Chapter List

Introduction

Geoparks have been promoted in Germany since the beginning of the 1990s, especially in the Vulkaneifel region. Their institution is a direct result of geological public relations work. Under this general heading a new sector called 'geotourism' developed gradually in the Eifel region, out of the link between geological knowledge transfer activities and the tourist industry (Frey et al., 2002). The key geopark elements are especially evident in this sector and they form the basis for the local strategy, which can be applied at a range of levels regional, national, international and global. This strategy is explained in the following sections, using exemplary data and results as well as perspectives for a sustainable future from the Geopark Gerolstein, and concept and projects realized within the Geopark Vulkaneifel.

To understand better the approach taken, which leads to a special geopark profile, it is necessary to explain the chronological development of the Vulkaneifel, since this reveals the decision-making processes required for creating perspectives relating to sustainability. In this case, the decisions were not made on a purely geoscientific level but involved a close association between decision-makers from politics and business, scientists and regional managers. In order to clarify this aspect, this chapter will present the experience gained with the 'learning by doing' implementation in the...