The Diputación de Ciudad Real has strengthened the international visibility of the Geoparque Volcanes de Calatrava by participating in the 18th European Geoparks Conference in Lappeenranta, Finland. The conference provided a platform for sharing experiences and establishing connections with representatives from other UNESCO-recognised territories, aiming to advance cooperation, heritage conservation, education, and sustainable development.
During the event, the provincial institution promoted the unique characteristics of the volcanic region of Ciudad Real and presented its new branding and informational materials to a broad international audience. The Ciudad Real delegation was part of the Spanish Network of Global Geoparks, which comprises 18 Spanish territories holding this recognition.
Organised by Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark, the conference attracted 445 participants from 118 geoparks across various continents, featuring over 60 parallel sessions, workshops, and activities focused on knowledge exchange, innovation, conservation, territorial cooperation, and sustainable development.
Objectives and outcomes of participation
The Diputación's involvement aimed to establish the Geoparque Volcanes de Calatrava as a territorial development project that extends beyond tourism, offering new opportunities for municipalities from economic, educational, environmental, and cultural perspectives. The international gathering allowed participants to learn from management experiences in other geoparks, identify best practices, and establish collaborative relationships that could be applied in Ciudad Real.
The conference underscored the significance of cooperation among territories and the engagement of local administrations, businesses, educational centres, social agents, and citizens to ensure geoparks solidify as instruments of development. Discussions addressed issues related to geological heritage protection, landscape interpretation, environmental education, sustainable tourism, citizen participation, and the creation of products and experiences linked to local resources.
Inauguration and key discussions
The official inauguration featured remarks from international representatives of UNESCO and the Global Geoparks Network, including Kristof Vandenberghe, head of the Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section, and Artur Abreu Sá, president of the Global Geoparks Network. They emphasised the need to view geoparks not merely as sites of geological interest or tourist destinations but as projects capable of connecting scientific knowledge, heritage protection, economic activity, and community participation.
This perspective is particularly relevant for the Geoparque Volcanes de Calatrava, which requires a shared strategy among the involved administrations and municipalities to stimulate rural development, create new economic opportunities, and enhance local identification with their heritage.
Geofair and promotional activities
One of the main promotional venues was the Geofair, held during the conference, where the Diputación de Ciudad Real participated alongside the Spanish Network of Global Geoparks to showcase the geological, natural, cultural, and tourist diversity of the 18 Spanish geoparks. This year's fair had a strong educational focus, welcoming not only professionals but also local residents and Finnish schoolchildren, thereby fostering public engagement with geological heritage and reinforcing the role of geoparks as spaces for learning and environmental awareness.
The presence of Ciudad Real at this international showcase highlighted the unique features of the Geoparque Volcanes de Calatrava, one of Spain's significant volcanic territories, and promoted its potential as a destination linked to nature, science, landscape, and culture. Additionally, collaboration with other Spanish geoparks strengthened national network ties and facilitated the sharing of promotional strategies to enhance knowledge of these territories both domestically and internationally.
Furthermore, the Diputación took the opportunity to present a new promotional brochure for the Geoparque Volcanes de Calatrava, developed in line with its refreshed corporate identity, aiming for a more recognisable and coherent representation of the territory. This initiative is part of a communication strategy designed to improve the dissemination of the Geoparque's values, enhance its recognition among visitors, and foster a sense of belonging among local inhabitants.
European cooperation and educational initiatives
The Geofair also featured the dissemination of the European INACS project, which focuses on connecting natural and cultural spaces with local populations and visitors through new digital tools. This initiative, developed under the Interreg Central Baltic programme, involves entities from Finland, Estonia, and Latvia working to create a cross-border digital platform with audiovisual content, virtual tours, and educational resources. The experience highlighted the potential of new technologies to enhance knowledge of heritage and engage young people with their local natural and cultural resources.
The Diputación's participation in the conference allowed for a deeper exploration of the four key areas of the UNESCO Global Geoparks model: governance, education, conservation, and sustainable development. Shared experiences provided insights into coordination models among administrations and local agents, mechanisms to enhance municipal participation in geopark management, and initiatives that transform these territories into outdoor learning spaces where scientific knowledge intersects with landscape, history, and traditions.
Conservation strategies were also discussed, focusing on protecting and promoting geological and natural heritage in harmony with local economic and social activities. Sustainable development emerged as a central theme, particularly regarding the potential of geoparks to promote responsible tourism, strengthen local products, diversify economic activities, and create opportunities in rural municipalities.
These lines of work are especially pertinent for the Geoparque Volcanes de Calatrava, whose consolidation relies on leveraging its international recognition to drive initiatives that directly impact the territory and improve the quality of life for its residents. The conference also provided insights into the evaluation and periodic revalidation mechanisms established by UNESCO, which require geoparks to maintain a strategy of continuous improvement and demonstrate progress in protection, education, participation, and sustainable development.
In conclusion, the Geoparque Volcanes de Calatrava has completed its participation in the 18th European Geoparks Conference with new management references, international contacts, and promotional tools that will contribute to the evolution of the Geoparque. The event included technical visits to learn about the management model of Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark, offering the provincial institution new collaboration opportunities to further link the international projection of the territory with conservation, dissemination, and economic and social development initiatives in the province's municipalities.
