Council digs deeper to get Lochaber Recognised as European Geopark

Local Councillors agreed to support the Lochaber Geopark Association with a total of £6,000 (£3,000 per annum) over the next two financial years 2006/07 and 2008/09 and to provide office space for a Geopark Officer estimated ‘in-kind’ at £2,000 per annum.

Members also agreed that The Highland Council would enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Lochaber Geopark Association. This agreement will ensure there is a common understanding of roles and responsibilities and will assure the European Geopark Network that local agencies are strongly supportive of the Lochaber Geopark.

Highland Council’s Area Development Manager Dot Ferguson said: "Lochaber offers a wealth of geological features from the volcanic rings at Sanna, the Parallel ‘roads’, Rannoch Moor to the centre of ice accumulation. This variety of geological features makes Lochaber a key destination for not just tourists with an interest in geology but also for large numbers of students, for whom the geology of Lochaber is a key learning experience.

"Representatives of the Lochaber Geopark Association attended the annual conference of the European Geopark Network in Lesvos, Greece in October. They were heartened that the Lochaber presentation was so well-received and we now hoped that Geopark status will be conferred in March. Two European Geopark Network delegates are to visit Lochaber in January, ahead of the decision and we hope that this has a positive outcome for Lochaber."

A full Business Plan has been drawn up which will guide the work of the Lochaber Geopark Association which is in the process of establishing a charitable, not-for-profit Limited Company.

For further information please contact: Dot Ferguson, Area Development Manager- Lochaber, The Highland Council, tel (01397) 707044

Notes to Editors:

The North West of the Highlands was the first area of Scotland to be awarded UNESCO-endorsed European Geopark status following an announcement made in Sicily during the European Geoparks Networks annual meeting on Monday 1 November 2004.

Unlike a National Park, the award of Geopark status does not place any restrictions on the management of the land so no new planning or land use policy will be introduced. Geopark status is for a period of three years after which membership will be reviewed.

Established in June 2000, the European Geopark Network now consists of 17 members in 9 European countries. The network has no formal connection with the European Union. In February 2004 the European Geoparks Network was formally integrated into the UNESCO-endorsed Global Geoparks Network. For more details go to http://www.europeangeoparks.org/

In the UK the following areas have Geopark status:

Copper Coast Geopark– IRELAND
Marble arch caves & Cuilcagh mountain park – Northern Ireland UK
North Pennines AONB – UK
Abberlay and Malvern Hills Geopark – UK
 

Since securing Geopark status these areas have seen considerable benefit through increased nature-based tourism.