National Geoparks �in the Czech Republic�

© Martina Paskova

Regional conference

Geoparks and sustainable development

Görlitz, 2019, February 13th

The Czech National Geoparks Council

The basic objectives:

• to certify national geoparks and support their development
• to assist the National Geoparks which aspire on UGGp

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• The Council members serve as mentors / evaluators
• 2023 – a mutual cooperation with the Slovak Inter-Departmental Commission of the Geoparks Network started, their evaluators teams merged

The Czech National �Geoparks

• Geoparks of national importance with verified quality

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• „Bottom up“ initiative – local communities

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• Certification:Ministry of Environment / National Geopark Council

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• Periodic revalidation

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• 11 National Geoparks and 1 UNESCO Global Geopark

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Geographical distribution of the National Geoparks in the Czech Republic

Broumovsko NG

Ralsko NG

Železné hory NG

Vysočina NG

Podbeskydí NG

Kraj

blanických rytířů NG

Egeria NG

Barrandien NG

Bohemian Paradise UGGp

Czech National Geoparks

Krajina břidlice NG

Královská Šumava NG

National Geopark�in the Czech Republic

Basic nomination

criteria

• Geological value of the area
• Size and connectivity of the area
• Evident collaboration of key stakeholders
• Infrastructure, geotrails, visitor management
• Interpretative, educational, promotional

and awareness raising material

• Management structure of geopark
• Financial scheme of geopark
• Nomination documentation quality

Czech - Bavarian Geopark

• Czechia - 2 geoparks in 2 regions (Karlsbad, Pilsen)
• Bavaria - area of 4 districts

• Area: 7.771 km² (more than half in Bavaria), the northwestern border of the Bohemian Massif
• Demonstrations of millons years lasting processes
• Narrow connection of the

geological history of the Earth with

cultural and economic development

• Main topics: geological history,

geomorfology, soils, mineral resources,

water and mineral springs

Egeria National

Geopark

Egeria National Geopark

Sokolov Museum

Geopark seat

• Geology and geomorphology: peat bogs, boulders, …
• Springs and spas: Karls Bad, Mariánské Spa, Františkovy Spa
• Evidences of volcanism
• Mineralogy and palaeontology (e.g. Hazlov-Goethe trail)
• Mining history and recultivation (Mining Open Air Museum)
• Slavkov Forest PLA

2.462 km2

Geotourism in Egeria NG

• The Jeroným Mine - representation of the 16th century tin mining history
• Imprints of hard-working miners still preserved today
• Demonstration of medieval tin mining techniques during guided tours
• Alternatively, an audio guide (in English, German, Russian and Polish) to listen to a fictional (but plausible) story from the time of the discovery of the mine, based on actual historical events.
• The aim: to take the visitor back in time, to evoke the atmosphere and create the conditions for an exciting experience

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Iron Mountains

National Geopark

Iron Mountains National Geopark

• 777 km², situated in Eastern Bohemia
• Private company based geopark
• Nonprofit environmental education programs focused on hydrogeology and geology for nearly two decades
• Nearly all the important phenomena and processes representing Czech geology

Geotourism in the Iron Mountains NG

• Geotourism programme "Heading for water" based on the experience of tasting underground water at different geological sites - recognising and understanding the changes in taste and smell
• Aim: to explain the hydrogeology, hydrochemistry and tectonics of the geopark area in a non-traditional way, to engage participants and encourage them to make further discoveries

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Guided visits of active quarry the in Iron Mountains NG

Arts and crafts are part of the IMNG geotourism products

Replicas of fossils to prevent damage to them

and trading with the originals

Interpretation centre of Iron Mountains NG

Kraj blanických rytířů National Geopark

Podbeskydí National Geopark

geopark

Ralsko National Geopark

Vysočina National Geopark

Broumovsko National Geopark

• Area: 570 km²
• Location: Broumovsko, Žacléřsko and Jestřebí Mountains, administratively, in the Hradec Králové Region (of Náchod and Trutnov districts)

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• Geology:
• Rock cities formed by sandstones
• Carboniferous, Permian and Triassic sediments, volcanic rocks in the vicinity of Broumov

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• Managing entity: the Broumovsko Destination Management Society, o. p. s.

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Barrandien National Geopark

• Area: 4613 km²
• Location: the Central Bohemian Region, the Pilsen Region and the Capital City of Prague, 3 PLAs, Křivoklátsko Biosphere Reserve

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• Geology:
• Karst phenomena - Koněprusské Caves
• Remains of the seas from the Paleozoic Era - sediments and fossils

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• Managing entity: the Ecological Centre Orlov (Příbram)

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Krajina Břidlice National Geopark

• Area: 1913 km²
• Location: Moravian-Silesian and Olomouc Region
• Geology:
• Mountain landscape - centuries-old slate mining. Shimmering slate deposits, ruins of mining buildings in the vicinity of pit and wall quarries
• Dozens of old slate mines
• Underground with long vaulted passages made of slate, mining chambers
• Managing entity:Krajina břidlice, z.s.

Královská Šumava National Geopark

• Area: 450 km²

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• Location: municipalities Železná Ruda, Prášily, Hartmanice, Srní, Rejštejn and Kašperské Hory and the southern part of the territory of Čachrov. Part of the Šumava NP

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• Geology/geomorphology:
• Glacial activity, network of watercourses, lakes and springs - peat bogs
• Gold mining and washing in the Middle Ages (Charles IV)
• Celtic and pre-Celtic cultures
• Glass production and iron ore mining
• Managing entity: ZO Českého svazu ochránců přírody Rejštejn

• Member of the GGN from 2005
• The 1^st Global Geopark in the Czechia
• Northeast from Prague, area 833 km²
• Sandstone, volcanic and tectonic formations

Macro relief

Mezo relief

Micro relief

Challenges for the Czech National Geoparks Council

• To focus on the financial support and promotion of the NG

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• To extend the evaluators team and find resources to pay external experts

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• To improve its website and its updating

Thank you for your attention