INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMME & GLOBAL GEOPARKS

Looking towards the future

Patrick J Mc Keever

Global Geoparks Position within UNESCO

18 Projects received financial support, plus (until June), 7 further projects received funding from Sweden (SIDA), plus two projects were on extended terms. One project was supported exclusively by IUGS. Scientists from 107 countries, including 27 African countries, were involved in IGCP. Sweden (SIDA) also supported an IGCP capacity building workshop in Uruguay for Latin America in June with 21 geologists from 10 countries (incl. 8 from Bolivia). IGCP, along with all of UNESCO’s conventions, programmes etc was subject to an external audit. Finances: IUGS 70,000 USD, UNESCO 59,500 USD. 20,000 USD from China.

INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMME 2014 Summary

OneGeology: IGCP 624

Global Geoparks Position within UNESCO

14 IGCP National Committees submitted reports. A few highlights included: CHINA: Involvement in many other Earth Science activities including Cat 2 Karst Centre, CAGS, GGN, IUGS. Donated 20,000 USD . SLOVENIA: Geochemical Baseline Project gathered data on soils from arable and grazing lands in line with new and upcoming EU legislation on soil protection. BRAZIL & PORTUGAL: Join activities include the educational programme “GEA – Mother Earth” and discussing criteria for establishing an international award for women geoscientists in Lusophone countries. IRELAND: Politics-Plus Exchange allowed elected politicians from N Ireland to meet and discuss with geoscientists from across Ireland to help scientists better understand political decision-making and they can input to policy development. AUSTRALIA: IGCP Nat Comm had federal finance reinstated late in 2014 and so is now getting ready to financially support IGCP activities in 2015.

IGCP National Committee Highlights 2014

Global Geoparks Position within UNESCO

18 projects were financially assisted in 2014. A few highlights included: IGCP-SIDA 600: abundant new age date from rock samples during 2014 has led to a new model being proposed for the setting and history of the Tibet – Himalaya mountains belt. IGCP 604: Establishment of a common methodology and language between researchers in the Earth Sciences and Biological Sciences in this Ibero-American project. IGCP 591: A meeting in Kunming during August attracted 128 delegates of which 43 came from 16 other countries. 42 talks were presented across 8 sessions. IGCP-SIDA 594: Work focused on the Tsumeb smelter in Namibia where strong contamination of soil has occurred due to the processing of arsenic rich ores. IGCP 608: Strong collaboration with 7 Geoparks including museum exhibits, lectures, tours in relation to dinosaurs from the Cretaceous Period.

IGCP Project Highlights 2014

Global Geoparks Position within UNESCO

15 new IGCP proposals received: Earth Resources (3) Global Change (2) Geohazards (3) Hydrogeology (3) Geodynamics (4)

Funding:

UNESCO – 86,000 USD IUGS – 70,000 USD China – 20,000 USD

External Audit:

Formalise arrangement with IUGS Improve website

External Funding:

ANESI: 450,000 USD Abandoned Mines: 927,000 USD

INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMME 2015 Outlook

GLOBAL GEOPARKS NETWORK UNESCO Global Geoparks

36th General Conference of UNESCO (2013), instructed that a detailed consultation be undertaken to look into a possible formal link between UNESCO & GGN. Several options were subsequently identified; No change GGN becomes NGO with partnership agreement with UNESCO International Initiative of UNESCO Intergovernmental Programme of UNESCO Reformed IGCP: the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme.

Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Ireland

The IGCP - the International Geoscience Programme has been UNESCO’s flagship activity since 1972.

Global Geoparks are increasingly important as the most significant global outreach activity for Earth Science.

The current circumstances within UNESCO have provided an opportunity to re-invigorate the IGCP and incorporate a Global Geopark activity into it (Member States and IUGS).

The newly formed “Earth Science and Geohazard Risk Reduction Section” in UNESCO would have as its flagship a new “International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme.”

What is being proposed?

Mapping and Assessing the Environmental and Health

Impacts of Abandoned Mines in Sub-Saharan African Countries

Minimal cost to UNESCO. All costs for evaluation, revalidation & advisory missions continue to be borne by the Global Geoparks themselves (over 1.6M USD in 2013).

All Global Geoparks have agreed to a voluntary financial contribution to UNESCO for capacity building and promotional activities.

Clear association for UNESCO with the high quality and valued work of Global Geoparks.

While allowing Member States a role at the nomination stage, it still allows for the retention of the independence and bottom-up nature of the present GGN.

IGGP: Global Geoparks Comparative Advantages for UNESCO

Stonehammer Global Geopark, Canada

Much stronger political recognition for Earth Science at national and international level.

Clear association for the Global Geoparks with UNESCO, use of the term “UNESCO Global Geopark” plus the combined

UNESCO logo.

Stronger coordination of capacity-building activities.

Enhanced potential for external fund-raising.

Profile of Earth Science dramatically enhanced and will be discussed in every meeting of UNESCO’s Executive Board.

IGGP: Global Geoparks Comparative Advantages for Global Geoparks

Carnic Alps Global Geopark, Austria

Enhanced profile for Earth Science and “IGCP” in UNESCO and among Member States.

IUGS will have formal role in a new site designation within UNESCO.

Reform of IGCP developed between 2003 – 2007 will be formally recognised by UNESCO.

Partnership agreement between UNESCO and IUGS will be agreed and signed.

No cost for IUGS’s involvement with UNESCO Global Geoparks.

IGGP: Global Geoparks & IGCP Comparative Advantages for IUGS

Tumbler Ridge, B.C., Canada

UNESCO Member States have made it clear that UNESCO Global Geopark must be at NO additional cost to the Organisation.

As a result all UNESCO Global Geoparks will be required to contribute a minimum of 1000 USD to UNESCO each year

(presently 111 with 17 applications in 2015).

These funds will be used for capacity building activities:

• Workshops

• Advisory missions

• Training tools

No negative financial impact whatsoever on UNESCO funding to IGCP.

UNESCO Global Geoparks Funding Arrangements

Idrija Global Geopark, Slovenia

Global Geoparks Position within UNESCO

2014 IGCP Staff 438,526 Activity 68,376 Add Approp 20,000 Other Income 3,237,520 2014 GG Staff 369,200 Activity 25,000 Add Approp 80,139 Other Income 3,014,520 2014 IGGP UNESCO 807,726 Non-UNESCO 6,352,179 2016 IGGP UNESCO 807,726 Non-UNESCO 7,450,246

International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme Funding Arrangements: 507M USD scenario

IGCP 630: IGCP funding in 2014 as 8,000 USD But this helped facilitate total grants of 7.5M USD to be obtained for this project.

International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme

Geoparks Bureau*

5 members: Chair, Vice-chair, rapporteur, UNESCO & GGN

recommend on Global Geoparks

Global Geopark Evaluation Team, Field and desktop reviews

Geoparks Council

12 regionally representative experts plus IUGS and IUCN meet annually

to recommend Global Geopark Applications and revalidations

IGCP Bureau

5 members: Chair, Vice-chair, rapporteur, UNESCO & IUGS decide on approved projects

Scientific Board 50 members review electronically

Scientific Council

5 representative Theme Leaders meet annually in Paris to

recommend on IGCP projects and proposals

Geoscience and Geoparks

Coordination Unit

*Final endorsement on Global Geopark recommendations would be made by the Executive Board of UNESCO

What are the next steps?

For the GGN to be involved in the IGGP at all levels (Geoparks Bureau, Geoparks Council and Geoparks Evaluation Team), the GGN must sign an MOU with UNESCO. In order to sign an MOU the GGN must first obtain legal personality. DONE

The GGN must meet to discuss the GGN obtaining legal personality. DONE

If approved, these developments will be reported back to the Executive Board of UNESCO who may then authorise the drafting of new statutes for the IGGP. DONE

Once drafted and approved by UNESCO Secretariat, the statutes will be circulated to the Member States of UNESCO (for their approval – two stages, ExB and General Conference). New Statutes also to sent to IUGS (for their approval). DONE

New partnership agreements draft and circulated to IUGS and GGNa. NOT NEEDED

If IUGS and GGNa agree to the new programme, proposal will be sent to UNESCO’s Executive Board and, from there, to the UNESCO General Conference.

What are the next steps? Timeline

Draft statutes of the proposed IGGP were presented to the 6th meeting of the Working Group on Geoparks convened on January 9, 2015. DONE

IUGS Executive Committee meeting, January 27-29, 2015. DONE

New Partnership Agreements with IUGS and GGNa drafted, with UNESCO legal section and with IUGS and GGNa. NOT NEEDED.

7TH Meeting of Working Group on Geoparks, February 24, 2015. DONE

IGCP Scientific Board meeting, February 25-27, 2015. DONE

Final IGGP Statutes, Guidelines Partnership Agreements and Financial Arrangements could be presented to 196th meeting of UNESCO’s Executive Board in April 2015.

Final approval of the IGGP could happen at the 38th General Conference of UNESCO, November 2015.

International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme

Bringing Earth Science to Society

Patrick J Mc Keever