The park was recognized by UNESCO in 2012 with an area of nearly 900 square kilometers, spreading over 62 communes with more than 150,000 inhabitants and constitutes a cohesive territory a geographical, geological and administrative point of view. It is located in the Haute-Savoie region, France, on the border with Switzerland, extending the southern edge of Lake Geneva to the north of the Mont-Blanc mountain. It is an important component of the hydrological basin Geneva lake (Switzerland).

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Education and sustainable development

A wide range of learning and research topics with a wide audience: students of ages (3 to 19 years old), university students and the general public. Based on the school curriculum, the “pedagogical” center annually offers a portfolio of field trips (full day or half day) and day trips.

Sustainable development through geotourism and geoheritage: two topics to explore are history of the formation of the Alps and glaciations in the Quaternary period. Natural Heritage includes Biodiversity Reserve, Direct Traces of Human Presence in Chablais 12,000 years ago. Human heritage in the heart of Chablais, three kind of cheeses are awarded as Appellation d'Origine Protégée(AOP), four AOP wines such as Crépy, Marignan, Marin and Ripaille, 720 km across the French Alps north to south through 17 mountain passes, six of which are over 2,000 meters high, Thonon-les-Bains (on Geneva Lake) to Nice.

Activities of CHABLAIS UNESCO Global Geopark: “Geoparks are above all not a matter of experts. By promoting the preservation and enhancement of geological sites, it will contribute to the economic and tourist development of Chablais. It is a real tool for sustainable development,” said Jean-Pierre FILLION, President of SIAC, the Intercommunal Planning Authority du Chablais, responsible for the management and development of the Chablais Geopark

Education and training: Directory of pedagogical documents for primary and secondary school teachers; calling for educational projects for elementary and high school students on specific topics, with the support of the Geopark's guides; many ERASMUS+ projects with Italian and Finnish students.

Fairy chimneys

          Research and conservation: an independent and voluntary scientific panel; awareness workshops that allow the Geopark to act as a bridge between the public and the scientific advances of the region; Doctoral thesis award to identify Chablais-related research in various fields of study.

          Networking and Collaboration: Being represented in various Geoparks network committees: participating in national, European and global organizations, to share their actions and skills to contribute brand promotion. Welcoming delegations Geoparks around the world and students in the framework of the ERASMUS+ program. Tourism: Geopark Week: May to June every year “Journey to the (almost) known land”; Science Festival; themed guided tours. Geotourism at CHABLAIS UNESCO Global Geopark: Nature tourism in which tourists will learn the geological features of the sites to be visited. Tourism is related to the exploration of the Earth.

Pham Huong