List of UNESCO Global Geoparks in North America

Last updated

In North America, [lower-alpha 1] there is no regional geopark network so far. As of July 2020, there are five UNESCO Global Geoparks in Canada and several aspiring geoparks projects going on, under the framework of the Canadian Geoparks Network. [1] In the United States, there are no active UNESCO Global Geoparks so far, but there are certain plans to establish geoparks, [2] applying for this label. Further elements of the geodiversity of the continent is represented on the World Heritage list, under criterion VIII or VII.

Contents

UNESCO Global Geoparks

UNESCO Global GeoparkImageLocationArea
(km2)
YearGeodiversity
Cliffs of Fundy [3] Nova Scotia
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
45°41′44″N64°27′05″W / 45.695569°N 64.45125100000001°W / 45.695569; -64.45125100000001 (Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark) 		2020It includes exposures of the Central Atlantic Magmatic province. [4]
Discovery Geopark [5] Newfoundland & Labrador
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
48°33′08″N53°08′18″W / 48.5521713°N 53.1384243°W / 48.5521713; -53.1384243 (Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark) 		2020A coastal Geopark within the Appalachian orogen. Includes important fossils of Ediacaran biota [4]
Percé Perce Rock (3).jpg Quebec
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
48°31′18″N64°13′02″W / 48.521642°N 64.217264°W / 48.521642; -64.217264 (Percé UNESCO Global Geopark) 		5552018The geopark is located in the Appalachian Mountains, with rocks and fossils documenting a 500 million years evolution, from Paleozoic orogenies to magmatic and tectonic events of the divergence of North America from Eurasia and Quaternary glaciation. It is also an important location from the viewpoint of the history of geology, as the starting point of the geological mapping of Canada by William Edmond Logan. [6] [7]
Stonehammer Sandstone in Canada - IMG 0791 (11385934064).jpg New Brunswick
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
45°34′46″N65°32′40″W / 45.579444°N 65.544444°W / 45.579444; -65.544444 (Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark) 		25002010The range of outcrops, fossils and landforms from the Precambrian to Quaternary was an important location for the pioneer years of Canadian geology. The complex geology of collision and divergence of continents, and glaciation was interpreted by Abraham Pineo Gesner, the first provincial geologist of the British Empire or the name-bearing Steinhammer Club a group of young men with the aim of exploring the local geology. [8] [9]
Tumbler Ridge Kinuseo Falls.jpg British Columbia
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
54°59′24″N121°22′48″W / 54.990000°N 121.380000°W / 54.990000; -121.380000 (Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark) 		78222014Tumbler Ridge is a globally important paleontological site with Cretaceous dinosaur tracks and bones, Triassic fish and reptiles. The sedimentation record from the Precambrian to the Cretaceous were deformed into mountain chain during the Laramide Orogeny, carved into a rugged terrain by a series of glaciations in the Quaternary. [10] [11]

Aspiring geoparks

North America laea location map.svg
Map pointer black.svg
Map pointer black.svg
1
Map pointer black.svg
Orange mark2.svg
Appalachian
Map pointer black.svg
Discovery
Orange mark2.svg
Cabox
Map pointer black.svg
2
Orange mark2.svg
3
Orange mark2.svg
4
Orange mark2.svg
Temiskaming Rift Valley
Orange mark2.svg
5
Orange mark2.svg
6
Orange mark2.svg
Saanich Inlet
Orange mark2.svg
Gold Belt
Orange mark2.svg
7
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Geoparks in North America:
Map pointer black.svg UNESCO Global Geopark
Orange mark2.svg Aspiring geopark project
1: Stonehammer, 2: Cliffs of Fundy, 3: Saguenay, 4: Charlevoix 5: Ohnia:kara, 6: Big Impact Sudbury, 7: Keweenaw,

According to the register of Canadian Geoparks Network, the following geopark projects are going on with the future request for UNESCO status. [1] There are further plans to establish geoparks in the United States as well.

NameLocation
Cabox [12] Newfoundland & Labrador
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
48°50′00″N58°29′03″W / 48.8334246°N 58.4842587°W / 48.8334246; -58.4842587 (Cabox Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark)
Saguenay Quebec
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
48°25′42″N71°04′21″W / 48.4282099°N 71.0725777°W / 48.4282099; -71.0725777 (Saguenay Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark)
Charlevoix Quebec
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
47°36′51″N70°10′10″W / 47.6142351°N 70.16938620000002°W / 47.6142351; -70.16938620000002 (Charlevoix Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark)
Temiskaming Rift Valley [13] Quebec / Ontario
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
47°32′02″N79°32′09″W / 47.5338698°N 79.5357423°W / 47.5338698; -79.5357423 (Temiskaming Rift Valley Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark)
Ohnia:kara [14] Ontario
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
43°03′29″N79°17′25″W / 43.0581645°N 79.2902133°W / 43.0581645; -79.2902133 (Ohnia:kara UNESCO Global Geopark)
Big Impact Sudbury Ontario
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
46°26′11″N81°02′30″W / 46.4365175°N 81.04156720000003°W / 46.4365175; -81.04156720000003 (Big Impact Sudbury UNESCO Global Geopark)
Saanich Inlet British Columbia
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
48°38′54″N123°30′14″W / 48.6482698°N 123.5039083°W / 48.6482698; -123.5039083 (Saanich Inlet an Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark)
Appalachian [2] West Virginia
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
39°38′46″N79°58′02″W / 39.646195°N 79.967281°W / 39.646195; -79.967281 (Appalachian Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark)
Gold Belt [15] Colorado
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
38°47′14″N105°27′36″W / 38.787210°N 105.460013°W / 38.787210; -105.460013 (Gold Belt Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark)
Keweenaw [16] Michigan
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
47°15′02″N88°19′51″W / 47.250616°N 88.330869°W / 47.250616; -88.330869 (Keweenaw Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark)

The Canadian Geoparks Network

The Canadian National Committee for Geoparks (CNCG) or the Canadian Geoparks Network was founded in 2009, under the patronage of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES). As the national committee of Canada of the Global Geoparks Network, it is the coordinator of UNESCO Global Geopark applications from Canada and a forum for capacity building among active UNESCO-labeled geoparks and aspiring ones. The committee is helping the currently running and future geopark applications with established guidelines, site visits prior to applications for SWOT analysis.

North America is currently not represented with a regional geopark network in the Global Geoparks Network, such as the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network. With the lack of active UNESCO Global Geoparks in the United States, the Canadian Geoparks Network represent the North American geoparks movement in international conferences and regional meetings.

Recognition of North America's geodiversity under different international frameworks

World Heritage sites

Sixteen sites are represented currently on the World Heritage list under criterion VIII, [17] as an outstanding representative of Earth's history:

Further sites are inscribed under criterion VII [18] of superlative natural phenomena and aesthetic importance. Some of them, which have a special geoheritage importance are:

Notes

  1. ↑ Mexico is member of the Latin American and the Caribbean Geoparks Network, therefore treated there. Greenland, although a territory of Denmark is treated under North America.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay of Fundy</span> Bay on the east coast of North America

The Bay of Fundy is a bay between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine. It is an arm of the Gulf of Maine. Its tidal range is the highest in the world. The name is probably a corruption of the French word fendu, meaning 'split'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transboundary protected area</span>

A transboundary protected area (TBPA) is an ecological protected area that spans boundaries of more than one country or sub-national entity. Such areas are also known as transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) or peace parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lushan Quaternary Glaciation National Geopark</span> Park in Jiangxi Province, China

Lushan Geopark, is located in the region around Mount Lu, Jiujiang. The protected area of 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) extends from the Yangtze River to the Poyang Lake basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geopark</span> Internationally protected area that advances the use of geological heritage in a sustainable way

A geopark is a protected area with internationally significant geology within which sustainable development is sought and which includes tourism, conservation, education and research concerning not just geology but other relevant sciences.

Tumbler Ridge is a district municipality in the foothills of the B.C. Rockies in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District. With a population of 2,399 (2021) living in a townsite, the municipality encompasses an area of 1,558 km2 (602 sq mi) of mostly Crown land. The townsite is located near the confluence of the Murray River and Flatbed Creek and the intersection of Highway 52 and Highway 29 and includes the site of the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Airport. It is part of the Peace River South provincial electoral district and the Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies federal riding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papuk</span> Mountain in Croatia

Papuk is the largest mountain in the Slavonia region in eastern Croatia, near the city of Požega. It extends between Bilogora to the northwest, Krndija to the east, and Ravna gora and Psunj to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesvos Petrified Forest</span> Petrified wood forest found on the island of Lesbos, Greece

The Lesvos Petrified Forest is a petrified wood forest on the island of Lesbos, Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devil's Rock</span>

Devil's Rock is a granite escarpment located 5 kilometres (3 mi) south of Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, Canada. The cliffs rise 300 feet (91 m) above Lake Timiskaming and extend nearly as far underwater as they do above, giving Devil's Rock a cliff face roughly 600 feet (180 m) tall.

The European Geoparks Network (EGN) functions as the regional organization of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) and the UNESCO International Geosciences and Geoparks Programme (UNESCO-IGGP). Its main objective is to ensure cooperation between geoparks for the protection of geological heritage and the promotion of sustainable development of their territories in Europe. In 2020 January, the EGN had 75 institutional members from 26 European countries and there are several aspiring geopark projects, applying for a UNESCO label and therefore the permanent EGN membership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heshigten Global Geopark</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psiloritis Natural Park</span> Central Cretan UNESCO Global Geopark.

Psiloritis Natural or Nature Park is a UNESCO Global geopark located in the central part of the island of Crete, in southern Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UNESCO Global Geoparks</span> Definition of the UNESCO global geopark network.

UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are geoparks certified by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council as meeting all the requirements for belonging to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The GGN is both a network of geoparks and the agency of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). that administers the network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark</span> Area of geological interest including the Burren and Cliffs of Moher

Geoheritage is the geological aspect of natural and cultural heritage. A geosite is a particular geological heritage asset. It is a heritage category comparable to other forms of natural heritage, such as biodiversity.

References

  1. 1 2 "Aspiring Geoparks - Canadian Geoparks Network". canadiangeoparks.com. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  2. 1 2 "Appalachian Geopark | Home". appalachiangeopark.wvu.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  3. ↑ "Cliffs of Fundy Global Geopark" . Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  4. 1 2 "UNESCO designates 15 new Geoparks in Asia, Europe, and Latin America". UNESCO. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "Discovery Geopark | Newfoundland Labrador". Discovery Geopark. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  6. ↑ "Percé | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  7. ↑ "Geopark of Percé - Official website". Géoparc de Percé. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  8. ↑ "Stonehammer | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  9. ↑ "Stonehammer Geopark - Official website" . Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "Tumbler Ridge | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  11. ↑ "Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark". Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  12. ↑ "Cabox Aspiring Geopark". Cabox. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  13. ↑ "Temiskaming Rift Valley Aspiring Geopark" . Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  14. ↑ "Ohnia:kara – Aspiring Global Geopark" . Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  15. ↑ "Gold Belt Geopark - Proposal" (PDF). Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  16. ↑ "Keweenaw Geopark Proposal". pages.mtu.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  17. ↑ "UNESCO World Heritage sites, filtered to North America (and Europe) and criterion VIII" . Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "UNESCO World Heritage sites, filtered to North America (and Europe) and criterion VII" . Retrieved 22 January 2020.
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