EUROPEAN GEOPARKS WEEK 2020

PRESS RELEASE, 18 June 2020 Educational seminar on the Vikos-Aoos Geopark as part of European Geoparks Week, Saturday 13 June 2020 The Vikos-Aoos Geopark, as a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, is taking part in «European Geoparks Week» by promoting and showcasing the region online, as well as organising an intensive geology seminar on the highlands of Mount Tymfi. In this context, and whilst taking all necessary precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic, students from the Konitsa Vocational Training Institute (D.I.E.K.), specialising in «Mountain Guides», together with their trainers and colleagues from the Laboratory of Geography and Environmental Education at the University of Ioannina, took part in the geological seminar on the topic «Limestones and Glaciers in the Tymfi Highlands», which took place on Saturday 13 June 2020. The route followed was «Mikro Papigo – Astrakas mountain refuge – Drakolimni». The 22 participants had the opportunity to learn about the region’s unique geological history and, in particular, the geological phenomena that took place in the relatively recent past, by observing the «evidence» visible in the area, such as the remnants of the activity of the most recent glaciers. The presentation on geology and geosites was given by Mr Panagiotis Paschos, PhD, Geologist at EAGME, Epirus Unit, and was supplemented with information on the wider natural environment by Mr Haritakis Papaioannou, Dr Biologist, EPIRUS SA. The knowledge gained by the participants from this seminar is invaluable. Through the geopark’s methodical and successful initiatives, on the one hand, the first generation of-guides, who are expected to help provide visitors to the region with more comprehensive information, whilst, on the other hand, the educational material being produced for the first time by the University of Ioannina is being enriched in practice. The activities for the Vikos-Aoos Global Geopark are taking place as part of the collaboration between Epirus Development SA and the Region of Epirus. «European Geoparks Week»: Every June, all 74 UNESCO European Global Geoparks simultaneously organise a series of events to promote and showcase their regions. These activities always take place under a different theme and form part of the initiative now established as «European Geoparks Week». 2020 has been a difficult year in many respects due to the coronavirus pandemic. On the other hand, bearing in mind that 2020 marks both the 20th anniversary of the founding of the European Geoparks Network and the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Vikos- Aoos Geopark, it was not possible for the geoparks to remain completely inactive. Consequently, the central theme for this year’s European Geoparks Week is «UNESCO Global Geoparks – Areas of Resilience» and, more specifically for Greece and Cyprus «UNESCO Global Geoparks of Greece and Cyprus: Discover natural and cultural heritage sites safely», highlighting the special value and the resilience of these areas to «withstand» serious disruptions, one of which is this year’s coronavirus pandemic. In this context, all Geoparks have adapted to the current circumstances, and it was decided that the vast majority of all relevant activities would take place online, with a few exceptions, with the situation being assessed locally on a case-by-case basis, as was the case for this particular seminar in the Tymfi highlands. The relevant promotional material (video clips, posters, etc.) is already being produced. We hope that this will be followed by a new series of initiatives to introduce the public to the Vikos–Aoos Global Geopark and raise public awareness.