geoparks (dowling)

GeoparksA powerful new development vehicle for regional Australia

Professor Ross Dowling OAM Edith Cowan University

Western Australia

Spotlight 7 – Regional Tourismand Geotourism

Thursday 27 October

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Founded in 1945 - 193 member states

UNESCO

Man and the Biosphere

World Heritage

UNESCO Global Geoparks

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UNESCO Programs

Program Sites Countries

World Heritage 1052 165

Man and the Biosphere

669 120

UNESCO Global Geoparks

120 33

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Australia’s UNESCO Sites

Program Sites

World Heritage 22

Man and the Biosphere 14

UNESCO Global Geoparks 0

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Geoparks• A Geopark is an area with a geological heritage

of significance, with a coherent and strong management structure and where a sustainable economic development strategy is in place

• They are either national or global

• There are 120 global geoparks in 33 countries on five continents

• Europe - 69 North America - 2

• Asia - 46 [China has 33] South America - 2

• Africa - 1 Australia - 0

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Global Geoparks

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European Geoparks

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China’s Global Geoparks

33

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Are Geoparks only about Geology?

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1. Geopark are not the same as National Parks

2. Instead they are vehicles for fostering community-based, sustainable, regional economic development

Geoparks vs National Parks

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UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development

UNESCO Global Geoparks

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Geoparks

Geoparks are both a development concept as well as a branding tool. They achieve these goals through:

1. Conservation2. Education3. Geotourism

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Geoparks

Geoparks are sites of significant geological heritage with:

1. Geo-conservation activities2. Sustainable tourism activities3. Educational activities4. Community involvement5. Strong management structures6. A secure financial basis

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Levels of Geoparks

No Level Appellation

1 Local Aspiring

2 National National

3 Regional eg. European

4 Global Global

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The Geoparks Brand

• In China in the first decade there were over 1.1 billion visitors to geoparks (over 100 million visitors per annum)

• Entry fees were RMB 7 Billion ($1.5B)

• The geoparks generated 75 000 permanent full time jobs and 470 000 part time jobs

• In the United Kingdom the contribution of seven geoparks is £18.84m ($37m)

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• The total income brought about by tourism is RMB 2291 million (AUD$470 million)

• This accounts for 32% of the local GDP

• The number of jobs generated by the geopark is 25 300

• The geopark has lifted the county out of poverty to become relatively well off

Yuntaishan Geopark, ChinaEconomic Benefits

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1. Geoparks are the new National Landscapes

2. They have a well established global network

3. Chinese and European visitors know geoparks

4. Geoparks foster community-based, sustainable, regional, economic development

5. Australia needs geoparks – they are the only continent without them

Conclusions

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GeoparksA powerful new development vehicle for regional Australia

THE END

Professor Ross Dowling OAM Edith Cowan Universityr.dowling@ecu.edu.au