THE CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

The conference title is Geological Heritage in the South-Eastern Europe: Earth Heritage in Our Hands, and it will examine the links between geology, geoconservation and public understanding of science.

Key Conference Themes:

Geosites: Evaluation, Selection, Protection

Public Understanding Science: Interpreting Earth Heritage, Education

Socio-Economic Benefits: Geoparks, Community Involvement

Tuesday 4th September
Arrivals & Registration

Welcome and early registration from 5pm at the Hotel Park

Presentations CD-ROM or USB and Posters Delivery

Wednesday 5th September
Day 1: Main Conference

Registration from 8.30 in the City Museum of Ljubljana

Presentation CD-ROM or USB and Posters Delivery

09.30: Opening Ceremony

10.00: Key Note Lectures

12.30: Lunch

14.30: Conference Session 1: Geosites Case Studies: Evaluation, Selection, Protection

15.15: Coffee

15.30: Conference Session 2: Public Understanding Science Case Studies: Interpreting Our Earth Heritage, Community Involvement, Social and Economic Benefits, Geoparks

16.40: Close

19.00: Welcome Reception in the Atrium of City Museum of Ljubljana. Final departure from Hotel Park at 18.15.

Thursday 6th September
Day 2: Workshops sessions

09.00:  Geosites Frameworks case studies and workshops: Regional Geosites evaluation

Paleontology and Stratigraphy Case Studies

Structural Geology and Tectonics Case Study

Petrology Case Studies

Mineral and Mineral Deposits Case Studies

Karst Themes

17.00: Close

Friday 7th September
Day 3: Workshops Sessions and Fieldtrip

09.00: Interpretation, awareness, education in the field of geoheritage

11.30: Plenary session: Workshop reports and discussion

12.30: Conference closing

13.00: Lunch

15.00: Fieldtrip: The Ljubljana Castle. Depart from City museum of Ljubljana

Saturday  8th – Sunday 9th September

Day 4 and 5: Fieldtrips

All fieldtrips are focused on specific themes and links between geology and geoconservation. They present aspects of the landscape and geology, (geo)tourism and interpretation and environment of the chosen geosites and protected areas.

AGENDA OUTLINE

The International Year of Planet Earth is the major global initiative aimed to support research projects and outreach programs under socially relevant Earth Science themes. The geological heritage is the means of understanding all of them and gives best opportunities to appreciate its wonders, dynamics and fragile balance. It also offers several possibilities to promote the economic benefits of geological heritage.

GEOCONSERVATION REGIONAL CONFERENCE AND ANNUAL PROGEO WG 1 MEETING 2007

The conference and annual meeting will focus on evaluation of Geosites frameworks and highlight their role in nature conservation. We will accommodate diverse topics that are the prime concern of ProGEO and those collaborating in the United Nation’s International Year of Planet Earth, primarily with regard to using Earth heritage as means of advancing public understanding of science and sustainable development.

The annual meeting of ProGEO Working Group 1 will focus on its vision in coming years. Primarily we will examine the future vision for geoconservation including topics in a regional development context as well as relevant projects which follow the objectives of the International Year of Planet Earth.

The conference will focus on geosites frameworks evaluation, integrating geoconservation with the nature conservation mainstreams promoting better understanding of how the Earth works and why geological heritage deserves a better social concern.

CONFERENCE THEMES

The Conference in Ljubljana will provide an opportunity to enhance geoconservation and communication across boundaries Earth Heritage issues and promotion of its interaction with social, political and economic mainstreams.

The conference will focus on following themes:

1.      The role of geological heritage in contributing to the UN campaigns International Year of Planet Earth (IUGS) and Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNESCO). Geosites and Geoparks as a gateway for stakeholders and the public to geosciences.

2.      Evaluation of Geosites frameworks. This session is aimed at highlighting the state of art and trends in South-Eastern Europe; and exchange of experiences from Great Britain.

3.      Public understanding of geoscience. The session will highlight the role of interpretation of geological heritage for better understanding of geosciences and geoconservation; how geosites are helping the public understanding of Earth Sciences and best practices of successful interpretation of geological heritage; the role of geological heritage in emphasising the importance of Earth Sciences to the society?

4.      The economic benefits of geosites through geoparks. How do the geoparks complement geosites programmes and vice versa. Geoparks as a means of increased economic benefit to local communities. What are the key ingredients to create successful geoparks?

5.      Future vision of WG 1. This session will examine the future strategy for geosites protection and will attempt to define a future vision for the most relevant topics in a regional context.