Europe [a] is the cradle of the geoparks movement. [1] The European Geoparks Network is a founding member of the Global Geoparks Network and it functions as a regional geopark network of it. As of November 2022, there are 94 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 28 European countries and there are several territories in an aspiring or planned phase, or in a national geopark status. [2] Further elements of the geodiversity of the continent is represented on the World Heritage list, under criterion VIII or VII.
Note *Kula Volcanic Geopark was enlarged and renamed as Kula Salihli Geopark in 2020. Though it is in the Asian part of Turkey, it is included here as the European Geopark Network extends across all of Turkey.
Twenty-eight sites are represented currently on the World Heritage list under criterion VIII, [160] as an outstanding representative of Earth's history:
Further sites are inscribed under criterion VII [161] of superlative natural phenomena and aesthetic importance. Some of them, which have a special geoheritage importance are: