The dossier concerning the application of Azores Geopark for the Global and European Geoparks Network will be delivered by the Board of the GEOAÇORES Association to the Ambassador of Portugal to UNESCO next Tuesday.

This delivery took place a day after a copy of that application dossier was also delivered to the Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea, Álamo Meneses, in Horta.

The Autonomous Region of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, is one of five founding members of GEOAÇORES, a private, non-profit association, based in Horta, whose main mission is to carry out the management of the Azores Geopark.

The Regional Government considers the creation and implementation of the Azores Geopark as a structuring project for the Region and for that reason this initiative was included in its Programme for 2008-2012.

The future integration of the Azores Geopark European into the Geoparks Network is regarded as an opportunity to strengthen the links between the geology, volcanic landscapes, biodiversity and cultural values, including the Azoreans.

For the GEOAÇORES officials, this holistic and integrative approach enhances synergies and brings an additional stimulus for all parties involved in the project, including partners of Geopark, schools, companies and investors, particularly from the tourism sector, as well as local artisans and producers.

Under the motto "9 islands - one Geopark", the Azores application presents itself as innovative, insofar as it will be the first truly archipelagic territory: all nine islands are comprised by the Geopark; they are populated and have infrastructures and services to ensure the development of the Geopark activities.

Furthermore, the geographic location of the Azores, amid the European and American continents, has made this Atlantic territory into a true "bridge between two continents."

In addition to the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the other members of GEOAÇORES - Azores Geopark Association are: ASDEPR - Association for the Development of Rural Promotion, ARDE - Association for Development, ADELIAÇOR - Association for Local Development of Islands Azores and GRATER - Association for Regional Development.