Spain’s UNESCO Geoparks join forces

23 Oct Spain’s UNESCO Geoparks join forces

Spain’s UNESCO Geoparks join forces to promote cooperation and joint actions

• Initially, eight territories integrated into the Spanish network are part of the new collective.
• The official presentation took place during the 10th Open Days held in Montserrat.

The territories that make up the Spanish Network of UNESCO Global Geoparks have formally established the UNESCO Geoparks Association of Spain, a new body aimed at strengthening cooperation among these areas and promoting joint actions at the national level. The creation of this entity responds to the need for a stable structure that enables coordinated efforts, optimizes resources, and gives greater visibility to the work carried out by geoparks across the country. Until now, the Spanish Network functioned as a space for exchange and technical collaboration but lacked a legal framework to facilitate joint project management, fundraising, or the contracting of shared services.

Among its main objectives are to enable joint contracting, coordinate access to grants and subsidies, and develop scientific, tourism, and educational promotion projects. The new association also aims to foster collective participation in trade fairs such as FITUR, create national-scale tourism and educational products, and promote shared funding initiatives that benefit the entire network. In addition, it will support local and economic initiatives, strengthen collaboration among its members and with other institutions, and manage resources and activities that enhance science, education, tourism, and the sustainable development of the territories it represents.

The association, officially presented during the 10th Open Days held in Montserrat, has begun its journey with the Geoparks of Las Loras, Orígens, Basque Coast, Cabo Ortegal, Maestrazgo, Montañas do Courel, Central Catalonia, and Lanzarote. Two more geoparks are expected to join in the coming days, with others to follow as their governing bodies approve membership.

“The establishment of this collective responds to the need to provide Geoparks with a common framework that strengthens their coordination and capacity for joint action. In recent years, collaboration between these territories has grown significantly, as has their dialogue with public administrations and society. To consolidate this work and ensure more efficient and visible management of each territory, it was necessary to take a step forward in organization,” said Karmah Salman, current coordinator of the Spanish Geoparks Network.

With this initiative, Spain’s UNESCO Geoparks aim to strengthen their presence and coordination, creating synergies that contribute to the preservation and dissemination of the nation’s geological and cultural heritage.

A network that unites science, education, and rural development. UNESCO Global Geoparks are territories distinguished by their unique geological heritage, using that value as a driver to promote education, research, and sustainable development. There are currently 18 UNESCO-recognized Geoparks in Spain, spread across the country and managed through a network coordinated by the National Geoparks Committee, part of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP).

Each combines the conservation of natural and cultural heritage with the economic dynamization of local communities. Their projects range from scientific outreach to ecotourism, environmental education, and the revalorization of traditional territorial resources.

In this context, the new association aims to strengthen the common voice of Geoparks before public administrations, facilitate dialogue with national and international organizations, and contribute to a joint communication and promotion strategy.