In June 2019, the Normandie-Maine Regional Nature Park submitted its letter of intent to UNESCO, expressing its ambition to obtain the UNESCO Global Geopark designation for its territory. After a five-year process, the territory was officially recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark in March 2024!
Timeline of the application process
The application for the UNESCO Global Geopark label follows a strict procedure coordinated by the Secretariat of UNESCO's International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP).
The first step involved preparing a formal application dossier following a defined structure and limited to a maximum of 50 pages. This main document is accompanied by several annexes, the most important being a self-evaluation report prepared by the aspiring Geopark. This report is a key component of the application.
The Normandie-Maine Geopark application was submitted to UNESCO via the French National Geoparks Committee on 22 November 2019. After the dossier was checked for completeness, a geological heritage assessment of the candidate territory was carried out by experts from the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). This evaluation must demonstrate how the candidate territory holds sites and landscapes of international geological significance.
At the end of this process, the evaluators submitted a report to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, which met in December 2021. The conclusion of the report, which was accepted by the Council and endorsed by UNESCO, recommended deferring the decision for two years.
A response report addressing the recommendations was submitted in June 2023. The Executive Council then approved the revised application and submitted it for final approval by UNESCO, which granted the label in March 2024.
The label is granted for 4 years
The Geopark will be required to submit a progress report in February 2027, followed by a new evaluation mission in summer 2027. If the evaluation is favourable, the label may be renewed for another four-year period starting in April 2028.
Key recommendations for the next revalidation
- Geopark governance. A stronger complementarity is expected between the Regional Nature Park label and the UNESCO Global Geopark label. The joint management body of the Park will need to integrate the Geopark more closely into all existing activities.
- Analytical monitoring. The Geopark must be supported by dedicated administrative and financial management, enabling transparent reporting of the specific resources allocated to the Geopark.
- Visibility and communication. The report highlights the need to significantly increase the visibility of the Geopark. This includes producing clear and accessible communication tools on the geological history of the territory, using multiple media formats, and rolling out cohesive signage across the area to promote the Geopark's network of geosites.
- Tourism strategy. The Geopark should continue to develop, strengthen, and clarify its tourism strategy.
- Geopark partnerships. There is a need to build a strong network of Geopark partners, with a particular focus on tourism service providers, activity operators, and local producers.