Become a UNESCO Global Geopark

The Accreditation Process

• Introduction

  Established in 1972, the UNESCO International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) facilitates international scientific cooperation in the geosciences. The IGGP mission includes promoting sustainable use of natural resources, advancing new initiatives related to geo-diversity and geo-heritage and geohazards risk mitigation.

  The Programme is supported by UNESCO Global Geoparks; single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development.

  With over 150 designated sites in more than 40 countries that make up the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, these areas contain geology of ‘international significance’ independently evaluated by scientific professionals and pursue a holistic management approach to protect and advance the sustainable development of their landscape, people and culture.

  The UK National Commission for UNESCO works closely with the UK Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks on the nomination and inscription of new UK inscriptions onto the UK and International register.

• Take the first steps

  Download and read the Operational Guidelines for UNESCO Global Geoparks and other documentation available in our Resource Centre or via the links below.

  Make contact with the UK National Commission for UNESCO. We will answer any initial queries you have, and explain the application process in more detail, then pass your details onto the UK National Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks.

• Considerations

  Please note that the full application process to become a UNESCO Designation can take several years, and not all applications are successful. There is also a limit on the number of applications the UK submits to UNESCO each year, and each Designation type has its own application cycle within a calendar year. In this respect, we recommend you contact us as soon as possible.