Stonehammer to host 2014 International Geopark Conference in Saint John

June 7

MEDIA RELEASE

May 14, 2012

2014 International Geopark Conference to be held in New Brunswick

The Global Geopark Network’s 2014 International UNESCO-supported Conference has been awarded to the Stonehammer Global Geopark. The announcement was made today in Unzen, Japan. “We are thrilled to be able to welcome delegates from around the world to the Stonehammer Geopark,” said Chair Bill Merrifield, “This is another first for New Brunswick and  for North America.”

The location of the 2014 International Conference was just announced in the Unzen Global Geopark in Japan, where the Stonehammer delegation is attending the 2012 Conference. “The 2014 Conference is expected to have significant economic impact, and will garner international media attention for New Brunswick,” said Merrifield. “We want to take this opportunity to recognize the commitment of the provincial and federal governments, as well as the corporate and community support that has enabled Stonehammer to be successful in securing this international event.”

 About Stonehammer Geopark

Stonehammer Geopark, located in Southern New Brunswick, is a geological park where you can experience a billion years of Earth’s history. The landscape of the Stonehammer Geopark has been created by the collision of continents, the closing and opening of oceans, volcanoes, earthquakes, ice ages and climate change. The rocks of our geopark have been witness to the evolution of life, from the first discovery of Precambrian stromatolite fossils, to the ‘Cambrian Explosion’ of life, to the evolution of vertebrates and the emergence of life on land. The geopark includes geological stories from late Precambrian time a billion years ago to the most recent Ice Age, and almost everything between.

Stonehammer Geopark incorporates more than 60 significant geological and fossil locales, including more than 10 publicly accessible sites.  Stonehammer is a community-supported organization comprised of site owners, tourism operators, members of the community and other stakeholders. The geopark encompasses 2500 square kilometers and extends from Lepreau Falls to Norton and from the Fundy Trail to the Kingston Peninsula.

 About Geoparks

A Geopark is an area recognized by the Global Geopark Network to have exceptional geological heritage.  This simply means that the area has a natural landscape that is good for education, has a significant scientific value, is particularly rare or it is simply beautiful to look at.  Geoparks aren’t just about geology though, they also take in sites with interesting archaeology, wildlife and habitats, history, folklore and culture, all of which are intricately linked with the underlying geology.

For more information on the Stonehammer Geopark, visit www.StonehammerGeopark.com.