The UNESCO Global Geopark of Vikos-Aoos participated in the 41stη Meeting of the Coordination Committee of the European Geopark Network of UNESCO, held at the Cross-border Geopark Karavanke-Karavanken from 19 to 24 March 2018, on the Slovenia-Austria border.
During the Conference, recent actions and promotional activities of the European Network were presented, while views were discussed and exchanged on all issues concerning the network, such as sustainable tourism development and the contribution of Geoparks to it. Simultaneously, working group sessions on various thematic areas and networking and collaboration sessions at national and European level were organised. At the parallel events held, we came into contact with the local culture of the Cross-border Geopark that hosted us through music and local cuisine. We all enjoyed and discovered the unique products of the European Geoparks at the Geo-fair, which was organised with the aim of showcasing the diverse, local gastronomic culture of each Geopark. All the Geoparks in Greece, Lesvos, Psiloritis, Vikos-Aoos, Helmos-Vouraikos and Sitia, with the exceptional products they brought with them, impressed and stood out for the quality and variety presented. We especially thank Ms. Tsiouri with the aromatic plants and herbs «Oreini Gi», Mr. Viro with the organic honey «Melodia» and Mr. Sansozidis for the honey products «Spiti tis melissas».
The meeting concluded with an introductory visit to the area's caves and old mines, which, while highlighting their geological wealth, have also been impeccably organised and transformed into places for recreation and exploration, cycling and canoeing.
We would also like to express our congratulations and warmest wishes to our friend and Coordinator of the Hellenic Geoparks Forum, Babis Fasoulas, on his unanimous election as Deputy Coordinator of the European Geoparks Network. We are confident that he will contribute greatly, with his experience and love for Geoparks, to their promotion as a means for the protection and rational development of local communities.
