geoparks (dowling)
TRANSCRIPT
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 [email protected]