The GGN News Feed No 39 - March 2020, has the latest news on Geopark activities worldwide which have been seriously affected by the Corona Virus (COVID-19) epidemic.
The GGN express solidarity to the Italian UNESCO Global Geoparks as Italy is facing a serious fight against Corona Virus (COVID-19) as we do to our colleagues in UNESCO Global Geoparks in the Republic of Korea.
China the most affected country shows encouraging signs that the fight against Corona Virus (COVID-19) will be successful. Encouraging signs there are also from the Republic of Korea. The number of newly-reported cases appears to be declining, and the cases that are being reported are being identified primarily from known clusters.
Corona Virus (COVID-19) is affecting day by day more and more countries creating severe problems to the society and economy.
According to the World Health Organization there is now (5th of March) a total of 95,265 reported cases of COVID-19 globally in 34 countries.
We understand that UNESCO Global Geoparks and their activities in geotourism and education are and will be strongly affected during the next weeks.
Important Geopark activities and International events have been canceled or postponed worldwide.
Among them some with direct relation with UNESCO Global Geoparks:
the postponement of the 36th International Geological Congress decided to reschedule the Congress which rescheduled to 9 to 14 November 2020, the cancelation of International Tourism Fair - ITB Berlin 2020the cancelation of the International Geosciences and Geoparks Programme IGGP Council and Open Session in which should take place the announcement of the 2020 applications of the aspiring UNESCO Global Geoparks the postponement of the European Geoparks Network Spring Meeting in Croatia which has been rescheduled to 12-15 May 2020.the postponement of the 209th UNESCO Executive Board Meeting in which should take place the endorsement of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council decision for the new UNESCO Global Geoparks!
The GGN community collectively will find the proper ways to support each one of our members to overpass the consequences of the epidemic.
We support the statement of the World Health Organization “This epidemic can be pushed back, but only with a collective, coordinated and comprehensive approach.”
Geoparks will continue as always working together and expressing solidarity, through networking, acting in a smart, inclusive and innovative way to promote Geoparks for the benefit of our local communities!
Stay safe and keep working and networking through internet!
The GGN Executive Board