The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Council of the UNESCO Global Geopark Lanzarote and Chinijo Archipelago, has approved in its ordinary session held this Wednesday the creation and upcoming constitution of the Advisory Councils of Geosciences, Tourism and Education, with the aim of strengthening collaboration between experts and local entities.
“The fundamental objective of these councils is to increase the visibility of geoscience, tourism and education throughout the island society, highlighting through the action of Geopark Lanzarote the intimate relationship of these keys on our economy and culture”, explained the councilor of the entity, Samuel Martín.
The advisory councils have been created and will be composed, in a mixed way, by representatives of the Council and other entities such as museums, academic institutions, tourism associations and other non-profit associations of Lanzarote and La Graciosa. They will be responsible for advising on technical issues related to island development, cultural history, environmental education, geosciences, tourism, monument protection and nature conservation, among others.
The president of the Cabildo and the Geopark Council, Oswaldo Betancort, highlighted the importance of this creation of the advisory councils, “which reinforces the commitment, through a multidisciplinary tool like this, of the Institution with the conservation of the geological and cultural heritage of the island.”
In addition, the Council of the UNESCO Global Geopark Lanzarote and Chinijo Archipelago has also approved the designation of the Farmer's Monument as the new official headquarters of this body. “The Farmer's Monument is a symbol of our identity and an ideal place to house the headquarters of the Geopark, from where we will promote new research, education and sustainable development initiatives,” said Betancort.
Likewise, it was agreed to urge the Government of the Canary Islands to ensure that one of its representatives on the Geopark Council corresponds to the Timanfaya National Park.
Oswaldo Betancort recalled “the precarious situation in which we found this Geopark figure when we arrived at the Island Government, with the danger of losing it.” “Therefore,” he added, “we have taken up the challenge of promoting it, creating new advisory figures and launching new promotional campaigns so that the population knows and cares for our territory, joining the conservation work that we lead from the Cabildo of Lanzarote.”
Geopark celebrates its tenth anniversary
Councilor Samuel Martín has detailed that another of the highlights addressed at the Council meeting was the revalidation of the Geopark obtained in Iceland last year 2023, as well as the preparation for the tenth anniversary of its declaration in 2025, an event that plans to have a special program of scientific and informative activities.
The Geopark of Lanzarote and Chinijo Archipelago began to be promoted in 2013, being in April 2015 in Paris, when the accreditation as a Geopark within the European Network is granted, and in September of the same year, at the International Conference held in Japan, when Lanzarote is named part of the World Network.
“Geopark is much more than geoscience, research or education; it is also tourism and sustainability,” commented Martín, who recalled that he was recently present at the 45th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2025), within the stand of the Spanish Network of Global Geoparks (REGM), “which allowed to show the world the geological, cultural and natural wealth that makes Lanzarote a unique tourist destination.”
The Cabildo of Lanzarote "has strengthened during this term the management of Geopark as a tool for sustainable development and revitalization of the territory, in line with the principles of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network," they assure.
