and other sites. A UNESCO Global Geopark should also have a corporate identity.
Networking
A UNESCO Global Geopark is not only about cooperation with the local people living in the UNESCO Global Geopark area, but also about collaborating with other UNESCO Global Geoparks through the Global Geoparks Network (GGN), and regional networks for UNESCO Global Geoparks, in order to learn from each other and, as a network, improve the quality of the label UNESCO Global Geopark. Working together with international partners is the main reason for UNESCO Global Geoparks to be a member of an international network such as the GGN. Membership of the GGN is obligatory for UNESCO Global Geoparks. By working together across borders, UNESCO Global Geoparks contribute to increasing understanding among different communities and as such help peace-building processes.
R¨¦seau mondial des g¨¦oparcs (GGN)
Le R¨¦seau mondial des g¨¦oparcs (GGN) est une organisation ¨¤ but non lucratif l¨¦galement constitu¨¦e et dont les membres paient une cotisation annuelle, fond¨¦ en 2004. L¡¯adh¨¦sion au GGN est obligatoire pour les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO. Le GGN est un r¨¦seau dynamique dont les membres s'engagent ¨¤ travailler ensemble, ¨¤ ¨¦changer des id¨¦es sur les meilleures pratiques et ¨¤ se joindre ¨¤ des projets communs afin d'am¨¦liorer les normes de qualit¨¦ de tous les produits et pratiques d'un G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO. Bien que le GGN dans son ensemble se r¨¦unisse tous les deux ans, il fonctionne gr?ce au fonctionnement de r¨¦seaux r¨¦gionaux, tels que le R¨¦seau europ¨¦en des g¨¦oparcs qui se r¨¦unit deux fois par an pour d¨¦velopper et promouvoir des activit¨¦s communes.
pour soutenir des soci¨¦t¨¦s durables
Domaines prioritaires (en anglais)
Since the dawn of humanity natural resources provided by the Earth¡¯s solid crust have been the basis for our social and economic development. These resources include minerals, hydrocarbons, rare earth elements, geothermal energy, air and water, and their sustainable use is vital for the continued future well-being of society. Any element which can be found on Earth has its origin in geology and geological processes, is non-renewable and its exploitation has to be treated wisely. UNESCO Global Geoparks inform people 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.
Many UNESCO Global Geoparks promote awareness of geological hazards, including volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, and many help prepare disaster mitigation strategies among local communities. Through educational activities for the local people and visitors, many UNESCO Global Geoparks give information on the source of geological hazards and ways to reduce their impact including disaster response strategies. These efforts build important capacity and contribute to building more resilient communities that have the knowledge and skills to effectively respond to potential geological hazards.
UNESCO Global Geoparks hold records of past climate change and are educators on current climate change as well as adopting a best practise approach to utilising renewable energy and employing the best standards of ¡°green tourism.¡± While some UNESCO Global Geoparks stimulate green growth in the region through innovative projects, others serve as outdoor museums on the effects of current climate change thus giving the opportunity to show visitors how climate change can affect our environment.
Such community and educational activities and projects are important in order to raise awareness on the potential impact of climate change on the region, and to provide the local communities with the knowledge to mitigate and adapt to the potential effects of climate change.
It is a pre-requisite that all UNESCO Global Geoparks develop and operate educational activities for all ages to spread awareness of our geological heritage and its links to other aspects of our natural, cultural and intangible heritages. UNESCO Global Geoparks offer educational programmes for schools or offer special activities for children through ¡°Kids Clubs¡± or special ¡°Fossil Fun Days¡±. UNESCO Global Geoparks also offer education, both formal and informal, for adults and retired people while many provide training for local people who can then, in turn, teach others.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are thus encouraged to work with academic institutions to engage in active scientific research in the Earth Sciences, and other disciplines as appropriate, to advance our knowledge about the Earth and its processes. A UNESCO Global Geopark is not a museum, it is an active laboratory where people can become engaged in science from the highest academic research level to the level of the curious visitor. A UNESCO Global Geopark must take great care not to alienate the public from science and absolutely must avoid the use of technical-scientific language on information boards, signs, leaflets, maps and books which are aimed at the general public.
The motto of UNESCO Global Geoparks is ¡°Celebrating Earth Heritage, Sustaining Local Communities¡±. UNESCO Global Geoparks are fundamentally about people and about exploring and celebrating the links between our communities and the Earth. The Earth has shaped who we are: it has shaped our farming practices, the building materials and methods we have used for our homes, even our mythology, folklore and folk traditions. UNESCO Global Geoparks, therefore, engage in a range of activities to celebrate these links. Many UNESCO Global Geoparks have strong links to the arts communities where the synergy released by bringing science and the arts together can yield surprising results.
UNESCO Global Geoparks have a strong emphasize on empowering women whether through focussed education programmes or through the development of women¡¯s cooperatives. UNESCO Global Geoparks are a platform for the development, nurturing and promotion of local cottage industry and craft products. In some UNESCO Global Geoparks women¡¯s cooperatives also provide an opportunity for women to obtain additional income in their own area and on their own terms. They can, for example, operate accommodation services for visitors.
Even if an area has an outstanding, world-famous geological heritage of outstanding universal value it cannot be a UNESCO Global Geopark unless the area also has a plan for the sustainable development of the people who live there. This may take the form of sustainable tourism through, for example, the development of walking or cycling trails, training of local people to act as guides, encouraging tourism and accommodation providers to follow international best practice in environmental sustainability. But it can also be about simply engaging with local people and respecting their traditional way of life in a way that empowers them and respects their human rights and dignity. Unless a UNESCO Global Geopark has the support of local people it will not succeed. UNESCO Global Geopark status does not imply restrictions on any economic activity inside a UNESCO Global Geopark where that activity complies with indigenous, local, regional and/or national legislation.
UNESCO Global Geoparks actively involve local and indigenous peoples, preserving and celebrating their culture. By involving local and indigenous communities, UNESCO Global Geoparks recognize the importance of these communities, their culture and the link between these communities and their land. It is one of the criteria of UNESCO Global Geoparks that local and indigenous knowledge, practice and management systems, alongside science, are included in the planning and management of the area.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas that use the concept of sustainability, value the heritage of Mother Earth and recognize the need to protect it. The defining geological sites in UNESCO Global Geoparks are protected by indigenous, local, regional and/or national law and management authorities, in cooperation with the appropriate agencies, which allow for the necessary monitoring and maintenance of these sites. Appropriate protection measures for each site are set out in individual site management plans. The management body of a UNESCO Global Geopark will also not participate directly in the sale of geological objects such as fossils, minerals, polished rocks and ornamental rocks of the type normally found in so-called ¡°rock-shops¡± within the area, and many actively discourage unsustainable trade in
geological materials as a whole. It does not refer to material for normal industrial and household use which is sourced by quarrying and/or mining and which will be subject to regulation under national and/or international legislation.
Under certain circumstances and where clearly justified as a responsible activity the management body may permit sustainable collecting of geological materials for scientific and educational purposes from naturally renewable sites within the UNESCO Global Geopark. Trade of geological materials (in accordance with national legislation on Earth heritage conservation) based on such a system may be tolerated in exceptional circumstances, provided it is clearly and publicly explained, justified and monitored as the best option for the UNESCO Global Geopark in relation to local circumstances. Such circumstances will be subject to debate and approval on a case-by-case basis.
through UNESCO Global Geoparks, biosphere reserves and World Heritage sites
Sit¨¦s d¨¦sign¨¦s par l¡¯UNESCO
Il existe trois types de d¨¦signations de sites UNESCO : les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO, les r¨¦serves de biosph¨¨re et les sites du patrimoine mondial. Ensemble, ils donnent une image compl¨¨te de la c¨¦l¨¦bration de notre patrimoine tout en pr¨¦servant la diversit¨¦ culturelle, biologique et g¨¦ologique du monde et en promouvant le d¨¦veloppement ¨¦conomique durable.
Les r¨¦serves de biosph¨¨re se concentrent sur la gestion harmonis¨¦e de la diversit¨¦ biologique et culturelle, tandis que les sites du patrimoine mondial promeuvent la conservation des sites naturels et culturels de valeur universelle exceptionnelle. Quant ¨¤ eux, les G¨¦oparcs mondiaux UNESCO accordent une reconnaissance internationale aux sites qui promeuvent l'importance et la signification de la protection de la g¨¦odiversit¨¦ de la Terre par le biais d¡¯une collaboration active avec les communaut¨¦s locales. Lorsqu¡¯un g¨¦oparc candidat ¨¤ ce label comprend un site du patrimoine mondial ou une r¨¦serve de biosph¨¨re, une justification et des preuves claires doivent ¨ºtre fournies sur la fa?on dont le statut de G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO ajoutera de la valeur en ¨¦tant ¨¤ la fois ind¨¦pendant et en synergie avec les autres d¨¦signations.
(en anglais)
Logo ? G¨¦oparc mondial UNESCO ?
L'UNESCO a publi¨¦ de nouvelles normes graphiques et une bo?te ¨¤ outils pour le logo en 2021. Un nouveau logo g¨¦n¨¦rique a ¨¦t¨¦ cr¨¦¨¦ pour am¨¦liorer la visibilit¨¦ et la lisibilit¨¦, tout en rationalisant la marque UNESCO.
