Vogelsberg Volcanic Region is a National Geopark!

The Vogelsberg Volcano Region Geopark is now the 17th National Geopark in Germany and the fourth in Hesse to receive this award. "This is an important step for the image of the Vogelsberg, which we have been working towards together for a long time. We are delighted about this award, because it gives us a boost to underpin our unique selling point 'volcanism and life' even more with high-quality offers", comments District Administrator Manfred Goerig on the award. "Not to forget: For our own perception and identity, we as Vogelsberger can be proud that a committee of experts has awarded us this seal of approval.

In a multi-stage process consisting of a written application, a tour of the geopark area and a final presentation to the committee of the Certification Commission National Geopark, the Vogelsberg was able to convince the jury that it could bear this title for the next five years. The totality of the offers from the geological foundations in the largest volcanic area in Central Europe, the natural environment with geotopes and natural monuments, the landscape design, the presentation of the geological inventory for visitors and last but not least the information centers such as the Vulkaneum Schotten or the nature experience exhibition Hoherodskopf were the basis for this positive decision.

District Administrator Goerig: "This was only possible due to the great commitment of many actors in the full-time and voluntary sector, each in his own field and with his knowledge of local circumstances. My sincere thanks for this". Associations and initiatives such as the Erzweggruppe in Muecke and Gruenberg, the Vogelsberg section of the DVG, the Steinbruchfreunde in Michelnau, the Initiativgruppe in Eichelsachsen and also the Geo- and Nature Park Guides with their nature experience hikes and environmental education are only a few examples of how the volcanic region with its many facets could be presented in the application. Since the Geopark was founded in 2013, the goal was to establish itself as a National Geopark. It was only possible to score points with the achievement of the milestones Vulkaneum, new conception of the Hoherodskopf Information Center, creation of numerous geotours, designation of geotopes as natural monuments and increasing presence of the Geopark in the public. The whole effort was flanked by marketing measures and investments of the region Vogelsberg tourism, the nature park Vulkanregion and the municipalities.

Managing Director Hartmut Greb and geoscientist Christina Plass see the title as an opportunity to raise awareness for the Vogelsberg as the largest volcanic area and to increase the level of popularity throughout Germany. "We have thus arrived in a different league, to put it in sporting terms. The community of National Geoparks offers much greater opportunities in marketing and exchange".

The title is both an incentive and a challenge at the same time to continue to deal intensively with the topic in the coming years and to use the geological and tourist potential to make the general public aware of the geological and natural treasures in the volcanic region. The aim is to expand and improve awareness of the geological heritage and also to draw attention to its protection and vulnerability. To this end, tourist forces are to be bundled in order to develop the volcanic region as a unique natural and cultural landscape as a whole. Plans and goals for the next few years already exist, for example the organization of the Geotope-Conference in May 2021 in Schotten, to present the volcanic region to a wider audience of experts.

Further information under:

www.nationaler-geopark.de
www.geoparks-in-deutschland.de