SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION IN THE UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS OF GREECE - CYPRUS

Welcome to the website of the 4th International Conference of World Geoparks UNESCO Greece and Cyprus, entitled “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION IN THE UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS OF GREECE – CYPRUS”, which will take place in Sitia, on May 25 to 27, 2023.

The Conference is organized by the UNESCO Global Geopark of Sitia, and the Municipal Organization for Socio-Cultural Development of Sitia (DOKAS), in collaboration with the Hellenic Forum of Geoparks, the Cyprus National Commission of UNESCO, the Natural Environment and Climate Change Organization and the Greek National Commission of Unesco.

Co-organizers, Crete Region, Sitia Municipality

The conference is organized with the support of the Sitia Development Organization, the Sitia Municipality Single-Share Enterprise (MADES), the Lassithi Regional Unit and Regions4Climate (R4C)

In Greece there are eight UNESCO World Geoparks, which are as follows: Lesvos Island, Psiloritis, Helmos-Vouraikos, Vikos-Aoos, Sitia, Grevena-Kozani, Kefalonia-Ithaca and Lavreotikis and one Geopark in Cyprus that of Troodos.

The aims of the Conference are to highlight the contribution and role of Geoparks in sustainable local development through the promotion of geo-tourism, the promotion of the World UNESCO Geoparks of Greece – Cyprus, but also the exchange of good practices and the awareness of local society through information activities and education of the younger generations.

During the Conference, the World UNESCO Geoparks of Greece – Cyprus and their special geological, environmental and cultural characteristics will be presented, as well as networking and the exchange of opinions and good practices in matters of soft-sustainable development through geotourism and, in general, alternatives forms of tourism, as well as the awareness of local communities through information and education actions of the younger generations.

Through the corresponding themes that will be developed during the Conference, it is sought to highlight the role and contribution of the Greece-Cyprus UNESCO World Geoparks to sustainable local development.

The work of the Conference will take place in Polychoros, Polycenter of Sitia from Thursday, May 25 to Friday, May 26, 2023

On Saturday, May 27, there will be a visit – guided tour of the Sitia Geopark.