{"id":30039,"date":"2020-05-26T15:20:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T15:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?post_type=research_project&#038;p=30039"},"modified":"2024-02-06T09:08:15","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T09:08:15","slug":"geoparks","status":"publish","type":"research_project","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/","title":{"rendered":"Geoparks"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Geoparks<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS Research<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Geoparks&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=Geoparks&#038;body=UNESCO%20Global%20Geoparks%20are%20areas%20with%20internationally%20important%20rocks%20and%20landscapes,%20all%20of%20which%20are%20managed%20responsibly.%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_fawr-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur hero-img\" alt=\"Forest Fawr Geopark\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_fawr-1.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>UNESCO&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/unesco.org.uk\/geoparks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Global Geoparks<\/a> are areas with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly for conservation, education and sustainable development. Whilst geology may be their foundation, UNESCO Global Geoparks build upon it by bringing together other aspects of heritage such as archaeology, history, culture and biodiversity. All of this is achieved in collaboration with local people to make UNESCO Global Geoparks better places to work, live and visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At present there are 195 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 48 countries around the world, all of which are members of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.globalgeopark.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Global Geoparks Network<\/a> (GGN). The GGN is a dynamic network where members work together to share examples of good practice and join together in common projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We contribute to the development of UNESCO Global Geoparks in the UK through the UK Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks, which is responsible for coordinating Geoparks at a national level, and the submission of UK candidates for UNESCO Global Geoparks designation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UK UNESCO Global Geoparks<\/h2>\n\n\n<div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Black Country, England<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/blackcountrygeopark.dudley.gov.uk\/bcg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark<\/a> is in the West Midlands of England and takes in parts of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. Home to over 1 million people, it is truly unique in being a completely urban Geopark, which brings with it a special connection with the area\u2019s geological heritage.<\/p>\n<p>The Black Country played a major role in the creation of the Industrial Revolution, with industrial minerals such as limestone, ironstone, fireclay and coal all providing the necessary ingredients for this to happen. Its rich mineral wealth led to the intense industrial activity from where the region gets its name: it was described as being \u2018black by day and red by night\u2019.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_53157\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-53157\" style=\"width: 534px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-53157 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Coseley-tunnel-3a.jpg\" alt=\"Colesey tunnel, Black Country Geopark\" width=\"534\" height=\"348\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-53157\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Colesey tunnel, Black Country Geopark. \u00a9 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">English Riviera<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Situated within the stunning, rolling hills of south Devon, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark<\/a> can be found in Torbay and includes the resort towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Torbay&#8217;s geology has created a beautiful coastline, linking the rich diversity of the landscape with its wildlife, people and culture.<\/p>\n<p>The Geopark&#8217;s historical contribution, in terms of the development of both geological and archaeological sciences, is outstanding, ranging from the Huttonian Theory to the naming of the Devonian Period by Sedgwick and Murchison, and even Pengelly&#8217;s cave exploration discoveries that revealed what is possibly the earliest anatomically modern human fossil yet discovered in north-west Europe.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30217\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30217\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/English_Riviera-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"The English Riviera\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/English_Riviera-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/English_Riviera-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/English_Riviera.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30217\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The English Riviera. \u00a9 English Riviera BID co.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Fforest Fawr, Wales<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fforestfawrgeopark.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fforest Fawr UNESCO Global Geopark<\/a> (&#8216;great forest&#8217; in English) is a swathe of upland country that comprises the western half of the Brecon Beacons National Park in a landscape that sees the transition from rural mid-Wales to the industrial valleys of south Wales.<\/p>\n<p>The rocks and landscapes of the Geopark record significant events in Earth\u2019s history and help us to understand the geological evolution of Wales, the rest of the UK and Europe. Spanning a period of 480 million years, the Geopark plays host to rocks from the Ordovician to the Carboniferous periods and a stunning array of glaciated landscapes. Its importance in geological history is highlighted in the globally recognised terms Llandovery and Silurian, named respectively after a local town and the Celtic Silures tribe, who inhabited the area during Roman times.<\/p>\n<p>The Geopark is also known for its industrial heritage from the past 200 years, a legacy of when the area was exploited for metal production and now an integral part of the dramatic landscape.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_74867\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-74867\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-74867\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_fawr_sm.jpg\" alt=\"Fforest Fawr Geopark\" width=\"960\" height=\"572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_fawr_sm.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_fawr_sm-768x458.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-74867\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fforest Fawr Geopark. Source: Rhian Kendall \u00a9 BGS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">GeoM\u00f4n, Wales<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.geomon.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GeoM\u00f4n UNESCO Global Geopark<\/a> gets its name from the largest of the Welsh islands, Ynys M\u00f4n, known in English as Anglesey, which is located off the north-west coast of Wales. The entire island is part of the Geopark with its spectacular geological history that spans four eras, 12 geological time periods and 1.8 billion years.<\/p>\n<p>GeoM\u00f4n tells of the opening and closing of ancient oceans, the growth and eventual death of volcanoes, the blossoming of life in shallow tropical seas and the formation of huge ice sheets that grew and then eventually melted away in response to more recent changes in our climate.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30212\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30212\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Gwma_melange_Geomon-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"Gwma Melange, GeoM\u00f4n\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Gwma_melange_Geomon-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Gwma_melange_Geomon-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Gwma_melange_Geomon.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30212\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rocks of the Gwna Group, GeoM\u00f4n. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, Northern Ireland\/Republic of Ireland<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Straddling the border between Co. Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and Co. Cavan in the Republic of Ireland, the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark<a href=\"http:\/\/www.marblearchcavesgeopark.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0UNESCO Global Geopark<\/a> was the first area in the UK recognised as a Geopark in 2001 and became the first transnational Geopark in the world in 2008. The geology of the Geopark covers a vast array of geological time, starting with the oldest Precambrian rocks and continuing to the present day with the active formation of cave and karst features.<\/p>\n<p>By far the most dominant geological features are Carboniferous sedimentary rocks best seen at Cuilcagh Mountain, where a complete sequence of rocks covering eight million years (from 337 to 329 million years ago) is preserved and is one of the most important places internationally to witness the evolution of a sedimentary basin from this time.<\/p>\n<p>Glacial landforms make up a significant part of the geodiversity of the Geopark. The vast tract of glacial ribbed moraines that extend across mid-Cavan are internationally important in terms of their unique size and with regard to glacial research.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33021\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33021\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-33021\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Cuilcagh-MAC-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"Cuilcagh, Marble Arch Caves\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Cuilcagh-MAC-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Cuilcagh-MAC-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Cuilcagh-MAC.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33021\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark. \u00a9 Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">North Pennines, England<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Located in the uplands of northern England, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.northpennines.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Pennines UNESCO Global Geopark<\/a> stretches across the counties of Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria and shares its boundary with the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).<\/p>\n<p>The landscape reflects nearly 500 million years of geological heritage, with layers of Carboniferous sedimentary rocks forming terraced hillsides and the famous Whin Sill, which is an igneous intrusion from around 300 million years ago that forms distinctive scarps and dramatic waterfalls.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Geopark is most famous for its mineral veins where, over the centuries, lead ore and other minerals have been mined, leaving behind a rich industrial and cultural heritage with ruins and spoil heaps dotting the spectacular and varied landscape.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30213\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30213\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30213\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/HighForce_North_Pennines-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"High Force, North Pennines\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/HighForce_North_Pennines-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/HighForce_North_Pennines-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/HighForce_North_Pennines.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30213\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">High Force, North Pennines. \u00a9 BGS\/UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">North-west Highlands, Scotland<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Seen by many as the cradle of modern geology, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nwhgeopark.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark<\/a> is located in the far north-west of Scotland and encompasses some of the finest mountains and coastal landscapes in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>The Geopark was a key area in the history of geology, including the \u2018Highlands Controversy\u2019, which ended in the recognition of the Moine Thrust Zone and the first thrust belt ever to be scientifically documented. The area is home to the Lewisian Gneiss, the oldest rocks in Europe at 3\u00a0billion years old. It is also home to the earliest evidence of life in Europe: simple-celled algal life (stromatolites) occurring in the Torridonian Sandstone dated at 1.2 billion years old.<\/p>\n<p>The Geopark hosts a vast geodiversity and covers two-thirds of the Earth\u2019s history. Its landscapes, all of which are a direct result of the underlying geology, are famous the world over, leading to the phrase &#8216;The landscape is the geology; the geology is the landscape&#8217;.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33023\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33023\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-33023\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NW_Highlands_UGGp_P000959_BGS-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"Northwest highlands\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NW_Highlands_UGGp_P000959_BGS-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NW_Highlands_UGGp_P000959_BGS-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NW_Highlands_UGGp_P000959_BGS.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33023\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Suilven, North-west Highlands. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Shetland, Scotland<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most northerly of the UK&#8217;s UNESCO Global Geoparks, and taking in all of the islands that make up the Shetland archipelago, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.shetlandamenity.org\/geopark-shetland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UNESCO Global Geopark Shetland<\/a> contains rocks from every geological period from the Precambrian to the Carboniferous.<\/p>\n<p>Its rocks tell an amazing story of how the world has formed and changed, with oceans closing and opening, as well as mountains forming and eroding. Its northerly location also means that it is a haven for wildlife, especially birds, as well as having a strong Norse heritage, all of which are intricately linked to the landscape.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33024\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33024\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-33024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Shetland_UGGp_P002768_BGS-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"Shetland\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Shetland_UGGp_P002768_BGS-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Shetland_UGGp_P002768_BGS-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Shetland_UGGp_P002768_BGS.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33024\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stoura Pund, Shetland. BGS \u00a9 UKRI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other Geoparks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a number of Aspiring UNESCO Global Geoparks in the UK. They are at various stages in the application process and include <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newrymournedown.org\/unesco-global-geopark\" target=\"_blank\">Mourne Gullion Strangford<\/a> (Northern Ireland), <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.arrangeopark.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">Arran<\/a> (Scotland) and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jerseyislandgeopark.org.je\/\" target=\"_blank\">Jersey<\/a> (Channel Islands).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also a number of areas in the UK that have chosen not to pursue UNESCO Global Geopark status or that fail to meet the criteria to do so. These areas still use the term Geopark as they still have incredible geological heritage that they use for education, conservation and sustainable development. These include <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/geopark.org.uk\/pub\/\" target=\"_blank\">Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark<\/a> (England) and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/lochabergeopark.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">Lochaber Geopark<\/a> (Scotland).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you would like to discover more then please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/people\/lemon-kirstin\/\">Kirstin Lemon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section   id=\"latest-content-946-block_01388c31aba06d5432985ca0ad667f27\" class=\"grid-section  primary-background   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>You may also be interested in<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row grid-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geological-research\/national-geoscience\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/National-Feature-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Avon Gorge at Clifton. Looking north.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/National-Feature.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geological-research\/national-geoscience\/\">National geoscience<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The National Geoscience programme is a forward-looking investment in UK geology that provides relevant, coherent and enriched geoscience knowledge for our stakeholders.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geological-research\/national-geoscience\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/coasts-and-estuaries\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/banner_coastal_change-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Coastal team members setting up the portable devices used to measure sediment transport on mixed sand and gravel beaches at Minsmere, East England, UK (more info about the device here: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.coastaleng.2019.103580)\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/banner_coastal_change.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/coasts-and-estuaries\/\">Coasts and estuaries geohazards<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS Coasts and Estuaries provides independent and expert geoscientific tools and advice for collaborative decision making to assess different adaptation options to coastal flooding and erosion.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/coasts-and-estuaries\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":30211,"parent":0,"menu_order":57,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"21427,37440,16523,37384,30666,33594","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"region":[8,116],"topic":[33,23,31,25],"purpose":[],"area":[17,18,19],"challenge":[49],"challenge_topic":[135,141],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Geoparks - British Geological Survey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Geoparks - British Geological Survey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"British Geological Survey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-06T09:08:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_Fawr.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1332\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"690\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\",\"name\":\"Geoparks - British Geological Survey\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_Fawr.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-05-26T15:20:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-06T09:08:15+00:00\",\"description\":\"UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_Fawr.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_Fawr.jpg\",\"width\":1332,\"height\":690,\"caption\":\"Fforest Fawr\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Geoparks\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/\",\"name\":\"British Geological Survey\",\"description\":\"World-leading geological solutions\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#organization\",\"name\":\"British Geological Survey\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/BGS-logo-large.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/BGS-logo-large.png\",\"width\":250,\"height\":104,\"caption\":\"British Geological Survey\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Geoparks - British Geological Survey","description":"UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Geoparks - British Geological Survey","og_description":"UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/","og_site_name":"British Geological Survey","article_modified_time":"2024-02-06T09:08:15+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1332,"height":690,"url":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_Fawr.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/","name":"Geoparks - British Geological Survey","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_Fawr.jpg","datePublished":"2020-05-26T15:20:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-06T09:08:15+00:00","description":"UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_Fawr.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fforest_Fawr.jpg","width":1332,"height":690,"caption":"Fforest Fawr"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geoparks\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Geoparks"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/","name":"British Geological Survey","description":"World-leading geological solutions","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#organization","name":"British Geological Survey","url":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/BGS-logo-large.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/BGS-logo-large.png","width":250,"height":104,"caption":"British Geological Survey"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research_project\/30039"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research_project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/research_project"}],"version-history":[{"count":95,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research_project\/30039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108675,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research_project\/30039\/revisions\/108675"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30039"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=30039"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=30039"},{"taxonomy":"purpose","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/purpose?post=30039"},{"taxonomy":"area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area?post=30039"},{"taxonomy":"challenge","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/challenge?post=30039"},{"taxonomy":"challenge_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/challenge_topic?post=30039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}