Duration: 22-25 September 2023

The capacity-building workshop intends to bring together emerging geopark initiatives in Africa and other interested partners:

• To learn the fundamentals of UNESCO Global Geoparks concept: what are they? What makes them special? In what way are they different from other site designations? How are they created?
• To raise awareness of the importance of geological heritage and the need to connect it with natural heritage, as well as cultural tangible and intangible heritage.
• To encourage the governments and the related organizations to protect and conserve their most relevant geoheritage via national programmes and to develop UNESCO Geopark projects in their country.
• To assure that the UNESCO Geopark concept is well understood at governmental and academic level, in order to support community driven growing initiatives and provide a necessary new sustainable economic development to local populations. 
• To identify and discuss the strengths and weaknesses, as well as potential opportunities and threats posed by the current situation in Africa for UNESCO Global Geoparks. What is the potential and challenges for current initiative in Africa and discussions on how to alleviate such challenges? 

Organizers

• UNESCO International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme Secretariat and the UNESCO Windhoek office.
• PanAfGeo-2 Work package WP-D (Geoheritage) delivery team.
• Geological Survey of Namibia.

Target audiences

• National and regional experts (geological surveys, academics, nature conservation experts, protected area managers).
• Promoters or leaders of ideas or projects of UNESCO Global Geoparks in Africa and geopark initiatives in Africa.

UNESCO Global Geoparks workshop concept and organization

The workshop will last 4 days (including 3 days field trips) from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm. 

The workshop will end with a field trip to the proposed Gondwanaland geopark project area. The workshop language will be exclusively in English.

Day 1: Departure from the Geological Survey of Namibia (Windhoek)

• Site visit to Spitzkoppe 
• Small-Scale Miners

Overnight in Uis

Day 2: 

• Site visit to Brandberg – includes the “white lady” rock art.

Departure from Uis to Twyfelfontein /Khorixas area.Overnight in Twyfelfontein/Khorixas area

Day 3:

• Site visit to Twyfelfontein (/Ui-//aes) UNESCO World Heritage Centre – includes rock engravings.
• Site visit to the Organ Pipes. 
• Damara Living Museum.. 

Overnight in Twyfelfontein/Khorixas area

Day 4

• Site visit to the Petrified Forest.

  Depart to Windhoek.