Why Apply?

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.

With over 150 UNESCO Global Geoparks in more than 40 countries, they all 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 in the nomination and inscription of new UK inscriptions onto the UK and International register. All organisations working in recognised geoparks wishing to apply to become a UNESCO Global Geopark must submit their application through the UK Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks. Information on the UK process, including deadlines for the ongoing application cycle, is available in the sections below.

“When we talk to the management organisation of the North Coast 500, we tend to say ‘just keep pushing that it’s a UNESCO designation’. We know it’s special. The UN know it’s special. Let’s talk about that more. Let’s communicate that more. We need to use that. We don’t just keep it as a passive label, we have to use it actively to educate people about how unique, and how fragile this region is. It’s an ongoing process. All of the reasons that we have a UNESCO status, people understand those. Can they make that connection to the UNESCO brand? I am not sure that they can do that, yet. But we don’t record this, we don’t have the capacity to do that, but that’s what we would need to do to understand that question.”

Dr Laura Hamlet, Geopark Coordinator at North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark

The Process

Any area within the UK that has an interest in becoming a UNESCO Global Geopark is encouraged to engage in open dialogue with the UK National Commission for UNESCO and UK Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks

Where there is a clear joined-up partnership interest in an area, a maximum of two representatives will be invited to attend the open session of the UK Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks annual meeting to present their ideas and learn more about the network and the application process.

Please note, during any one year, the UK will have zero, one, or two application slots available. New positions in the system will only become available if an application is withdrawn, or on the ratification of decisions of the UNESCO Geopark Council by the UNESCO Executive Board at their Spring meeting.

Ahead of any formal applications, aspirant UNESCO Global Geoparks should submit an expression of interest via The UK National Commission for UNESCO by 1 July each year. Contact us here to start the process.

Draft full application dossiers should be submitted to the UK Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks for consideration. Aspirant Geoparks are encouraged to submit applications in time for discussion during the closed session of the annual meeting.

You can read more about the application process and forms on the UNESCO website here.

However, the forum will be happy to receive submissions up to 31 August whereby a special remote meeting will be arranged to discuss the application/applications.

It is strongly recommended that any area intending to submit an application should engage in an on-site assessment by a minimum of one, but ideally two members of the UK Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks, one of whom should be a member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Evaluation Team. This should take at least three months prior to the submission of the documents to the UK Committee to allow for an accurate assessment of the territory’s application.