Slovak geoparks

Martin Kováčik

Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic

Introduction framework

Geoparks areas are important from the viewpoint of abiotic nature (geology, ..) but also due to diversity of living nature and there are strongly bound to cultural aspects of the land (mining geology, history and ethnographic specificity..); place of research in many branches, geoparks support local development in terms of new economic and cultural regional activities (nature-friendly and sustainable tourism) and simultaneously help protect and conserve geo- and biodiversity.

Geoparks in Slovakia are associated in the Geoparks Network of the Slovak Republic, constituted in 2015

• To date the national network comprise four geoparks (MK, BŠ, BB, NN ± Z-area)
• Each of these geoparks are controlled by non-profit organisation consisting of a voluntary association of regional subjects ..
• Geoparks network is coordinated by the Inter- Departmental Commission of the Geoparks Network of the SR authorized by the Ministry of Environment with status of an advisory body of the minister
• membership base of the Commission (sun. cca 22 m.) consist of by representatives of the four geoparks, geoscientific departments of universities , geological institutes and the relevant ministries

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Brief notes to history, principles and problems

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First particular outlines od Slovak geoparks Network were formed in 2008, which were inspired by UNESCO geoparks recommendations

In intension of these documents basic and necessery staff represent the manager („curator“) and geologist of the geopark

Primary foundation of mentioned geoparks were originally stimulated by state support

- nowadays the geoparks have been for a longer time practically without a direct financial dotation from the national budged

- legislative base of the Geoparks Network of SR is of a „lower order“

- creating of the geological–educational maps and guide-booklet issued by the State geological Institute of Dionýz Štúr (compiled on the basis of regional geological maps of Slovakia 1 : 50 000, 1 : 25 000) form the „core“ of the geoparks

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Global geological settings of V4 contries �(the base of the Westerm Carpatian ridge has the closest similarity with the Eastern Alps tectonics; and/or „parathetyan / adriatic“ evolution od the Late Tertiary evolution of final forming of Carpathian arc (neovulc, BŠ, geomorf. NN) �

Slovak geoparks:

their position and areal extend

on geological map

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Geopark Malé Karpaty: 1780 km²;

Banskoštiavnický geopark: 374 km²;

Banskobystrický geopark: 810 km²,

Novohrad-Nógrád GN geopark: 336 (1619) km²;

Zemplin area of candidate geopark: 332 km²

2006

2010

2016

The Slovak area of the NN geopark is relatively much smaller but contains a large amount of attractive geological and landscape phenomena

Novohrad- land of castles and fortresses, e.g. Somoška – castle ruine

strong points of the NN Unesco GG:

• + stable headquarters seat and information center of the geopark (Fiľakovo)
• + high scientific level of areal geology processing
• + good availability of geosites, as well as various promotional materials

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recommendations:

• - to find communication means with municipalities and communities within the geopark area
• - increase the visibility of the GNN geopark, update the geotourism map and add new locations, sightseeing routes etc.
• - pay more attention to the maintenance, appearance of geolocalities

2000

(2003)

BŠ – i fotky –stratovulkán , geol, história

BŠ 2023 - 1. Meeting.. , signing of the Memorandum

BŠ:

+ high professional level of description of important montanistic and geological sites

+ attractive tourist infrastructure of selected, especially geo-montanist locations

+ cooperation of the geopark with a unique elementary school focused on environmental education (practically: breeding of birds of prey, falconry)

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- headquarters and "interpretation center" of the geopark seats at the municipal office

- the geopark options are focused on the town of Banská Štiavnica and its vicinity, less on the whole geopark territory (name...)

- summer over-tourism from „magnet“ localities should be reoriented to secluded areas of geo-tourism and in transitional seasons

2006

The geopark territory is divided into geo-mining areas of three categories:

1. category: Starohorsko-špaňodolinská, Ponicko-ľubietovská

geo-mining area (central geopark area),

2. category: Banskobystrická geo-mining area (tourism centre),

3. category: Brusniansko-bukovecká and Badínsko-tajovská geomining

area (geopark interest area).

The geopark territory is divided into geo-mining areas of three categories:

1. category: Starohorsko-špaňodolinská, Ponicko-ľubietovská

geo-mining area (central geopark area),

2. category: Banskobystrická geo-mining area (tourism centre),

3. category: Brusniansko-bukovecká and Badínsko-tajovská geomining

area (geopark interest area).

BB:

• + expert interpretation and professional presentation of geological and montanistic sites
• + functional cooperation with municipalities, tourist organizations and schools
• + illustrative educational approach in broader contexts on the special geological-montanistic localities

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• - to settle the question of an adequate and long-term seat of the geopark
• - upgrade the geopark website in terms of the real offers of the BB geopark

MK- the only geopark without starting financial support from the above

Erlans - Devonian tentaculites

Sb, Au

MK

+ cooperation with higher regional units and the local self-government

+ implementation of various events in cooperation with publik administration, schools and the third sector

+ international project cooperation aimed at expanding MK geopark by the Hainburg hills

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- from rapid spreading of the geopark to a great territory there may arise difficulties in the management

- towards the new part of the geopark territory the marketing and promotion operation is weaker

- stable geopark seat/headquarters is still open

This map covers the area of 332 km2 and includes 75 locations: geological(19), geological-mining engineering (19), natural (10), cultural-historical (9), wine-making (7), historical (5), recreational (4), and archaeological (2)

Cross-border cooperations.

MK: CoDe MoRe - „Common Development of the Model Regions Geopark Malé Karpaty, Biosphärenpark Wienerwald, Naturpark Rosalia-Kogelberg“ realizovaný v rámci programu Interreg V-A SK-AT s partnermi z Rakúska. Cieľom projektu sú okrem iného prepojenie geo a biodiverzity v interpretácii a prezentácii krajiny a vytvorenie spoločného materiálu pre rozvoj modelových území vrátane plánu manažmentu UNESCO území (Biosféra vs Geopark).

• GAMEGEO - "Gamifikace geovědního vzdělávání v evropských geoparcích" AINOVA (spolupracujúca s GMK), Barrandien a partneri z Rumunska a Slovinska. Cieľom je inovovať a rozšířiť geovedné a environmentální vzdelávanie o nové digitální formy.

BB: V zmysle memoranda o spolupráci V4 podpísanej v BŠ prebehli medzi Banskobystrickým GEOPARKOM a Polskym Geoparkom Vyhaslých vulkánov Kaczawskie Góry vzájomné návštevy a prezentácie výnimočných miest na územiach geoparkov, regionálnych poskytovateľov služieb, regionálnych výrobkov a jedál.

• V rámci spolupráce s AGH Krakow a UMB BB sa uskutočnili v rámci Erazmus+ výmenné pobyty a prednášky pre študentov a verejnosť s tematikou geológie, environmentálne tematiky a mineralogie a tiež viacerých záverov vedeckých výskumov konaných v rámci AGH Krakow na území Banskobystrického GEOPARKU.

NN Unesco GG: partnership of the COGEOPPRO (Cross-border Geoheritage Protection) - Scientific Conference within the framework of the SKHU SPF/2301 VI - Hungary Slovakia Programme; small Project Fund on behalf of the Bükk Nature Protection, Cultural and Ecotourism Foundation as a major partner of the Bükk-Region Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark

• projekt Slovensko-maďarské geoturistické partnerstvo (GEOTOP) v programe Interreg V-A Slovenská republika – Maďarsko. Cieľom projektu bolo vypracovanie nových služieb a ich zavedenie na území Globálneho geoparku UNESCO Novohrad-Nógrád a Geoparku Bükk-vidék. Vytvorený bol nový cezhraničný náučný chodník medzi obcami Petrovce (SK) a Domaháza (HU). Education for geo-touristic guides in geology, biology, culture and first aid measures

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Thank you for your attention

BŠ 2023 - 1. Meeting.. , signing ceremony of the Memorandum