- Thirteen free activities were carried out to promote the UNESCO Global Geopark Orígens.
- The activities were framed under the theme of Climate Change.
- This year’s edition coincided with World Environment Day and the celebration of the tenth anniversary of Dinosfera.
European Geoparks Week is an annual festival held simultaneously across Europe. Its aim is to raise awareness of geoconservation and the promotion of geological heritage, by organising geotourism, environmental preservation and educational activities in the different Geoparks.
This year, Orígens Geopark celebrated the ninth edition of this festival between May 23 and June 8. Throughout these days, thirteen free activities were proposed aimed at disseminating the Orígens Geopark and its heritage. The almost 300 participants were able to enjoy technical talks, interpreted outings, activities to preserve natural and cultural values, family and children’s activities, workshops in schools and institutes and guided tours of exhibitions.
Under the theme of Climate Change, this year’s edition featured several activities that invited participants to reflect on the current climate crisis, and how geology helps us understand the past to face the future. Talks and guided tours were given on the theme of the climate challenge during prehistory in the Espai Orígens and the Roca dels Bous (Camarasa), with nearly 30 participants. In addition, around fifty people enjoyed different talks and interpretive outings on the effect of Climate Change on bird migration (Camarasa), the availability of water (Areny-Montsec aquifer, Basturs), and monumental trees (Castell de Mur). On the other hand, some participants were able to learn about geology, nature, history and landscape, along a route through the Collegats gorge, to the troglodytic monastery of Sant Pere de les Maleses. We also highlight two talks accompanied by field visits that brought together more than forty participants, focused on the effects of climate change on the cultivation of olive trees (Aramunt) and vineyards (Orcau) in the territory.
This year’s celebration also served to commemorate two special dates. On the one hand, on World Environment Day (June 5), a reforestation of an amphibian pond in Salàs de Pallars was carried out. On the other hand, on June 8, the Dinosfera (Coll de Nargó) celebrated the tenth anniversary of the museum’s inauguration. The day, with around forty participants, included a talk on Climate Change in the Age of Dinosaurs, and other educational activities.
In the educational field, the European Geoparks Week has included a school activity carried out at the INS La Pobla de Segur and the Andreu Farran School – ZER Montsec (Àger), where nearly 60 students were able to learn about the Sustainable Development Goals, putting into practice the knowledge learned through the resolution of challenges. In addition, the youngest were able to participate in the Story Time: The Refugee, at the Maria Barbal Public Library (Tremp).
Finally, the program has included an activity common to the Geoparks Week programs of all the Geoparks in Spain called Geoparqueando. In the case of Orígens Geopark, this has materialized with an interpreted geology, flora and fauna outing to the Puig de Meià.