Tue. May 24, 2016 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM A01 (APA HOTEL&RESORT TOKYO BAY MAKUHARI)

Convener:*Setsuya Nakada(Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo), Mahito Watanabe(Institute of Geology and Geoinformation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), Kuniyasu Mokudai(Pro Natura Foundation Japan), Yoshiki Saito(Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), Chair:Abhik Chakraborty(Izu Peninsula Geopark), Kuniyasu Mokudai(Pro Natura Foundation Japan)

The Global Geoparks Program that started in the 1990s as an initiative to foster protection and sustainable use of the planet's geoheritage will be merged with the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP), a UNESCO initiative to promote research on geology, in the upcoming UNESCO General Conference in 2015. A new international initiative, the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) will result out of this merger. In this session we will conduct an evaluation of the achievements of the existing Geoparks and IGCP programs and provide insight on the initiative of IGGP. The session will also feature discussion on the interrelationship between Earth Sciences and Society.