Information on implementation of the Updated Concept of Geoparks in Slovakia
Information on implementation of the Updated Concept of Geoparks in Slovakia:
Geoparks are a soft tourism product, a tool for supporting the regional and local development, as well as a part of integrated landscape management, and they have a high potential based on the use of natural and cultural heritage supported by the varied geological structure of Slovakia.
The UNESCO’s support initiative for national geoparks through its Global Geoparks Networks encouraged creation of geoparks in several countries in the world and Slovakia joined it in 2000. The first activities of geopark forming were in the area of Banská Štiavnica, and later near Banská Bystrica and Fiľakovo.
The need to build and operate these three geoparks encouraged the preparation of the Draft Concept of Geoparks in Slovakia, which was approved by the Slovak Government Resolution No. 740 of 15 October 2008. According to this Resolution, the Government of the Slovak Republic ordered the Minister of the Environment to implement the concept for geoparks in categories A and B (operating and building geoparks) and to submit a report on implementation of this concept to the Government of the Slovak Republic.
The Government of the Slovak Republic approved the Report on Implementation of the Concept of Geoparks in Slovakia by its Resolution No. 608 of 31 October 2012 and ordered the Minister of Environment to prepare update of the Concept of Geoparks in Slovakia by 30 November 2014. The purpose of drawing up the document was the need to re-categorize geoparks, define the criteria for using the term “geopark”, integration of the existing geoparks into the Geoparks Network of the Slovak Republic according to the model of the other European countries and creating the updated model of financing, operating and building geoparks. The document Update of the Concept of Geoparks in Slovakia (the “Updated Concept”) was approved by the Slovak Government Resolution No. 15 of 7 January 2015. The Updated Concept included the following measures to ensure its implementation:
- Create conditions to support activities when building and operating geoparks by effective drawing on available resources from individual ministries, national programmes and operational programmes for the period 2014-2020, so as to use the potential of geoparks as an element of tourism for sustainable development of services and employment and support of business activities.
Responsible authorities: Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with competent managing authorities.
Date: continuously
2. Promote the sustainability of geoparks by using them in the development of tourism in cooperation with tourism organizations and other tourism entities.
Responsible authorities: Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic.
Date: continuously
3. Establish an inter-ministerial management body of the Geoparks Network to coordinate, support the development and cooperation of geoparks, while taking into account UNESCO guidelines and criteria, with a view to joining the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.
Responsible authorities: Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic.
Date:31 March 2015
4. Prepare an action plan for the implementation of measures to ensure the implementation of the Updated Concept.
Responsible authority: established inter-ministerial management body of the Geoparks Network in the Slovak Republic
Date: 30 November 2015
5. Submit information on implementation of the Updated Concept to the Government of the Slovak Republic.
Responsible authorities: Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic
Date: 30 June 2019 and every 5 years
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Information on implementation of the Updated Concept of Geoparks in Slovakia