CORE Associated Communities

Livadia (Greece) The Cultural Association of Livadia was established in the 60s as an initiative of twenty local families. Located in the village of Livadia, in a remote mountainous area of Mylopotamos which is part of the Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark in Crete. The island of Crete is located on the southern island arc of the Aegean Sea, the most seismically active area in Greece. Balloon Latam (Chile) Since 2024, Balloon Latam has been working for the sustainable development of the Elqui River Basin through a participatory approach that fosters resilience and relevance to achieve lasting results. After a year of promoting development based on rural entrepreneurs in the basin, we now focus our efforts on uniting them around the water crisis, a critical issue for the basin and the country. Tungurahua Volcano (Ecuador) Considering the current situation worldwide, our CORE laboratory allows collaboration in disaster risk reduction considering topics on natural phenomena, mainly volcanic, seismic and geomorphological, since it allows the implementation of strategies for risk reduction based on the application of public policies, development of mitigation, contingency and restoration plans, thus promoting the implementation of strategies and programs for disaster risk reduction. Mourne Gullion Strangford (Ireland-UK) The Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark is a captivating region where geology, nature and culture intertwine to tell the story of our planet’s dynamic past. Spanning over 400 million years, this landscape showcases the dramatic closure of the ancient Iapetus Ocean and the birth of the North Atlantic, events that have sculpted its unique terrain. Karawanken (Austria-Slovenia) The Geopark Karawaken UNESCO Global Geopark is one of 5 cross-border Geoparks worldwide and is formed by 14 municipalities, 5 on the Slovenian side and 9 on the Austrian side. It is characterised by the Karawanken mountain range, with peaks up to 2100 metres above sea level. Kimolos (Greece) Kimolos island, in the Cyclades, Greece, covers an area of 36 km2, with bays, small islands, sandy and rocky beaches, numerous sea caves, and the Natura island of Polyaigos. The Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades in conjunction with the Municipality of Kimolos and its Mayor Mr. Kostas Ventouris, https://www.kimolos.gr/en wish to collaborate in a partnership with our organization towards its restoration. The main goal is to raise awareness of the Medieval Castle’s historical value and increase support for its preservation project. Cyclades Unified organization has developed a range of events to be held in recognition of the efforts made, in realizing the project. Years ago the Kimolistes volunteer team transformed the Castle into a cultural destination with free screenings of the awarded open-air cinema Cine Kalisperitis, https://www.kimolistes.com/ Our two-year plan comprises a series of events for students: a drawing competition, Storytelling series with the old islanders whose houses are part of the outer Castle. Tracking down the religious celebrations of the oldest church of Kimolos, attached in the inner Castle area, The Birth of Christ (1592), and of Osia Methodia (1961), the protector of the island with countless miracles. A digital campaign destined to tourists worldwide who have a precious memory to hold from their visit to the Castle with a short note to create a digital book. © CYCLADES UNIFIED Ngo (Associated Partner) Terras de Cavaleiros (Portugal) The Geopark Terras de Cavaleiros coincides with the geographical limits of the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros, approximately 700km2. Combining a notable geological and landscape diversity that gives it a world-renowned scientific character, the Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark has as its main objective its geotourism enhancement. GEOfood network (Norway) GEOfood is cooperating with producers and restaurants, research institutions, schools, managers from UNESCO Global Geoparks territories, supporting the resilience of local communities in regards to local food and agricultural issues due to climate change and globalization. GEOfood is working with small medium enterprises in Geoparks to strengthen the territories awareness on local resources, and increase the local cooperation between enterprises and Geoparks. GEOfood is catalyzing initiatives all around the World, where local communities exchange good practices, empower local commitment for sustainable development, and promote the application of kmzero food practices. Valencia (Spain) Valencia Local Police (PLV) has a critical interest in floods due to the catastrophic flash flood in November 2024. This event resulted in >200 deaths and immense economic damage, exposing urgent needs for better emergency management. Key shortcomings included inter-agency coordination and real-time situational awareness. As a result, PLV is heavily invested in improving flood response. The LEAD-PRO project’s Pilot 2 is focused on a Valencia flood emergency. This pilot seeks to evaluate technologies for enhanced early warning, real-time data collection, improved stakeholder coordination, and better flood mitigation. PLV’s participation aims to optimize resource allocation, improve evacuation procedures, and enhance communication. We think that synergies could be created from both LEAD-PRO and the RESILIAGE project. PROURB (Brazil) The Urban Ecology Laboratory (LEUr) is one of the research groups that is part of the Postgraduate Programme in Urbanism (PROURB) at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. It carries out various research and extension projects related to precarious settlements, mainly from a socio-climatic perspective, in the context of socio-economic inequalities in Latin America, with special attention to the most vulnerable groups: the elderly, children and black populations. Studies on waterfront projects, refugee research, slum issues and other topics are also carried out by LEUr members. For this project we are working with the collaboration of the Laboratory of Urban Analysis and Digital Representation (LAURD/PROURB) to help develop visualizations of historic processes of occupation and climate change issues on these territories. PROURB stands out for its international presence, for the quality of the scientific production of its teachers and students, expressed in awards, qualified publications and the nucleation of its graduates. It is worth noting that PROURB is the highest ranked postgraduate programme in the areas of architecture and urbanism in Brazil. Hateg (Romania) Hațeg Country UNESCO Global Geopark is a unique territory where geological, ecological, and cultural heritage intersect, creating a dynamic space for education, conservation, and community-driven development. Home to the famous dwarf dinosaur fossils from the Late Cretaceous, the geopark also features diverse landscapes shaped by millions of years of geological history. Beyond scientific research, it actively involves local communities in sustainable tourism, traditional crafts, and educational initiatives. Schools, volunteers, and local businesses collaborate on programs that promote regional identity, environmental awareness, and economic resilience. Through partnerships with local authorities and NGOs, the geopark supports ecotourism, heritage conservation, and youth engagement. By integrating education with real-world applications, it empowers residents to protect their environment while benefiting from sustainable development, transforming the geopark into a living laboratory of innovation and cultural revitalization. © University of Bucharest - Hateg Country UNESCO Global Geopark (Associated Partner) Reserva Cerro Plateado (Ecuador) The CORE Associated Laboratory is a space for innovation and collaboration that promotes socio-ecological resilience in vulnerable territories. Through applied research, environmental monitoring and the integration of local and scientific knowledge, the laboratory supports climate change adaptation strategies and sustainable ecosystem management. Its interdisciplinary approach strengthens evidence-based decision-making, promoting innovative solutions for the conservation and restoration of protected areas such as the Cerro Plateado Biological Reserve. CORE facilitates networking among researchers, communities, environmental managers and local stakeholders, fostering the co-creation of knowledge and the development of digital tools for environmental governance. From this space, replicable models are generated for the resilient management of the territory, integrating emerging technologies and participatory methodologies. Zabrze (Poland) The Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze is one of the largest and most frequently visited industrial heritage facilities in Poland, well-known throughout Europe. In 2019, the Museum was awarded the Europa Nostra prize for the revitalization of Queen Luiza Adit. In 2024, the Museum became part of 10 best practices in Triple Transformations of cultural heritage of the European Heritage Hub, while a project called “Digitalization of the Silesian regional mining heritage” received a ECTN Award 2024. The mission of the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze is to achieve scientific, cultural, educational and tourist goals through the preservation, revitalization and adaptation of industrial heritage – for the sustainable development of the region. The Silesian Voivodeship faces significant socio-economic risks: the rapid liquidation of mines, instability, unemployment or weakened community cohesion. Key natural threats include mine-induced seismic events, emission of gases, flooding, and land subsidence in abandoned mines, leading to sudden landfalls or infrastructure damage. The local mining communities are actively involved in the Mining Documentation Hub (est. in 2018), carrying on intangible heritage, traditions, or digitally documented buildings and undergrounds. Active participation of depositaries is a crucial part of intergenerational communication, combined with modern technologies. The transferability of Museum’s case study is reflected by the Anchor Point status of the ERIH network. Casicea (Romania) Happy Yurt is in the Shorai Valley that flows east to west into the Danube across Dobrudja, the land weaving European and Asian geography, history, and mythical flavors. The vale is sometimes called The Path of Tatar Poets and Cheshme… ‘Cheshme’ means ‘spring’ or ‘freshwater source’. ‘Shorai’ is a fearsome territorial, at times charismatic nocturnal mammal endemic to Eurasia. Its name suggests two etymological origins: ‘frightful’ and ‘half.’ There is clear evidence that Shorai populations have dropped in our region. Meanwhile, studies show that the decrease in this species increases the risk of drought, floods, and wildfires. Courel (Galicia, Spain) COUREL is located in inland Galicia, in a remote mountainous area that forms part of both a UNESCO geopark (2017) and a biosphere reserve (2019). Over the past decades, the region has experienced larger-scale wildfires, with the most recent in 2022 being the second most devastating in Spain’s history—though our headquarters remain more than two kilometers away from the affected zone. Within the RESILIAGE project, the Novoneyra Foundation aims to mitigate the risk of wildfires and other emerging threats, such as increasingly frequent cyclogenesis events that bring heavy rains and winds, as well as low-intensity earthquakes originating from the Samos and Triacastela faults. To achieve this, traditional wisdom is harnessed through ancestral techniques, including the maintenance and cleaning of the peripheral ring of chestnut groves, among other practices to be conserved and recovered. These measures have proven effective in fostering resilience in both the environment and the local community, serving as a model for international application. Imbabura (Ecuador) In the Imbabura UNESCO Global Geopark, there are various Heritage elements that can be leveraged as tools for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), especially in rural and indigenous contexts. These elements are part of everyday life and reflect territorial wisdom accumulated over generations.