Global Geoparks Network’s 2023–2025 activities and orientation for 2025–2027

By implementing activities under UNESCO Global Geoparks top 16 focus areas, the GGN members have demonstrated the positive contributions of the Network to the realization of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Geoparks have also developed and implemented effective initiatives and practices for conservation, education, climate change adaptation, and responsible tourism, contributing actively to local socio-economic development. A total of 52 new UNESCO Global Geoparks have been recognized from 2023 to 2025, bringing the total number of Global Geoparks worldwide to 229 across 50 countries. The exchange and networking among GGN members have been increasingly strengthened through conferences, workshops, initiatives, and joint projects.

Regarding heritage conservation, one of the core missions of UNESCO Global Geoparks, the GGN regularly organizes thematic workshops on geological conservation and geohazards. Geoparks have implemented different solutions such as conducting regular field inspections, maintaining environmental sanitation at heritage sites, investing in Geopark infrastructure, museums and visitor information centers, conducting research on geological, cultural, and biodiversity heritage within Geopark territories, and developing management plans, etc.

Capacity-building activities play a key role in ensuring the sustainability and development of the Network. Each year, the GGN with the full support from UNESCO and also its member Geoparks organize training courses on UNESCO Global Geoparks, which provide deep knowledge about the Geopark philosophy, criteria, evaluation/validation process. The training courses are also opportunities for experience sharing through field excursions. Through these courses, managers, experts, and staff from Global Geoparks and aspiring Geoparks can enhance their Geopark management and development, as well as heritage conservation.

In addition, Geoparks have conducted education programs for their local communities, tour guides, and students. Geopark education in schools is carried out in various forms such as workshops, extracurricular activities, field trips, clubs, student exchanges, podcasts, and mobile applications. Alongside Geopark knowledge, these programs also raise students’ awareness about climate change, environmental protection, cultural and indigenous language preservation, and the SDGs. For example, Terra.vita Geopark (Germany) contributed a chapter on its environmental education and education for sustainable developments projects and program in the German textbook “Didaktik der Geowissenschaften” (“Didactics of Geosciences”) by Hlawatsch & Felzmann (2023); Toya-Usu Geopark (Japan) conducted 60 disaster risk reduction programmes for local schools by Volcano Meisters in 2023 and 2024; and Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark (Vietnam) organized the contest “Preserving the Tay and Nung ethnic languages” for secondary and high school students in the Geopark territory in 2025, etc.
Regarding sustainable tourism development for community benefit, Global Geoparks regularly cooperate with local authorities and communities, develop Geopark partners network, invest in tourism infrastructure, and develop distinctive Geotrails, tourism routes, tourism products and Geopark products, promote Geopark gastronomy linked to local stories as a way to accelerate tourism, as well as organize variety of culture, art, and sports events.
Furthermore, the GGN actively promotes communication and visibility, sharing its good practices and initiatives through its official communication channels, including Facebook, website, newsletters, publications, promotional videos, and organizing GGN Film Festival as a side event of the International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks.

The 2025–2027 period will be a pivotal stage in implementing the GGN long-term strategy 2025-2035, focusing on four strategic pillars: Preserving our Earth, environment and resources; Strengthening communities: fostering inclusion and resilience; Optimizing GGN, building capacity, leadership, and global impact; and Strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development. These pillars are specified into 12 key strategic key priorities organized in 52 strategic actions. By focusing efforts on these key areas, UNESCO Global Geoparks will continue their missions not only as centers for conservation but also as dynamic and innovative territories for education, tourism, and sustainable growth, creating lasting values for their communities.