Photo: Popular mountain bike Mondays are organized weekly in Kankaanpää and its surrounding areas. Photo: Juha Rantanen / Sataelämysta.
Lauhanvuori–Hämeenkangas Geopark will receive UNESCO Global Geopark status and become part of a global network of 160 Geoparks. The Geopark is a joint brand of internationally significant geological sites and is expected to increase tourism in the area.
The Geopark area is located on the border of Southern Ostrobothnia, Satakunta and Pirkanmaa. The Geopark municipalities include Kauhajoki, Isojoki, Karijoki, Kankaanpää, Karvia, Honkajoki, Jämijärvi, Siikainen, Parkano and Kihniö. Lauhanvuori-Hämeenkangas Geopark became Finland's second UNESCO Global Geopark after Rokua.
A prerequisite for a Geopark is a significant geological heritage that has influenced the development of the area's nature and culture. The main geological theme of the Lauhanvuori–Hämeenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark describes the development of the landscape from ancient mountains to the present-day Finnish landscape.
Geopark at the forefront of nature marketing
Director of Economic Development of the City of Kankaanpää Marko Rajamäki is excited about gaining the status.
– Geopark status now offers us a new kind of platform, a brand to support the marketing of our area, which acts as a distinguishing factor from other rural and nature tourism areas in our country. Beautiful nature and silence can be found everywhere – here we are now offering it in a new way. With the experienced and still present corona pandemic, local and nature tourism has experienced a unique boost – it is now worth taking advantage of it, Rajamäki says.
The most popular attractions in the Geopark area are Kivijata and Spitaalijärvi in Lauhanvuori National Park, Kauhaneva and Katikankanjoni in Kauhaneva–Pohjankangas National Park, and the Hämeenkangas springs. The area's extensive range of tourist services is compiled on the Lhgeopark.fi website.
Behind the scenes, extensive cooperation that has continued for years
For years, the municipalities have been developing the area towards membership in the UNESCO Global Geopark network in close cooperation with Metsähallitus, the Natural Resources Institute Finland, companies, associations, residents, and numerous other partners.
– Preparing for the application for Geopark status has required extensive development of the area, comprehensive cooperation, investments and inventories, making choices and a long-term commitment to the continuous development and maintenance of the Geopark also in the future, lists the executive director of the Lauhanvuori–Hämeenkangas Geopark Association Terttu Hermansson.
– As individual municipalities, we would not have the opportunity to invest sufficiently in the development of tourism – together with the municipalities, Metsähallitus, the Natural Resources Institute Finland and financiers, the contribution and its impact will instead create a significant impact, continues Economic Development Director Rajamäki.
Geopark is a versatile tool
The mission of geoparks is to raise awareness of the significance of the geological, natural and cultural heritage of the region and to promote their preservation, promote sustainable development, environmental education and geotourism, and the local economy more broadly.
– Here in Kankaanpää, we will highlight Hämeenkanga, art and environmental education as its special features in the Geopark, says Economic Development Director Rajamäki.
– Cycling has become wildly popular in the last couple of years. This has also been experienced in Kankaanpää, and Hämeenkangas offers a great setting for mountain biking.
– Kankaanpää is an art city and through it we bring a special feature to our Geopark area. Through Taidekehä and SAMK Art School, we will begin to explore and produce new perspectives and products in combining nature, art and tourism.
– Kankaanpää Lyceum has already been enthusiastically involved in teaching environmental education from a Geopark perspective during the Geopark application phase. We will continue this cooperation, also offering international contacts in this regard, Rajamäki continues.
Obtaining the status is the result of years of work and the status is temporary. Geoparks are subject to a huge number of criteria, the implementation of which is assessed during the application phase and every four years after the status is granted.
For more information:
City of Kankaanpää
Marko Rajamäki, Director of Economic Affairs, City of Kankaanpää, 040 717 7578, [email protected]
Geopark Operations Manager
Terttu Hermansson, Executive Director, Lauhanvuori–Hämeenkangas Geopark Association, 040 675 7363, [email protected]
Websites:
Lauhanvuori-Hämeenkangas Geopark: https://lhgeopark.fi/
Lauhanvuori-Hämeenkangas Geopark virtual guide: https://www.lauhanvuoriregion.fi