Highland Environment Forum 6 th September, Lochaber Geopark: Community Action and Involvement

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1 Lochaber GEOPARK

2 Highland Environment Forum 6 th September, 2017 Lochaber Geopark: Community Action and Involvement

3 What on Earth is a Geopark?

4 A GEOPARK is an area with a special geological heritage which supports sustainable economic development of the local community through geotourism.

5 Geoparks are not just about rocks, they are also about people.

6 You come here to look at rocks?!

7 Lochaber has complex and varied GEOLOGY

8 Ben Nevis, 1,345 metres.

9 Leven Schist, Loch Leven

10 European Geopark and UNESCO Global Geopark Networks Scotland has 3 Geoparks. N W Highlands Geopark. Lochaber Geopark. Geopark Shetland. N W Highlands and Shetland are currently European and UNESCO Global Geopark Network members.

11 The Lochaber Geopark Project Started January Gained European Geopark Network and Global Geopark Network status, in Excluded from EGN/GGN, September 2011, for lack of sustainable finance. Today, working stronger than ever as a Scottish Geopark. UNESCO GGN Validation exercise, June, Result: < 2 years to demonstrate Sustainable finance and support.

12 DIRECTORS LOCHABER GEOPARK ASSOCIATION (a Scottish company, limited by guarantee) PROJECT OFFICER PARTNERS British Geological Survey Forestry Commission Scottish Natural Heritage National Trust for Scotland John Muir Trust VisitScotland Highland Council Lochaber Enterprise Co. Lochaber College (UHI) Nevis Partnership Outdoor Capital of the UK Association of Lochaber Community Councils Interpretive information, Teaching, Training, Publicity Professional Consultancy Services Trading (books, maps, videos, guides) Volunteer helpers EXTERNAL FUNDING LOCAL BUSINESSES

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15 Darwin s Rest LG Info Point and Café at Roy Bridge

16 Interpretation Sites Planning Map

17 Visitors to the Ben Hiant Viewpoint Interpretation Panel

18 And what a view of Ben Hiant!

19 The new Kentallen and Duror C C Interpretation Panel under construction

20 The new Kentallen and Duror C C interpretation panel.

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22 Community Action and Involvement. The all-volunteer Board of Directors, currently 6. Paid Staff: 3, working part-time, (2.0 FTE). Darwin s Rest café, sub-let, 2 FT staff +. Visitor Centre, Fort William High Street, 13 volunteers, working a half-day or day per week, open 6 days per week. Field Hit Squad, 7+, as required, plus community members, numbers unknown.

23 SSSI/GCR Sites: Tiger Rock, Appin Limestone

24 St John s SSSI, Ballachulish.

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27 Lochaber Geopark Geology Group, Rum from Laig Bay, Eigg.

28 Lochaber Schools and College Courses Lochaber Geopark regularly delivers talks, CPD for staff, teaching materials and field excursions to local Primary and Secondary Schools, supporting the Curriculum for Excellence, and university field study groups, including the West Highland College, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. Training in local geology is also provided for mountain guides and accommodation providers.

29 DIRECTORS LOCHABER GEOPARK ASSOCIATION (a Scottish company, limited by guarantee) PROJECT OFFICER PARTNERS British Geological Survey Forestry Commission Scottish Natural Heritage National Trust for Scotland John Muir Trust VisitScotland Highland Council Lochaber Enterprise Co. Lochaber College (UHI) Nevis Partnership Outdoor Capital of the UK Association of Lochaber Community Councils Interpretive information, Teaching, Training, Publicity Professional Consultancy Services Trading (books, maps, videos, guides) Volunteer helpers EXTERNAL FUNDING LOCAL BUSINESSES

30 Partners. Back in 2007, LG had agreed M-o-U s with all the Partners on this list. No financial support was involved. UNESCO are very keen to see positive support from Partners like these, including the Scottish Government. But the original idea was for geoparks to be community lead, not top down. So who holds the purse strings?

31 Glen Coe Volcanic Caldera

32 Lochaber Geopark, just Brilliant

33 Will Durant Civilisation exists by Geological Consent: Subject to change without notice!

34 THANK YOU

35 Lochaber GEOPARK