Discovery Geopark, situated on the northern part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Bonavista Peninsula, has successfully retained its Global Geopark status certified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The park originally achieved international recognition in 2020 due to its remarkable rock formations and fossil discoveries. However, in June, there was a potential risk of losing its prestigious designation following recommendations from UNESCO.
UNESCO conducts comprehensive evaluations every four years by sending independent assessors for a multiday on-site inspection. The evaluators assign a green, yellow, or red card to signify the park’s standing.
A green card indicates a park’s status renewal, while a yellow card implies a two-year window for implementing necessary changes to avoid receiving a red card, which would lead to loss of status.
To address UNESCO’s concerns, Discovery Geopark had to address various aspects such as securing stable funding and staffing, devising a staff succession plan, enhancing signage at inland geo sites, updating logos, improving access and visitor safety measures, and aligning tourism promotion efforts with partners.
The park was originally recognized in 2020 for its exceptional Ediacaran fossils, some of which are accessible from the Port Union boardwalk, dating back approximately 560 million years and representing some of the earliest multicellular organisms on Earth.
Following the implementation of the recommended improvements, Discovery Geopark successfully regained its green card status during a recent evaluation in Chile. It stands as one of Canada’s five geoparks and is among the 229 global geoparks recognized by UNESCO.
