institutions organizations terms

Institutions, Organizations, Terms

UNESCO  (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

Founded in 1946 within the united nations, unesco (united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization) stands for united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization. Unesco is headquartered in Paris and operates in the fields of education, culture and science. Unesco is in a determining and controlling position in geological heritage and geopark studies as in many other fields. In order to gain international geopark status, it is necessary to fulfill and receive approval from all the establishment conditions determined by unesco. These inspections are repeated every two years and the certificates of conformity are constantly updated.

IUGS (International Union of Geological Sciences)

The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is a non-political, non-profit, non-governmental organization. Founded in 1961, it is one of the largest member organizations of the International Science Council (ISC) and one of the world's largest scientific organizations. It has a global membership of approximately one million geoscientists through approximately 120 member countries represented through Adhering Organizations (usually academies, geological surveys or geological societies). In addition, approximately 60 international organizations are affiliated with IUGS. IUGS promotes the development of geosciences by supporting broad-based scientific activities. It promotes international cooperation in the establishment of global geostandards. It strengthens public awareness of geology and promotes geological education. IUGS organizes international projects and meetings, sponsors symposia and scientific field visits, produces publications and addresses standardization issues. Topics range from basic geoscience research to economic and industrial applications and extend to social, educational, environmental and developmental issues. Many events take place in a 4-year cycle that begins or ends during each International Geological Congress (IGC), the main scientific forum of the IUGS. The IUGS is governed by an elected Board of Directors consisting of a President, Treasurer, Secretary General, former President, 2 Vice Presidents and 4 Council Members. The Executive Committee is supported by a secretariat (E-mail: secretariat@iugs.org). Detailed information on the current membership and management is available at www.iugs.org.

ProGEO (European Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage)

A non-governmental organization founded in 1993 to work on geoprotection in Europe after the "First International Symposium on the Protection of our Geological Heritage" held in Digne-les-Bains (France) in 1991. ProGEO has organized seminars, conferences and symposiums at an international level since its establishment. Together with the groups that are members of the institution, it works to protect the geological heritage of both the region and the member countries. In addition, since 2009, it has published the publication "Geoheritage" for those working in the field of cultural geology to publish their work. With this periodical, educational efforts in the fields of geoprotection, geotourism, geological heritage and geodiversity have rapidly become widespread and developed.

EGN (European Geopark Network)

As of January 2021, it is a non-governmental organization called “European Geopark Network”, which includes 81 geoparks from 26 countries. EGN is the regional organization of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) and the UNESCO International Geosciences and Geoparks Program (UNESCO-IGGP). Its main goal is to ensure cooperation between geoparks for the protection of geological heritage, geotourism and the promotion of sustainable development of geopark regions in Europe.

UNESCO GGN (UNESCO Global Geopark Network)

As of January 2021, it is the “World Geopark Network”, which includes 161 Geoparks. It is an international, civil, non-profit and voluntary network that brings together government institutions, non-governmental organizations, scientists and related communities from all countries to create a cooperation platform between Geoparks. It operates in a unique partnership worldwide and in accordance with UNESCO regulations (http://www.globalgeopark.org).

The mission of the Global Geopark Network (GGN); is to influence, encourage and assist local communities worldwide to preserve the integrity and diversity of abiotic and biotic nature, to ensure that all uses of natural resources are equitable and sustainable, and to support the economic and cultural development of local communities. Thus, under the umbrella of UNESCO and through cooperation with global network partners, important geological areas will be recognized and protected worldwide and will benefit from the exchange of knowledge, expertise, experience and personnel between other Geoparks. Thus, this international partnership developed by UNESCO provided the opportunity for a worldwide exchange of experiences among members in order to protect the local nature of the member Geoparks as well as the geological heritage elements and to develop sustainable development models.

DIGNE DECLARATION

Geologists who were disturbed by the destruction of “Geological Heritage” elements all over the world established a commission. This commission convened in Digne, France in 1991 with the participation of delegates from 30 countries and made an important decision regarding the protection of geological heritage. (http://www.progeo.com). After these decisions, Geological Heritage and Geopark studies gained great momentum. The articles of the published declaration are as follows:

• Just as it is accepted that human life is lived once, it is time to accept that the life of the earth is unique.
• Mother Earth nourishes and sustains us. Each and every one of us is dependent on her. She is the bond between us.
• The earth is 4.5 billion years old and is the cradle of life, renewal and transformation. Its long-lasting evolution and slow maturation have shaped the environment we live in.
• Our history and the history of the earth are very closely related. Its beginning is our beginning, its history is our history and its future is our future.
• The Earth is our environment. This environment is not only different from the past, but also from the future. We are endless guests of the Earth, we are just passing through.
• Just as an old tree keeps records of its growth and life, the Earth keeps records of its past and memories. These records are both on its surface and in its depths. They are in the rocks and in the fields. These records can be read and translated into our language.
• We have always been aware of the need to protect our memories, our cultural heritage. Now is the time to protect our natural heritage, the environment. The Earth's past is no less important than humanity's. Now is the time to learn to protect it, to read this book written long before us: This is the Geological Heritage that has been left to us.
• We and the Earth share our common heritage. We and our governments are the guardians of this heritage. Each and every human being should know that the slightest damage spoils it, destroys it, and causes irreparable losses. Any development must respect the uniqueness and uniqueness of this heritage.
• More than a hundred experts from more than thirty countries who participated as delegates to the 1st International Symposium on the Protection of our Geological Heritage urgently demand that national and international authorities take all necessary legal, financial and organizational measures to take care of and protect this heritage.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

It is any kind of archaeological and ethnographic value created by human hands (Çiftçi and Güngör, 2021).

NATURAL HERITAGE:

It is any kind of geological formation that has not been declared as "Geological Heritage" or has not been defined and classified in every aspect as "geosite" but is located in a geopark area and its surroundings and has a value on its own. It is a social rather than scientific definition. Areas such as lakes, waterfalls, cliffs, fault planes, wetlands/reeds, caves, special living/breeding areas are within this scope. Such areas can be registered as geosites or geological heritage with scientific studies to be carried out (Çiftçi and Güngör, 2021).

GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE

Geological heritage is the name given to formations such as regions, rocks, fossils, minerals and landforms that have occurred at any time during the 4.6 billion-year lifespan of the Earth, have a rare natural monument appearance due to both their formation and the way they are found, and will disappear in a short time if they are not protected. These rare formations have no equal in terms of the message they will give. When these formations are destroyed, much information about the past of the Earth is also erased. For geologists, the destruction of these formations that are hundreds of millions of years old, sometimes billions of years old, in a short time is a big problem. In order to instill a nature culture in people and to make them more sensitive about nature protection, it is necessary to protect such natural monuments, which are considered Geological Heritage elements, and to ensure that the messages they give are understandable. In short; it is a rare, endangered natural heritage that will lose information and geological documents about the region it is located in if it is destroyed (Wimbledon, 1996; Kazancı, 2010; Çiftçi and Güngör, 2016). GEOSITE

A natural entity that reveals an event, a process or a formation during the formation or evolution of the Earth's crust, a rock-mineral-fossil community, stack, landform, geological structure, texture type, scientific document quality, and in some cases visual beauty (Wimbledon, 1996; ProGEO Group, 1998; www. progeo.se)

A geosite is a place or locality that represents a geological feature, can be visited by those who want to see and learn about this feature, and is used especially to explain the formation in question to geology students, amateur geologists and visitors easily. There is no size limit. It can be very small or cover very large areas. Two or more geosites cannot be defined in a narrow area. The geological event, process, product that is best represented by them is accepted as a geosite.

GEOMORPHOSITE

Geomorphological landforms that express scientific, cultural/historical, aesthetic and/or social/economic value according to human use or perception (Panizza, 2001). In fact, according to the geosite classification made in ProGeo98, the JS-6 group is the group of geosites (Çiftçi and Güngör, 2016). In the Çiftçi and Güngör article in this publication, a detailed definition of this group is given within the geosite group. Geomorphologists find this definition closer to their own professional perceptions.

GEOPARK

Large-scale areas that contain at least a few geosites and other natural and cultural heritage values, have a museum and management center are called Geoparks. A Geopark area is a cultural arrangement where all natural and cultural heritage, especially elements of geological heritage, are protected, and socio-economic development is also aimed at this (Çiftçi and Güngör, 2016).

From a scientific perspective, a geopark covers rare and aesthetically valuable geological heritage sites. A geopark can and should include archaeological, ecological, ethnographic, historical or culturally important sites in the region, in addition to geologically important formations. A geopark ensures that geological and cultural heritage is disseminated to a wide audience through nature education; educates a wide audience on geology and environmental issues, contributes to the sustainable development of the region and ensures that the geological heritage is preserved and passed on to future generations. According to the definition made by UNESCO, a geopark is an area with one or more places to be visited that are scientifically important, have archaeological, ecological and cultural values ​​in addition to their geological features.

GEOTOURISM

A type of ecotourism based on geology, learning and knowledge, which has been developing greatly every day after the concepts of Geological Heritage and Geopark. Those who visit geological heritage elements, mostly located in geoparks, sometimes obtain important information about any period of the formation of the earth from minerals, fossils and rocks during these visits, and sometimes learn about the formation of landforms shaped by geomorphological processes.

Geotourism is a tourism activity that occurs by visiting areas that can include rocks, fossils, minerals, volcanoes, glaciers, glacial lakes, mountains, different erosion patterns, natural events that can turn into disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, structural elements, deserts, lakes, caves, rivers, waterfalls, mines, etc. and cultural elements where human-geology relations are intensely observed. While preparing these areas for visits, the precautions taken to prevent possible damages that may be caused by visitors also fulfill the function of "geoprotection". Thus, the protection of geological heritage overlaps with geotourism activities. As a result, geotourism is a type of tourism based on rest-entertainment and gaining information and awareness.

Çiftçi and Güngör (2021) found it appropriate to define the phenomenon of geotourism as "tourism activities whose subject is geological entities. All of the periodic outdoor activities organized in accordance with scientific, social and economic purposes and nature promotion activities are included in this broad cluster."

Framework List of Geosites

Established in Europe in 1995, the European Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage (ProGEO) has grouped geosites into ten separate categories or groups, covering all areas of earth sciences (ProGEO, 1998). These groups are;

Stratigraphic,

Environmental,

Volcanic-metamorphic-sedimentary-petrological textures and structures, events and provinces

Mineralogical-economic,

Structural,

Geomorphological structures, erosion-deposition processes, landforms, terrain appearances,

Meteorite-related events,

Continental and oceanic events, plate relations,

Submarine,

Historical and cultural geosites (www.progeo.se; Çiftçi and Güngör, 2016))

This distinction is for guidance and grouping purposes. It is not a detailed and exhaustive definition system. Within each group, many subgroups can be created based on common features. Thus, it becomes easier to create lists with almost the same features and compare them with each other. Especially thanks to this umbrella list, similar formations in different countries can be recorded. Accepting these lists as the official inventory list of the countries will provide very important benefits in terms of creating a data bank. (Brilha et al., 2005; Lima et al., 2010). The need for an umbrella list for geosites in our country was expressed by Kazancı and Şaroğlu (2009) (Kazancı et al., 2005, 2012). In this publication, the concept in question was further developed in the articles of Çiftçi and Güngör and they detailed the grouping proposed by Kazancı et al. (2015) for the "Geological Heritage Roof List of Turkey". GEOÇATI

(Roof List)

A form of grouping or listing according to a specific feature for geosites or geological heritage (Jemirko, 2015)

GEO-INVENTORY

The main element of a geopark study is to reveal the existence of "Geosites" within this area, from the moment the "Main Theme" of the Proposed Geopark is determined. In fact, what is done is to describe the geological heritage elements that have already "existed" there since any stage of the formation of the Earth, this time in line with a main theme; locally, in a way that will be a geotourism object. The guided definition of this geological heritage, which should be "sufficiently" present in a geopark area, and the registration of it on identity cards is defined as the preparation of the inventory of geosites there.

Although this study seems simple, it requires considerable experience and knowledge. Before starting to prepare an inventory, its purpose should be clearly stated in terms of topic, scope/value, scale and purpose of use (Lima et al., 2010). Considering this approach, the geological heritage elements and geosites determined in an area should be defined and determined according to the criteria in accordance with the PROGEO (1998) table, some of which have scientific value and some of which have aesthetic value.

Jemirko (2015) defined it as “the collective display of geosites or geological heritage without any discrimination within themselves”.

GEODIVERSITY

Geodiversity is the minerals, rocks, sediments, fossils, soils and water found in the whole or a certain part of the Earth. In addition, folds, faults, landforms and other morphological elements developed in these geological materials are also included in the concept of geodiversity. All geological elements forming the Earth and all kinds of geological events that have occurred on these elements can also be defined as geodiversity. Jemirko (2015) proposes a definition for Geodiversity as "the preservation of the existing rock assemblage, stack, fossil, landforms and soil cover in order to understand the functioning of the earth system in a region and to explain this to society".

GEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION (Geoconservation)

It is the totality of the works carried out for the protection of geological heritage or geosites that have a certain scientific or visual importance formed in a certain period of the Earth. In other words, it is the determination and maintenance of areas that make a special contribution to the World Heritage and can show the processes that formed the planet. Jemirko (2015) adopts the definition of “It is the totality of the efforts to protect all geological values ​​that are geological heritage or geosites in order to transfer them to future generations, to take measures to prevent their extinction and to protect them”. According to Henriques et al. (2011), geoconservation is a social concept related to the protection of the Earth's natural resources. Beyond this general definition, the concept of protection in question is particularly focused on the protection of geosites that have 1) high scientific value, 2) educational value, 3) touristic and cultural value. It is evaluated under three headings as 1) Basic Geoconservation, 2) Applied Geoconservation, 3) Technical applications in Geoconservation.

GEOVALUE

It is the abbreviation of the expression "Geological Value". Geological objects that contain more or less scientific information are natural assets with educational, economic or cultural potential or their processed products (Jemirko, 2015).

GEOROUTA (Georoute)

It is a geotouristic route that extends along a line within a geopark or outside a geopark, passing through geoscientifically valuable Geosite or Geological heritage points with certain route and starting-ending points. Çiftçi and Güngör (2021) found the definition of georoute appropriate as "A tour route with determined starting and ending points, passing through locations with geosite value on any piece of land or in a geopark and serving a certain scientific/educational/touristic purpose".

GEOTRAVERS

It is a georoute arranged according to a geological cross-section that clearly reflects a certain period of the formation of the world (Çiftçi and Güngör, 2021).

GEOGRAPHY

It is an educational/touristic "nature walk" that aims to introduce any geological feature of the world. This walk can be carried out in the form of normal trekking, as well as with nature sports such as ski tour, cycling, canoeing, paragliding, etc. (Çiftçi and Güngör, 2021).

REFERENCES

Brilha J.,Andrade C., Azerêdo A., Barriga F.J.A.S., Cachão M., Couto H., Cunha P.P., Crispim J.A., Dantas P., Duarte L.V., Freitas M.C., Granja M.H., Henriques M.H., Henriques P., Lopes L., Madeira J., Matos J.M. European geological heritage characterisation. Episodes, 28(3), pp. 177-186.

Çiftçi, Y., Güngör, Y., 2021. Natural and cultural heritage integration and geoprotection proposals in the Nemrut-Süphan proposed geopark area (Bitlis-Turkey). Mineral Research and Exploration Journal, 165,(?). Çiftçi, Y., Güngör, Y., 2016. Standard representation proposals for natural and cultural heritage elements within the scope of geopark projects. Mineral Research and Exploration Journal, 153, 223-238.

Henriques, M. H., dos Reis, R. P., Brilha, J., Mota, T., 2011. Geoconservation as an Emerging Geoscience. Geoheritage. 3: 117-128. DOI: 10.1007/s12371-011-0039-8

JEMIRKO, 2015. http://www.jemirko.org.tr

Kazancı, N., Şaroğlu, F., Suludere, Y., 2015. Geological Heritage and Framework List of the Geosites in Turkey. Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration, 151: 263-272

Kazancı, N., Şaroğlu, F., Doğan, A., Mülazımoğlu, N. 2012. Geoconservation and geo-heritage in Turkey. In: Geoheritage in Europe and its Conservation (Ed. W.A.P. Wimbledon and S. Smith-Meyer), ProGeo Spec. Pub, Oslo, Norway, pp. 366-377.

Kazancı, N., 2010. Geological Protection (Concept and Terms), Jemirko and TMMOB Chamber of Geological Engineers Publications, p 60, Ankara. Kazancı, N., Şaroğlu, F. 2009. Turkey Geosites Roof List. 62nd Turkey Geology Congress ( 13-17 April 2009) Proceedings Abstracts Book-I, Chamber of Geological Engineers, Ankara, pp. 266-267. Kazancı, N., Şaroğlu, F., Kırman, E., Uysal, F. 2005. Basic threats on geosites and geo-heritages in Turkey. Proceedings of Second Conference on Geoheritage of Serbia, June 2004 Belgrade, pp. 149-153, Belgrade, Sebia-Montenegro.

Lima, F.F., Brilha, J.B., Salamuni, E., 2010. Inventorying geological heritage in large territories: a methodological proposal applied to Brazil. Geoheritage 2(3–4): 91–99.

Panizza M., 2001. Geomorphosites: concepts, methods and example of geomorphological survey. Chinese Science Bulletin, 46, Suppl. Bd, 4-6ProGeo Group. 1998. A first attemt at a geosites framework for Europe - an IUGS initiative to support recognition of World heritage and European geodiversity. Geologica Balcanica 28, 5-32

Wimbledon, W.A.P., 1996. National site election, a stop on the road to a European Geosite List. Geologica Balcanica 26, 15-27

LINKS

www.iugs.org

http://www.globalgeopark.org

http://www.progeo.com

http://www.progeo.se

http://www.jemirko.org.tr