Fundy Cliffs Face UNESCO Inspection
The Parrsboro Shore between Apple River and Debert may be dotted with small, tight-knit communities, but it has big things in store.
The team behind the Cliffs of Fundy Aspiring Global Geopark is hard at work preparing for an international team of evaluators from UNESCO. A successful evaluation means a UNESCO Global Geopark designation for the area next Spring, making it Nova Scotia’s only Geopark.
The initiative brings together many different stakeholders - a representative from Joggins Fossil Institute, from Energy and Mines, and community members. Cumberland and Colchester Municipalities are working together on the project, with Cumberland District 10 Councillor Don Fletcher serving as Chair of the Geopark Society with Colchester County Mayor Christine Blair as Vice-Chair.
The UNESCO evaluators, from Greece and Spain, are expected in late July. They will tour the area for three days, following an itinerary that best shows off the area’s scenic geology and attractions.
The evaluation is the final step to UNESCO designation, which will give the region’s geological heritage a global platform and mark the shoreline as a destination for adventure tourists.
Anne Grabinsky, owner-operator of Nova Shores Kayaking Adventures in Advocate Harbour, has long supported the Geopark for its potential to highlight the area to international tourists. She says, “This is our chance to bring people from all over the world to this great area. The Geopark will create so much opportunity for businesses and tour providers in the region.”
A dozen sites throughout Cumberland/Colchester will see developments to infrastructure, education programming, and promotion to visitors. Plans call for the expansion in the number of sites each year.
The project was further bolstered by MP Bill Casey’s April announcement that Isle Haute, included in Cliffs of Fundy’s list of geosites, is receiving a Federal Wilderness Preserve designation.
Cliffs of Fundy Society Chair Don Fletcher is proud of the work done to date and excited for the future. He says, “The upcoming evaluation is our one chance to showcase our natural rugged coastline, prove our place on the world stage, and show off our ability to collaborate.” In typical Fletcher fashion he added, “We will succeed!”
For more information, visit fundygeopark.ca.
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