The Geoparque Las Loras is in luck since it already knows that it will continue to be part, until 2028, of the Unesco World Geopark Network. In this way, its title revalidates and receives from this renowned international agency the so -called green card (Green Card) to the territory shared by the provinces of Palencia and Burgos after the evaluation that It took place in July 2024.
A whole booth for the geoparque Loras that with this new recognition not only meets the standards and requirements established by UNESCO, but has passed its last exam with Honor registration to continue being part of this prestigious world network until 2028.
Since 2017when the loras was declared as a world geoparkhas never received any yellow card (which is delivered to the territories that do not meet any of the requirements and entails a new review in two years) and much less red (which implies the withdrawal of the brand and occurs when the breach is flagrant).
The Geoparque Las Loras continues to be part of the World Geoparques Network of UNESCO
It is already official, the world geoparque Unesco Las Loras has managed Shared territory by the provinces of Palencia and Burgos after the evaluation that took place in July 2024which is a new support for the geoparque Las Loras, which not only meets the standards and requirements established by UNESCO, but has exceeded its last exam with honor registration.
“The recommendations that make us in the face of this new period have to do with visibility, especially with the improvement of information on the Geoparques Networkthe increase in communication on the geological heritage and the development of a brand with local producers”, Explica Karmah Salman.
The GEOPARQUE manager Las Loras shows her satisfaction after knowing the verdict of the UNESCO and ensures that “thanks to tourist sustainability plans other projects such as Gad-Ex laboratory, many of these recommendations will be executed over these four years.” The goal, as always, will be Promote the conservation and dissemination of geological heritage, but also protect the cultural wealth of the territory and promote its social and economic development in collaboration with all the agents involved.
And it is that the revalidation would not have been possible without the support of public and private entities that, for several years, are committed to the progress of the geoparque Las Loras. Among them, the councils of Burgos and Palencia, the municipalities and neighborhood meetings, the Junta de Castilla y León, the local action groups, several companies and other organizations such as the associations and foundations of the territory. There are also many people who, in a personal capacity or through their Small businesses contribute to geopark growth.
In fact, this was one of the most valued aspects by Kirstin Lemon and Giuseppe Ottria, the evaluators who approached the geopark for a few months ago to Know firsthand the actions that have been carried out in recent years to respond to the recommendations made by UNESCO after the 2021 evaluation.
Second outstanding for the geoparque Las Loras
It should be remembered, in this sense, that from the declaration of the Loras as a world geoparque in 2017, the space has submitted to two exams and, in both, the UNESCO Executive Council, after analyzing the report prepared by the evaluation personnel, has accredited with the green card the commitment of the territory to the sustainable management of its geological heritage and its local development. The space, therefore, has not received any yellow card -which is delivered to the territories that do not meet any of the requirements and entails a new review in two years -, of course, red -which implies the withdrawal of the brand and occurs when the breach is flagrant-.
Now, the challenge is in be fulfilled the recommendations of UNESCO To, on the one hand, continue promoting research in the geopark, continue with the educational project, enhance agroecology and biodiversity, promote the local product, and continue expanding the network of collaboratorsand on the other hand, face in the best way the next evaluation.
International recognition
The World Geoparques de la UNESCO network, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversarygathers territories recognized by its rich geological heritage – rock formations, mountainous or volcanic chains, caves, cannons, fossil reservoir or landscapes of ancient deserts – that testify to the history, evolution and climate of our planet. These sites are also places for conservation and environmental education, where local and indigenous communities can show their culture and knowledge.
As Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO General Director, says, “in ten years, UNESCO Geoparques have become models for the conservation of geological heritage. But its function goes much further: They support educational projects, promote sustainable tourism and keep the knowledge and traditions of these territories alive through the participation of local and indigenous communities ”.
Every year new sites are incorporated into the network and the maintenance of others is decided, by decision of the UNESCO Executive Council, after an evaluation of the requests made by the World Council of Geoparques composed of international experts. This year 16 new Geoparques of Saudi Arabia, China, Ecuador, Spain, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of the North, Republic of Korea, Democratic Popular Republic of Korea have been designated, so that in the Currently there are 229 world geoparks of UNESCO in 50 countries.