UNESCO and the Global Geoparks Network are co-organizing the International Course on UNESCO Global Geoparks 2026 which will deal with the topic “UNESCO Global Geoparks : Geo-conservation, sustainable tourism and local development”.

The Course on UNESCO Global Geoparks will be held from 15th to 25th May 2026 in Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark (Greece) and it is organized in collaboration with the University of the Aegean-Department of Geography and the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest / Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark.

The course brings together methodological advances (including digital documentation and remote sensing), legal and ethical analyses, and new empirical case studies from diverse regions, offering scholars and practitioners a concise, evidence based resource to inform theory, policy, and applied conservation practice.

The course provides an opportunity to discover how UNESCO Global Geoparks can make a real impact on their local communities and on the society as a whole, but it also addresses conceptual issues related to UNESCO Global Geoparks.

Lectures will be given by Geoparks experts and academic staff with long experience on Geoparks management and development, geoheritage – geodiversity protection and conservation, education for sustainability and sustainable local development.

The course is open to Geopark’s managers, Geoparks’ staff members with a degree in Geosciences, to PhD and Master students working on Geoparks, geotourism, geosites, geomorphosites and landscape topics, as well as to Geoscientists having a special interest on the topic.

Application deadline: 10th March 2026