The aspiring Algarvensis Geopark signed a partnership agreement with the M'Goun Geopark, during an international conference that took place in Marrakesh, Morocco, from the 7th to the 9th of September.
At this conference, the aspiring World Geopark UNESCO – which is currently preparing its candidacy – also made a presentation about GeoPalcos – Arte.Sciência.Natureza.
The Global Geopark Network «encourages cooperation and exchange of experiences between the different geoparks, being one of the compliances to be assessed by UNESCO, when validating the geoparks' candidacy processes», according to the promoters of the candidacy, which brings together the Chambers from Albufeira, Loulé and Silves.
It was with this in mind that the partnership agreement was signed, «which covers a variety of collaboration themes, the implementation of which will be carried out according to various methods of reflection, shared strategies, co-organization of meetings, publications, communication and joint actions with the objective of acting in the protection, preservation, restoration and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage of two territories, through an ethical vision».
Five priority thematic axes were identified, “on which common actions are intended to be developed, namely: Communication and Education on the Environment and Sustainable Development; Exchange of Experiences and Networking; Scientific Knowledge, Research, Training and Technical Support; Community and socioeconomic development; and Sustainable Tourism.
Established in 2014, M'Goun Geopark is the only geopark in the Maghreb, and the first established on the African continent, presiding since 2019 over the United Nations African Geoparks Network (AUGGN).
As for the meeting itself, it is the space «where representatives and members of the technical teams of UNESCO Geoparks from around the world meet to exchange knowledge and share experiences on the constitution and management of geoparks».
The UNESCO International Conference on World Geoparks brought together “members of geoparks from all over the world, scientists, geologists, academics, students, companies, and even individuals, who in some way are linked to or interested in geological heritage as a driver of a sustainable socioeconomic development in places with exceptional geological, paleontological, or geomorphological interest, and which is considered a reason to visit a region», they describe.
The presidents of these three Chambers, as well as technicians from the three local authorities, were in Marrakesh at the time of the great earthquake that shook Morocco a week ago and experienced shocking moments, as Sul Informação did it work.
«Taking into account the tragic earthquake that occurred on September 8th in Marrakesh, the aspiring Algarvensis Geopark publicly expresses its solidarity with the Moroccan people, and with the members of the M´Goun Geopark, the entity hosting the event, which exposed to such a harsh test, with loss of lives and much destruction around them, they managed to close the event, providing logistical support and adequate information, in order to keep the approximately 1500 participants together and cohesive, taking into account the need to interrupt work and parallel programs of the conference", praise the three municipalities.
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