International Day for Disaster Reduction

UNESCO Global Geoparks are engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction on a daily basis. Many of these designated sites are celebrating the day as opportunity to raise awarness and empower their local communities. The list below is not exhaustive - you can also celebrate by visiting a UNESCO Global Geopark near you!
See events in: China | Germany | Greece | Hungary & Slovakia | Iceland | Indonesia | Ireland & United Kingdom | Italy | Japan | Malaisia | Norway | Spain | Thailand | Viet Nam 

China

Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 12-13 October 2018
Venue: Guangdong
On 12 October, public lectures on typhoons and geological hazards will be held at the Meeting Hall of Tianjiabing Primary School.
On 13 October, young volunteers will introduce the main concepts of disaster risk reduction and expalin the impacts of climate change on natural hazards and associated risks at the Danxiashan Museum
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Huangshan UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Geopark Museum in Huangshan
Exhibition on Disaster Knowledge for the Public:
Huangshan Geopark Museum is the Prevention and disaster education centre of Huangshan City. This year, the museum organizes an exhibition on disaster knowledge, presenting past and potential disasters that may occure in Huangshan and how people can protect themselves. The museum's staff will be on site to explain and answer question, and brochures will also be distributed.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Leiqiong UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Huguangyan Scenic Area
Educational activities under the theme  "Reducing disaster losses and creating a better life" will be launched by the geopark’s experts. Visitors will learn about self-protection, mutual medical aid and earthquake prevention and disaster reduction knowledge.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Lushan UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 12 October 2018
Venue: Lushan Elementary School
During this day, school teachers will give lectures on natural hazards and present scientific popularization books and booklets.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Yanqing UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Yanqing Global Geopark Museum
Geopark staff will give knowledge trainings followed by a fire scenario simulation for emergency rescue and evacuation, in order to empower visitors to protect themselves from forest fires and ensure their safety. Lectures on lessons learned from geological disasters in the region, such as mudslides and landslides, are organized to raise awareness about disaster prevention and mitigation as well as self-protection.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Germany

Swabian Alb UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Nature reserve “Landslide Mössingen”
Guided thematic tours on landslides and earthquakes in the UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb for general public.
More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Greece

Chelmos Vouraikos UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Diakopto
One day event to inform the local community about the potential natural hazards in the area of the Geopark, associated risks, and how they can protect themselves, to minimize the risks of disasters and reduce their costs.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 12 - 13 October 2018
Venue: Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest (Sigri, Lesvos Island, Greece)
Natural processes in our Planet. Understanding earthquakes:
The Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark in launching an experiential educational programme “Natural processes in our Planet. Let’s familiarize ourselves with earthquakes”. It aims to raise awareness, to inform and prepare for potential earthquakes and to familiarize local residents with the protection measures. The programme underscores that the more prepared we are regarding anti-seismic protection issues, the more effectively we can deal with the effects of an earthquake.
The programme includes simulating large and destructive earthquakes occurring in several places around the world using the earthquake simulator of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, and the appropriate protection measures. Experiencing the seismic motion on the earthquake simulator and becoming more familiar with the earthquake phenomenon contributes to lowering the feeling of panic and raising awareness of what to do to deal with the seismic hazard.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13-14 October 2018
Venue: 13 October: NHMC, public talk, Interactive exhibition, Earthquake simulator
           14 October: Heraklion Town Hall, Travelling exhibition & training activities for children
Knowledge and information: the only weapons against disasters
The Natural History Museum of University of Crete, main partner of the Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark,  is going to organize public events for the citizens of the capital of Heraklion and visitors, focusing on the main hazards of Crete, i.e. earthquakes, tsunamis, forest fires, and floods using educative material and outcomes of former Civil Protection projects. A public talk with free entrance to earthquake simulator will take place on the 13/10 at NHMC and public activities for children associated with a mobile exhibition will be hosted at the yard of the Town hall on the 14/10.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Sitia UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 22 October 2018
Presentations and field activities on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction.  
More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Hungary & Slovakia

Novohrad-Nógrád UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13-14 October 2018
Venue: Ipolytarroc Fossils
IDDR at the Miocene Park:
Guided tours at the cross-border Hungary & Slovakia trails.  
More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Iceland

Katla UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 12-13 October 2018
Venue: Vík í Mýrdal
Katla´s eruption in 1918 and its impact on the nature and society during and after the eruption: conference and filed trip
What would the consequences of Katla‘s eruption be in today‘s society?
100 years have passed since the eruption began in Katla volcano that underlies the Mýrdalsjökull Ice Cap. The eruption caused a massive glacial outburst flood and produced huge amounts of ash that spread over 60.000 km² around Iceland. The centennial will be commemorated with a conference focusing on its impact on the environment and society in Southern Iceland. On 12 October, lectures will be given by a national array of experts and scientists in the field of natural sciences with leading research experience of Katla and great familiarity of the influence the volcano had on the surrounding landscape, natural environment and human population. On 13 October, a field trip will give scientists an opportunity to explain in the field what effect the eruption had on the landscape.
The University of Iceland, The Icelandic Meteorological Office, The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration are involved in the lectures, and first hand accounts from people who experienced the eruption will be presented. In addition, volcanic monitoring methods will be explained and demonstrated with the tools and equipment used by the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Lectures will be in Icelandic and everyone is welcome. The conference is free!
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Indonesia

Rinjani-Lombok UNESCO Global Geopark  
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Tanjung District, North Lombok
How to live in harmony with geohazard
Following the series of earthquakes that took place last month, the Geopark is working together with the Mataram University, Lingkungan Tanpa Batas Foundation, Indonesian Geologist Association of Nusa Tenggara and many volunteers to develop a project on hills conservation for disaster resilience. The project is being implemented in villages of West Lombok and East Lombok sonce 29 September 2018. On 6 October 2018 there will be discussion about “Adapting to Geohazards”. This project aims to reinforce the terracing of the hills by planting many species of Bamboo to avoid rockfall, landslides or flash flooding; the bamboo itself can be used as a building material for earthquake resistant housing. Below the terracing, the local community plans to de develop agricultural activities to improve hteir food security and supplement their income.
A workshop on “How to live in harmony with geohazards” will be held on 13 October. It si organized in collaboration with the government, universities, local communities and other institutions. The event will take place at the most affected area (by the earthquake) in the geopark and two other areas within geopark. The workshop will be an opportunity share and discuss basic geological knowledge, geohazards potential in Rinjani-Lombok, how to prepare for natural disasters and ensure safety and food security, and will include for games children.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Ireland & United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 16-17 October 2018
Peatlands and People in the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark:
On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, the staff of the Geopark will organize site visits and group discussions on the peatlands ecosystems and associated risk.
More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Italy

Alpi Apuani UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Mt.Corchia area (Stazzema - Lucca)
Be aware! - Trails equipped with warning signs:
Guided field trip along the n. 9 Italian Alpine Club trail with description of landslides and debris flows. New warning signs installed to inform and reduce the risks associated with hydrogeological hazard will be presented.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Japan

Aso UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 14 October 2018
Venue:  Minami-Aso village
Disaster reduction promotion activity at a hula event:
Aso Geoguide Association will organize at a hula event held in Minami-Aso village. The event celebrates the coming together of hula instructors from Aso and Hawaii, both of which share volcano deities, following the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, and is held to support the recovery of the area.  Aso geo-guide members will animate an information booth to answer questions and raise the awareness of ways to reduce the risks of disasters.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Muroto Global Geopark Center
Special Lecture on Disaster Reduction Measures against the Nankai Earthquake:
Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark is located at the southeast part of Kochi, Shikoku, Japan, only 120 km away from the Nankai Trough. The Japanese government revised its estimation of a major earthquake in Nankai Trough from 70% to between 70 and 80% in the next 30 years. The special lecture, therefore, will tell local inhabitants how they should prepare for the coming earthquake and tsunami.
This special lecture on disaster reduction is jointly held by Muroto Geopark Promotion Committee and Muroto City Tourist Guide Association, a local geo-guide group. Local geo-guides are not only guides but also conveyers of the importance of disaster reduction against earthquakes and tsunamis. The lecture is open to all.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Nishiyama-foot Trail and Toyako Tourist Information Center
Volcano Meister as an Interpreter of Disaster Risk Reduction:
Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark is certifying local residents who can tell the history of eruptions and disasters of Usu volcano as Volcano Meister (or experts). Many Meisters are also involved in geopark guide activities, and play a role not only in disaster prevention but also in explaining the features of the geopark and its many charms. Over the past ten years, forty-eight Meisters have been certified. They give lectures, serve as field tour guides, write guide-books, etc. The number of applicants for Meister certification is growing more and more each year. The 11th certification examination of the Toya-Usu Volcano Meister will take place on 13 October this year, and a public event will mark the 10th anniversary of the certification system.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Malaisia

Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 10-14 October 2018
Venue: Kelibang Primary School, Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark
Langkawi geopark scout camping programme and nature disaster awareness programme:
About 400 student-scouts from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand will participate in this event. They will camp in Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark for four days and learn about Geopark, its environment, and potential risks; they will be involved in interactive trainings on self-protection from natural hazards and risks of disasters.
Website | More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Norway

Gea Norvegica UNESCO Global Geopark
Date: 13 October 2018
Venue: Geopark Visitors center
The Gea Norvegica visitors centre opens its doors and welcomes to visit an exhibition “The Oslo Earthquake”.
More information about the UNESCO Global Geopark

Spain