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A public meeting will take place at the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon
on Thursday, 24 July at 8pm to discuss the proposed designation
of the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren's distinctive karst
landscape as a UNESCO Geopark.
Organised by the Burren
Connect Project, the meeting will seek the public’s
opinions on the proposal, which supports the continued preservation
of the area’s geological heritage and the enhancement of a
sustainable tourism base in the west of Ireland.
Geoparks have a UNESCO non-statutory designation and focus
primarily on protecting geodiversity, promoting geological
heritage to the general public as well as supporting sustainable
economic development of geopark territories, primarily through
the development of geological tourism.
A European network exists and has drawn together territories
from across Europe that share these aims. This network has
been able to access significant INTERREG funding to promote
and develop its aims. Ireland currently has two designated
Geoparks - the Marble Arch Caves/Cuilcagh mountain park in
Fermanagh and the Copper Coast in Waterford.
“Geopark designation does not bring with it any statutory
requirements or limits. It is more an internationally recognised
label that promotes geological landscapes and their communities
and encourages education, awareness and sustainable tourism”
- said Carol Gleeson, Project Leader, Burren Connect Project.
She continued - "The idea of designating the Burren
and the Cliffs of Moher as a designated European Geopark has
been around for a few years and it is definitely an idea worth
investigating. That is why we have invited Dr. Patrick McKeever
from the European Geopark Network and Dr. Pat O’Connor from
the Geological Survey of Ireland to speak at a public meeting.
This meeting will be an opportunity for everyone interested
in the issue to get detailed information, to look at the pros
and cons of such a designation and to have an informed discussion
on the matter.
"The Burren Connect Project is interested in this concept
as it ties in very well with our aim to link environment,
community and tourism to conserve the Burren. The aims of
the Geopark network are environmental protection, raising
awareness of and respect for landscapes and their communities,
promoting education and sustainable tourism. Network members
also have access to European funding programmes to help implement
these aims” - added Ms. Gleeson.
In recent years, questions have been raised about the impact
or need for more designations for the Burren - particularly
since Minister John Gormley announced the proposed World Heritage
Site Status, also a UNESCO designation, at the Burren Life
Conference in April.
According to Ms. Gleeson - "This is one of the issues
that needs to be discussed - what is the difference between
the various designations, what is meant by non-statutory designation,
what are the impacts of such a designation and also what time
frames are we talking about? World Heritage Site status would
take many years of planning and significant cost to achieve
and we have not even begun the discussion at local level yet
- whereas Geopark status could happen within the next year
or so."
Commenting on the proposal, Katherine Webster, Director,
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, stated - “We have an amazing
array of geological heritage here in County Clare - from the
Burren to the Cliffs of Moher - and the idea of seeking European
Geopark status is definitely one that all of us who have an
interest in the area should explore.”
Dr Patrick McKeever will present information on the UNESCO
designation and the experience of the European Geoparks Network
to-date, while Dr Pat O’Connor will outline the Geological
Survey of Ireland’s involvement in - and support for - such
a designation for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher.
The organisers say that the event will provide an opportunity
for information sharing, discussion and debate on this issue.
For further information on Geoparks -
Click Here
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