The Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark
UNESCO Global Geoparks are geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
Led by Clare County Council, the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark achieved Global Geopark status in 2011. This designation was fully incorporated by UNESCO in 2015 to become a UNESCO Global Geopark. There are currently 147 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 41 countries. Following an extensive 4 day on site audit by UNESCO in July 2019, UNESCO have revalidated the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark from 2019 to 2023.
The need to protect and also to ensure a prosperous local economy is a balancing act that requires the commitment and participation of many actors and the interplay of many agendas; both local and national.
With tourism numbers growing rapidly, it is becoming increasingly necessary to integrate tourism and conservation management to enable the long-term use of our our landscape and heritage assets.
Successful integration requires the active involvement of local communities, landowners and tourism businesses as well as conservation management agencies.
The Geopark has built a strong partnership with the Burren Ecotourism Network, a network of nearly 50 tourism businesses in the region who are committed to developing and promoting the region as a premier internationally recognised sustainable tourism destination.
The Geopark Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism provides a model for businesses within the region to come together to build a sustainable tourism offering.
The Geopark Code of Practice ensures reduction and efficiency of waste, water and fossil fuels as well as financial savings, training and community activities to support the Geopark as an internationally renowned sustainable destination.
Members of the Burren Ecotourism Network were awarded their certificates for completing the Code of Practice in Hotel Doolin on 11th December. Each business had put in a lot of work before making an online submission to set out an environmental action plan for their buisness over the next 24 months. All submissions were then reviewed, evaluated and scored by an independent external environmental consultant.
The Geopark Code of Practice for Sustainabale Tourism is very proudly supported by Clare County Council and the support of Geological Survey Ireland is gratefully acknowledged
Page last reviewed: 16/01/20
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