The UNESCO Global Geoparks, such as the Ore of the Alps UNESCO Global Geopark, are areas of exceptional geological features of international and national importance and are characterized by a great geo-diversity. However, other disciplines such as mining, botany, archaeology and cultural history also play an important role. The cooperation between UNESCO Geoparks and universities is constantly producing new findings.
A UNESCO Geopark is not a museum, it is a nature experience workshop that inspires everyone from scientists to interested people. The scientific claim is communicated in a generally understandable way on display boards, brochures, maps or books. This is how a Geopark really comes to life.
The Ore to the Alps UNESCO Global Geopark as been living this worldwide idea for many years, together with our partners in Germany, the Inselsberg – Drei Gleichen UNESCO Global Geopark in Thuringia and the Nationalen Geopark Porphyrland in Saxony as well as the Austrian UNESCO Global Geopark Karawanken and Steirische Eisenwurzen and the national Geopark Karnische Alpen.
The most important tasks of Geoparks are the preservation of geopotentials, the strengthening of regional development as well as environmental education and geotourism. A Geopark is therefore a designation of the UNESCO that has to be earned every four years and is not a protection category like a national park, nature park or natural monument. It can and should of course include such conservation elements (Geosites) that can also be found in the Ore of the Alps UNESCO Global Geopark.
English 
German