News & Information
4th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks in Greece and Cyprus
On Saturday 27 May 2023, the 4th International Conference of UNESCO Global Geoparks of Greece and Cyprus, which was held at the UNESCO Global Geopark of Sitia, on sustainable development and education in the UNESCO Global Geoparks of Greece and Cyprus, where the UNESCO Candidate Geopark of Nisyros actively participated, was completed with great success.
The conference was organised by the UNESCO Global Geopark of Sitia in cooperation with the Hellenic Geoparks Forum, the Greek and Cypriot National Committees of UNESCO, the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency and the Municipal Organisation for Socio-Cultural Development of Sitia (DOKAS).
During the three days of the conference, executives and scientists from all Greek and Cypriot Geoparks, universities and research centres, representatives of the state and local government, local institutions and voluntary groups, producers of local products and services, participated, presented and exchanged experiences and proposals, highlighting the role of Global Geoparks in the sustainable development of local communities and education. The themes of the conference were developed in 6 sessions on a) Geopark Synergies, b) Geotourism and other alternative forms of tourism in Geoparks, c) Geological Heritage and areas with potential for inclusion in Global Geoparks, d) Geoparks and biodiversity, e) Geoparks and education and f) Karst phenomena and caves.
A total of 50 oral speeches were presented during the first two days of the conference, while on the third day a guided tour in Sitia Geopark took place, including a visit to important geosites, and historical-archaeological sites (Etia, Xerokampos, Kato Zakros, Vai Palm Forest, Toplou Monastery).
The Candidate Global Geopark UNESCO Nisyros was represented by the scientific coordinator of the Geopark, Mrs. Nomikou Paraskevi, with an oral speech dedicated to the actions for the promotion of the geocultural heritage of Nisyros. The executives of the Geopark Management Body (DI.K.E.N.) Evangelos Tasioulas and George Dariviannakis were also present.