In the second half of December, the inclusion of the Lavrio geopark in UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Network is expected to be announced, says Andreas Tsokos, General Director of EAGME (Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration), speaking to mononews.gr.
Lavrio, as part of UNESCO’s network thanks to its geopark and the new high-quality experiences it will offer visitors, will become a magnet for geo-tourists from all over the world. It should be noted that UNESCO Global Geoparks must meet high standards of quality and services and are evaluated every four years through a strict protocol. The activities of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network span the world; today 140 areas from 37 countries participate, while Greece currently participates with six geoparks.
At the same time, in January 2022 the National Geological Museum—also a project of the EAGME leadership—will be inaugurated, under which other Geological Museums of the country will gradually be integrated.
Among them is the life’s work of Manolis Glezos, the Geological Museum of Apeiranthos, Naxos, thus ensuring that the legacy of the great Greek will continue after his passing.
And the dynamic leadership of EAGME does not stop there; it continues by developing innovative solutions, identifying rare earths and gemstone deposits, and supporting the country’s geological needs both proactively and whenever required.
The General Director of EAGME, Andreas Tsokos, explains the Authority’s role today and its significant contribution to showcasing and protecting the country’s geological treasures.
What does it take for a geopark to join UNESCO’s network?
According to UNESCO, a geopark is an area with a sufficient number of geological heritage sites of every scale—a mosaic of geosites of particular interest, rarity, or beauty—representative of the area and of the events and processes in its geological history.
It is extremely important for a geopark to be included in UNESCO’s list of geoparks. With UNESCO’s seal of approval, a place gains global prestige and tourism visibility, which is why UNESCO conducts a rigorous evaluation of candidate sites.
We prepare the studies for the application dossier, advise the Municipality on what to do, and then the Municipality submits the dossier; the evaluators come, assess, and approve it. In the same way, six months ago we helped Grevena join UNESCO’s Geoparks Network; now it is Lavrio’s turn, and the Melissani Cave in Kefalonia will follow.
Today there are six Greek geoparks that belong to UNESCO’s network: the Petrified Forest of Lesvos; the Psiloritis Natural Park and the Sitia Geopark in Crete; the Chelmos–Vouraikos Geopark; the Vikos–Aoos National Park; and the Grevena–Kozani Geopark.
How close is the inclusion of the Lavreotiki Geopark in UNESCO’s network?
The Lavreotiki Geopark covers an area of 176 km², including 40,000 stremmas in the triangle Kamariza–Souriza–Plaka, with an incredible environmental and geophysical wealth that (among other things) includes roughly 1,000 mining galleries and an equal number of shafts, and 22 geosites.
About a month and a half ago, UNESCO evaluators visited, carried out on-site inspections, and assessed all the geosites over four days—and they were amazed. Lavrio is geologically unique worldwide and hosts 12% of all minerals identified globally.
It will first be recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark, and at a second stage we will also seek inscription as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Lavrio has an extraordinary mining history spanning thousands of years and had submitted an application in 2010 to join UNESCO’s network.
Back in 2010, however, when the evaluators first came, with open shafts and litter around, it did not succeed. In Lavrio, along main roads there were open shafts and wells. We fenced off 150 shafts—dating from antiquity—that had remained open and were dangerous. Now, landfills have been cleared, roads resurfaced, the city’s appearance improved, and the shafts fenced, though there were still some remarks.
After the evaluators reviewed everything that has been done, we understand there is a 99.9% chance of approval, and we expect the decision in the second half of December.
The entire area will be upgraded and will also cater to geotourism.
With geotrails leading to the ancient Theatre of Thorikos and to the Temple of Poseidon, in my view Lavrio will rank among the five best geoparks in the world.
When will the National Geological Museum be inaugurated?
It will be completed by the end of the year and inaugurated in the second half of January 2022. In 2019, our EAGME founding law provided for a Museum of Minerals and Rocks. We decided it should be larger to accommodate the exhibits; we amended our founding law and named it the National Geological Museum, expanding it from 200 m² to 1,500 m².
The National Geological Museum is located at EAGME’s headquarters in the Olympic Village, in a separate building, and with its operation it will showcase the mineral collection held by the existing Museum of Minerals and Rocks and, through numerous modern activities, disseminate knowledge about Greece’s geological wealth.
It will include screening rooms where schools and visitors can watch films related to the environment; exhibitions of minerals, rocks, and fossils; and interactive games for children to engage with minerals and nature.
Each child will receive a case with Greek rocks to take home, and through our educational programs and activities we aim to fill the gap that exists now that geology is no longer taught in schools.
We are now an officially certified organization for the Ministry of Education, giving us the opportunity to bring children closer to geology.
What will visitors see there?
The simulations and digital experiences we are preparing are unique. There will be a moving “wagon” simulating a mining gallery in Lavrio.
We will screen short films featuring the testimonies of Lavrio’s miners, filmed in the actual galleries in Lavrio.
With VR headsets, visitors will be able to see geoparks or significant geological formations in various regions of the country.
When the Museum opens, through virtual reality visitors will see before them Lake Melissani and Drogarati Cave in Kefalonia, the Petrified Forest in Laconia, Hellenic Gold in Halkidiki, the Diros Cave, the emery mines on Naxos, the Lavrio geopark, and Meteora.
Will there be synergies with other Museums to be integrated into the National Geological Museum?
“We were approached about integrating the Geological Museum of Apeiranthos, Naxos under the umbrella— as a branch—of the National Geological Museum. Discussions are at an early stage, and we need to explore potential synergies and any legal amendments required,” noted Mr. Tsokos. This is the Museum founded and maintained by Manolis Glezos.
Since becoming a National Geological Museum, many Geological Museums across the country have asked the same and wish to join us.
Collectors also come and donate major collections or individual pieces, such as the fossil-bearing marble donated from Epidaurus.
What is your role in showcasing natural resources—using innovative methodologies?
We have highlighted most of the deposits in Greece through specialized studies and drilling, applying innovative methods to identify and utilize deposits. We are also exploring how many materials we can recover by pulverizing an electrical appliance.
What is your contribution to protecting the natural environment?
A recent example is Lake Kournas in the Municipality of Apokoronas, Crete, which is of tourist interest and of exceptional importance to the area. We were notified that the lake was losing water and drying up. Immediately, a geologist from our Rethymno branch— we have six branches across the country—rushed there and identified the swallow hole through which the water was draining.
We proposed covering it with a replenishment material, bentonite; we will monitor the phenomenon and are addressing it immediately. This is an example of a prompt and effective intervention.
Source: mononews.gr / Marina Protonotariou / Retrieval date: 22.11.21