Folie 1

1
Geopark Managament Plan Development and
Implementation
Claudia Eckhardt, Global and European Geopark
Bergstraße-Odenwald, Germany
2
More than 3.500 km² Diverse Landscape between the
rivers Rhein, Main und Neckar 3 States 9
Counties 2 Cities 105 Local Authorities
3
A rich geological heritage. . .
4
A diverse cultural landscape . . .
5
Attractive leisure and recreation for two
European Metropolitan Areas
6
? Start of the Geopark Process 2000 ? European
Geopark 2002 ? Global Geopark 2004 ?
Revalidation 2005
7
The Overall Framework of Geopark Development and
Management EGN and Global Network of UNESCO
Membership
? Presentation of geological and cultural
heritage ? Environmental education ?
Cooperation with regional economy ?
Sustainable Regional Development ? Cooperation
with Network Partners
8
A Geopark Mangement Plan . . .
. . . is not
. . .a written document compiled at office tables
but
. . . part of a multi-stakeholer process for
regional development
9
Geopark Mangement Plan
Definition of the Geopark Territory in line with
GGN/EGN Requirements
Commitment of the Territory participation and
networking
Viable Management Body scientific,
administrative, management skills
Agreed Development Strategy Action Plan
Secure Budget for Operation and Implementation of
Action Plan
Implementation Regional and International
Networking and Co-operation
10
Before the Management Plan How it all began..
11
The Geopark Territory A protected Area
Definition of the Geopark Territory in line with
GGN/EGN Requirements
12
Enhance the Commitment of the Territory
Participation and Networking
Regional Partners become Geopark Stakeholders
Member local authorities
State and county administration
Regional economy, land use
Education and Science
Tourism Institutions
NGOs, Associations
13
Viable Management Body Scientific-,
Administrative-, Management skills
Geopark/Nature Park Administration Business
Manager (1) Nature Park Coordination (1) Regional
Development (1) Scientific Coordination/PR
(1) Coordination Information Facilities
(1) Coordination Ranger Team (1) Accountant
(2) Secretariat (2) Office Support Staff
(4) Outdoor Maintenance Team (3)
Geopark Organisation Registered Association
14
Economic Base of the Geopark Operational Budget
Geopark Staff Funding for Local
Authorities Service for Local Authorities
105 Local Member Authorities Annual Member Fees
012 c/capita County Member Fees calculated on an
area/inhabitant referring base
Annual Basic Budget 500,000 Euro
15
Agreed Development Strategy Action Plan
The Core
of the Management Plan
GGN/EGN Requirements
Geopark Strategies
Conservation/Presentation of geological and
cultural heritage Environmental
education Cooperation with regional
economy Sustainable Regional Development Coopera
tion with International Network Partners
Establishment of a Visitor Information System
Networking with Regional Economy
Public Performance
Networking with other Regional Stakeholders
Contributions to GGN/EGN with regional benefits
16
Management Plan Summary of Contents

• Underlying Concept GGN/EGN Requirements
• Geopark Territory (Boundaries, Administrative
  Bodies)
• Management Body (Organisational Setup, Staff,
  Task Descriptions)
• Intention of the Management Plan (Objectives,
  Time Period, Implementing Bodies)
• Strategic Framework (agreed with Geopark
  Stakeholder Forum) and Actions
• 5.1 Development of a Corporate Identity
• 5.2 Establishment of Visitor Information System
• 5.2.1 Information Facilities
• 5.2.2 Trails and Panels
• 5.2.3 Visitor Guides

Action Plan related to Strategic Framework
17
Management Plan Summary of Contents

• 5.3 Development of Partnerships with Regional
  Stakeholders
• 5.3.1 Members of Geopark Association
• 5.3.2 Regional Economy
• 5.3.3 Institutions
• 5.3.4 Sponsors
• 5.4 Public Performance
• 5.4.1 Publications
• 5.4.2 Geopark Events
• 5.4.3 Homepage
• 5.4.4 Promotion
• 5.5 Contributions to the Life of the GGN/EGN
• 5.5.1 Operational Contributions
• 5.5.2 Participation in European Funding
  Programmes
• Quality Management, Monitoring and Evaluation
• 6.1 GGN/EGN Membership
• 6.2 Geopark Quality Standards

Action Plan related to Strategic Framework
18
Management Plan Summary of Contents

• Overall Budget
• 7.1 General Budget
• 7.2 Action Budget
• 8 Action Plan (Actions and Continuous
  Maintenance) and Budget
• 8.1 Visitor Information System (Actions Year 1
  to year 4)
• 8.2 Partnerships with Regional Stakeholders
  (Actions Year 1 to Year 4)
• 8.3 Public Performance (Actions Year 1 to Year
  4)
• 8.4 GGN/EGN Membership
• 8.5 Quality Management, Monitoring and
  Evaluation

19
Actions Establishment of a Visitor Information
System
Entrance Gates Info-Centres Geopark-Trails
Geopark Sites
2002 - 2006
2006-2010
20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
Visitor Information System 2007
24
Geopark Visitor Information in the Member
Localities
2005 - 2008
25
Geopark Visitor-Information

Creation of Ownership and Awareness
Participation of Local stakeholders Regional
experts Institutions and local authorities
Added Value Combination of Geopark-Information-Sy
stem with existing Infrastructure nature trails,
hiking routes, hiking maps
26
Presentation of our geological and cultural
heritage by the people who live in the
territory the Geopark strategy of visitor
information enhances regional potentials
27
Actions Visitor Guides
1 The Geopark Rangers Region wide discovery and
education tours
2 Geopark on Site The charme of local authenticy

3 Geopark on the Farm Discover rural every day
life, regional products and farm environments
28
Visitor Service 1 - The Geopark Rangers
Implementation 2002 Extension 2005
29
Visitor Service 2 - Qualification of Local
Residents Geopark on Site More than 150 active
guides
Actions Establishment of Training Programme
2002 Trainings each year for determined number
of groups
30
Visitor Service - 3 Geopark on the Farm
Implementation 2006-2007
Geopark on the Farm Qualification of women in
rural areas Access to geopark network and
cooperations Visitor service on the household
level Promotion of regional products Implementat
ion with EU funding
31
Strategy Networking with Regional Economy
Actions
Geo and Enjoyment Tours with Geopark Rangers
Geopark Events in Cooperation with Farms
Geopark Basket with Regional Products (LEADER
Transnational)
Creation of Geopark Products (Geopark Wine)
Geopark as Topic of Restaurant Menues
32
Implementation of Geopark Management Plan
Perspectives for regional economy
provision of employment
generation of additional income
benefits for small and medium enterprises
promotion of regional products
33
Publications in the Corporate Identity of the
Geopark
34
International Networking and Co-operation
35
Ranger exchange with Lesvos Petrified Forest
Global and European Geopark
36
INTERREG III B Nord-West Europe Partner
Geoparks Marble Arch Cuilcagh Mountian Global
andEuropean Geopark Global and European Geopark
Copper Coast Global and European Geopark
Vulkaneifel Regional Partners UNESCO World
Heritage Site Messel Pit Local Authorities
Actions Geopark-Infrastructure Geopark-Information
Centres Geopark Ranger Training Geopark on Site
Training
37

• LEADER Transnational
• Partner Geoparks
• Lesvos Petrified Forest
• Beigua
• North Pennines
• Psiloritis
• Vulkaneifel
• Regional Partners
• Local Action Group
• Regional Tourism Institutions
• Geopark Local Authorities

Actions Infrastructure Geopark-Infoterminal Geopar
k Basket Geopark Education Programs Intensive
Course Geopark Management Coffee Table Book
38
Quality management (since 2006) Set of
Standards Shared responsibilities Agreed
procedures
Geopark Second Generation Integration of
experience and best practise in quality manual
39
The Quality Management Manual
of the Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald
Overall Framework of GGN/EGN
Part A Standards and Requirements ?
Infrastructure ? Visitor Service ? Products ?
Cooperations
Part B Quality Assurance ? Tasks ?
Responsibilities ? Processes and Performance ?
Monitoring
Part C Ilustrative Material ? Catalogue ? Best
practise ? Panels, presentations facilities ?
Contacts ? Prices
40
The Manual at a Glance Geopark Entrance Gates
Part A Standards
Location
Exhibition
Signage
Presentation
41
Quality Management The Benefits
Facilitation of Communication, Cooperation and
Networking
Process Monitoring, targeted corrective actions
Access to funding sources (programmes,
sponsorship)
Sustainable, transparent and balanced stragetic
planning
42
Management Plan Aspects of Sustainability
Connection of the environmental, social and
ecomomic dimensions of sustainable development
Preservation and promotion of the geological
heritage Awareness rising by environmental
(geo)-education
Participation of the region in the Geopark
development Opening access to training, exchange
and professional opportunities Awareness rising
on regional identity, capacity building
Direct marketing of regional products Cooperation
with regional economy Creation of Geopark
products
43
A Geopark Management Plan
. . . should reflect the regional setting
. . . should enhance a learning and flexible
institution
. . . is an effective tool for regional
development if accepted by all stakeholders and
oriented towards feasible options
. . . is a tool for communication, participation
and quality management
. . . is a tool for effective use of budgets
. . . is NOT a holy book or a dogma
44
and for more information come and see and
discover our Geopark!
www.geo-naturpark.de