Geosites as Educational Key-Elements for Sustainability: The UNESCO Global Geoparks Model ^†

Abstract

Geosites, meaning the places of geological interest, have gained notoriety nowadays, positioning themselves as one of the most important resources in educational strategies for earth and environmental sciences. The possibility of observing the results of the different geological processes, morphologies, or minerals in situ helps us to understand how our planet works and how we, as a society, have taken advantage of its elements to progress in all areas of daily life. Their particularity and, above all, its variability, make them unique places that range from outcrops to mining complexes or spectacular viewpoints, where we can learn about the message that the landscape conveys. For this reason, geosites are an outstanding opportunity to not only learn about geosciences, but also about their history, traditions, and everything related to the territory in which they are located. The UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) are an international example of how to craft a sustainable development strategy focused on the educational potential of geosites. Complementing them with interpretation centers, information panels, QR codes, and specialized guides, these territories have come to be considered as benchmarks within the so-called sustainable tourism, transforming the land into authentic open-air educational museums. Following a personal style and defending the appellation of origin, the UGGps create an exceptional model based on educational foundations that aims to bring the territory closer to the greatest number of people possible.

A “Geosite” (Figure 1) is a specific area or a particular place that presents a relevant geological heritage, allowing individuals to understand, from one or several perspectives, the history of the earth [1].

During the learning process of geology and all its derived disciplines, field work and georoutes are a vital resource to show the results of geological processes and teach how to differentiate each one of them according to the interpretation of the landscape. Geological sites have turned out to be true open-air laboratories in which to learn about the past, the present, and the future of our planet. Although its main interest is always related to the geosciences, and its key points are based on their own elements such as rocks, fossils, structures, or morphologies, the truth is that there is an undeniable confluence with the surrounding society and what we can learn about it [2].

For this reason, the UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) have used geosites as an educational axis to transmit everything that surrounds each territory. Its model permits learning in a sustainable manner (Figure 2), and thanks to the geology that we find in each geosite regarding traditions, history, and even gastronomy [3].

To complement these places and create a unique educational experience, the UGGps make use of explanatory panels, brochures, interpretation centers, and even new technologies, thereby offering a large amount of online content including audiovisuals, information documents, and QR codes that we can use in these geosites to learn more about them (Figure 3).

Each UGGps has its unique characteristics, and they are faithful defenders of the denomination of origin, which translates into well-differentiated educational territories that revolve around the same central pillars. Among them, the support for the sustainable development objectives of the 2030 Agenda stands out as one of the main foundations, and more specifically, the creation of a quality educational system that is both adaptable and accessible to the entire public.

Thanks to this territorial development strategy, the UGGps have become authentic educational references that are internationally recognized, allowing a constant expansion that advances each year, and this brings the geosciences closer to an ever-greater number of people.