Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site in the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany – Challenges of Geoscience Popularisation in a Complex Geoheritage Context

Despite its paleontological importance, the Messel Pit was under threat to become a waste disposal site, and its eventual designation as the first Natural World Heritage UNESCO geosite in Germany followed an intense fight in which numerous principles of geoheritage and geoscience popularization were...

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Main Authors: Marie-Luise Frey, Pascal Schmitz, Jutta Weber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OICC Press 2021-09-01
Series:Geoconservation Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://gcr.khuisf.ac.ir/article_687585_e3641fc754ed2b944e602d2132d121f4.pdf
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author Marie-Luise Frey
Pascal Schmitz
Jutta Weber
author_facet Marie-Luise Frey
Pascal Schmitz
Jutta Weber
author_sort Marie-Luise Frey
collection DOAJ
description Despite its paleontological importance, the Messel Pit was under threat to become a waste disposal site, and its eventual designation as the first Natural World Heritage UNESCO geosite in Germany followed an intense fight in which numerous principles of geoheritage and geoscience popularization were explored. The UNESCO agenda 2030 for sustainable development is the basis of current plans for the future of this extraordinary, unique geosite. The financial frame of the development and special support of the State of Hesse were crucial in establishing a visitor center. This provides a conceptual base for the Messel Pit WHS, through cooperation, exhibitions, guided tours, a variety of digital approaches in media use, leading to geotourism products and marketing activities. The challenge since March 2020 during the Sars-CoV-19 pandemic led to the development of web-based games. The new activities include a portrait series named “Deathly Paradise” and a project series of videos. Collaboration with the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald is realized in different projects. The importance of long-term collaboration between both UNESCO entities, the geosite and the geopark, provide an international best-practise example.
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spelling doaj-art-d58ce3de36cb41b4b96614db1aa994222025-02-03T00:39:25ZengOICC PressGeoconservation Research2645-46612588-73432021-09-014252454610.30486/gcr.2022.1947342.1100687585Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site in the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany – Challenges of Geoscience Popularisation in a Complex Geoheritage ContextMarie-Luise Frey0Pascal Schmitz1Jutta Weber2Welterbe Grube Messel gGmbH, Rossdörferstrasse 108, 64409 Messel, GermanyWelterbe Grube Messel gGmbH, Rossdörferstr. 108, 64409 Messel, GermanyUNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Nibelungenstraße 41, 64653 Lorsch, GermanyDespite its paleontological importance, the Messel Pit was under threat to become a waste disposal site, and its eventual designation as the first Natural World Heritage UNESCO geosite in Germany followed an intense fight in which numerous principles of geoheritage and geoscience popularization were explored. The UNESCO agenda 2030 for sustainable development is the basis of current plans for the future of this extraordinary, unique geosite. The financial frame of the development and special support of the State of Hesse were crucial in establishing a visitor center. This provides a conceptual base for the Messel Pit WHS, through cooperation, exhibitions, guided tours, a variety of digital approaches in media use, leading to geotourism products and marketing activities. The challenge since March 2020 during the Sars-CoV-19 pandemic led to the development of web-based games. The new activities include a portrait series named “Deathly Paradise” and a project series of videos. Collaboration with the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald is realized in different projects. The importance of long-term collaboration between both UNESCO entities, the geosite and the geopark, provide an international best-practise example.http://gcr.khuisf.ac.ir/article_687585_e3641fc754ed2b944e602d2132d121f4.pdfgeoparksworld heritagegeoheritageeocenegeoscience popularizationgeo-educationgeotourismpaleontology
spellingShingle Marie-Luise Frey
Pascal Schmitz
Jutta Weber
Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site in the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany – Challenges of Geoscience Popularisation in a Complex Geoheritage Context
Geoconservation Research
geoparks
world heritage
geoheritage
eocene
geoscience popularization
geo-education
geotourism
paleontology
title Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site in the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany – Challenges of Geoscience Popularisation in a Complex Geoheritage Context
title_full Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site in the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany – Challenges of Geoscience Popularisation in a Complex Geoheritage Context
title_fullStr Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site in the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany – Challenges of Geoscience Popularisation in a Complex Geoheritage Context
title_full_unstemmed Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site in the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany – Challenges of Geoscience Popularisation in a Complex Geoheritage Context
title_short Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site in the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Germany – Challenges of Geoscience Popularisation in a Complex Geoheritage Context
title_sort messel pit unesco world heritage fossil site in the unesco global geopark bergstrasse odenwald germany challenges of geoscience popularisation in a complex geoheritage context
topic geoparks
world heritage
geoheritage
eocene
geoscience popularization
geo-education
geotourism
paleontology
url http://gcr.khuisf.ac.ir/article_687585_e3641fc754ed2b944e602d2132d121f4.pdf
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