The EGTC Geopark Karawanken/Karavanke includes 14 municipalities, 9 on Austrian (Zell/Sele, Gallizien, Bad Eisenkappel-Vellach/Železna Kapla-Bela, Sittersdorf, Globasnitz/Globasnica, Feistritz ob Bleiburg/Bistrica nad Pliberkom, Bleiburg/Pliberk, Neuhaus, Lavamünd) and 5 on Slovenian side (Črna na Koroškem, Mežica, Prevalje, Ravne na Koroškem, Dravograd) and extends over an area of 1,067 km2 with a population of 53,000 residents.
It is located between two Alpine mountains that exceed 2,000 metres: the Petzen/Peca and the Koschuta/Košuta and is marked by very rich geological variety between the Alps and Dinarides.
Since March 2013 the geopark is a member of the European (EGN) and Global (GGN) Geoparks Network, in November 2015 it became an UNESCO Global Geopark.
The main objectives of the EGTC Geopark Karawanken/Karavanke are:
- conservation of geological and natural resources, and the cultural and natural heritage in the territory of its members - 14 municipalities,
- fostering of awareness, information and education about and in the Geopark, the European and Global Geoparks Network and its positioning as a Geopark,
- the economic development of the Geopark, including through sustainable tourism and
- general cross-border cooperation, development and local political coordination, representation of interests of the entire region in terms of sustainable regional policy.
Challenges:
- differences in national and regional competences may slow down the functioning of the EU funded projects
- to make the inhabitants aware of the potential of an EGTC
- poor crossborder mobility
- natural disasters – appearing twice a year; missing coordination concerning crossborder interventions and communication
Budget (2020):
90.000 € consisting of the annual obligatory membership fees and tourist offers income
