Naslov
Involvement of local community in setting up a geopark

Autori
Tomša, Ana Marija ; Marjanac, Ljerka ; Marjanac, Tihomir

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, stručni

Izvornik
New Challenges with Geotourism. Proceedings of the VIII European Geoparks Conference, Idanha-a-Nova, 14-16 September 2009 (Portugal). / De Carvalho, Carlos Neto ; Rodrigues, Joanna - Idaho Falls (ID) : Printmor Impressores, Lda., 2009, 96-97

ISBN
978-972-8285-52-4

Skup
8th European Geoparks Conference - New Challenges with Geotourism

Mjesto i datum
Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal, 14.09.2009. - 16.09.2009

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
geopark; geotourism; local community

Sažetak
Involvement of local community in setting up a geopark Ana Marija Tomša1, Ljerka Marjanac1 & Tihomir Marjanac2 1 ProGEO-Croatia, Horvatovac 102a, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia 2 Dept. of Geology, Faculty of Science, Univ. of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, Croatia A process of establishing a geopark can be a very difficult undertaking if simply forced upon a local community with no previous groundwork. Based on our five-years experience with the project Geopark - Island of Rab, we conclude that a local community in the area aspiring to become a geopark can be divided into several segments, all of which need to be given attention separately, thoroughly and continuously: 1. administration (e.g. of a city, county) The administration needs to know both short-term and long-term results expected to come out of the geopark project, what the benefits (consequences) of having a geopark are in the terms of finances and legal status. The project idea has to be adjusted to the local needs and realistic abilities. Frequent meetings between geopark project executives and the local administration are necessary to pre-empt any possible problems that may arise. 2. tourist board and tourist workers Close cooperation with the tourist board of the area is needed and desired while creating and distributing geopark promotional materials. Also, the geopark website, coordination with local folklore (heritage) clubs and similar, and geopark promotional events may be more easily managed with the help of the tourist board. Tourist workers (e.g. hotel and pansions owners) should be informed about the geopark project from the beginning through presentations, workshops and similar, and consulted if needed. 3. businesses, shops, restaurants, etc. For the local businesses it is important to know what the geopark will mean in the terms of income, customers, new business options. This can be acomplished through public presentations, lectures, printed publications, etc. 4. mountaineering club, nature-oriented NGOs, etc. Cooperation with any organization whose main activity is in one way or another connected to nature can be of great help during the initial phase of establishing a geopark, and later once the geopark starts “living” on its own. Their members can offer valuable hands-on help, experience, ideas, and knowledge of the area, all of which can be used to improve the process of geopark’s development. 5. children, teens, schools/school teachers Children are the most perceptive age-group, and they tend to pass on the knowledge they gathered to their parents and friends. That is why organizing popular-scientific lectures, workshops and field trips for schoolchildren and their teachers is an excellent way to inform a significant part of the local community about the geopark, what it means, how it works and what the scientific basis is. 6. media (local radio station, TV station, newspaper/magazine) Local media should be informed (and kept informed) from the beginning about a geopark project, any new developments and significant events. 7. local experts/scientists (geology, history/archaeology, biology, etc.) Every community has a number of qualified experts in various scientific fields. Geoscientists, biologists, archaeologists and others who were not the part of the initial geopark idea, should be included into the process of its establishment and development, adding their expertise and especially the knowledge of the local natural and cultural heritage. 8. others Other members of the local community who do not fit into any of these above categories, can be informed about a geopark development and its scientific basis through public lectures and exhibitions, through the media (newspaper, magazines, radio) and geopark publications.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geologija

POVEZANOST RADA