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CHALLENGE OF GEOPARK IN PROTECTED AREA: AN EXAMPLE OF SILICA PLATEAU AS PART OF PROPOSED SILICA GEOPARK IN SLOVAK KARST NATIONAL PARK
Abstract
Between geoparks and protected areas occur some differences. Geoparks represent a complementary rather than competitive concept to nature protection. The theory of geoparks considers not only the protection of geological heritage with support for their understanding, education but also promote sustainable socio-economic and cultural development by geotourism. In this context, we referred to the feasible prospects of geoparks in protected areas on the example of Silica Plateau, one of the areas of the proposed Silica Geopark. Silica Plateau overlaps the area of the Slovak Karst National Park, in the south of Slovakia. First, we presented the geodiversity and geoheritage of the Silica Plateau. Due to the high geodiversity, the territory has geosites and geodiversity sites representing several typologies (geological, speleological, geomorphological, and hydrogeological). Furthermore, the balance of conservation geodiversity versus conservation biodiversity was also examined, because geodiversity and geoheritage are still poorly incorporated in nature protection in Slovakia. Finally, the relationship of the geopark, protected area, and local development was discussed, because the socio-economic situation of the given region is relatively not so utilized in comparison with the neighboring regions, despite its existence of national park and a high diversity of cave types and morphology that became part of the UNESCO World Heritage. This study aimed to address how the establishment of geopark might represent a good opportunity for a protected area to achieve geoconservation of its resources and at the same time to support the sustainable development of its areas.
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