
ProGEO
International Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage

Foundation
The first international meeting on geoconservation was held in The Netherlands in 1988, with the presence of seven European countries. One of the outputs of this meeting was the establishment of the European Working Group on Earth Science Conservation, which evolved in 1993 to ProGEO.
ProGEO was the first international body of geoconservation organised as a European and democratic association which has the capacity and the legitimate support to speak for those involved in geoconservation in Europe.
The inspiration of the “First International Symposium on the Conservation of our Geological Heritage” at Digne-les-Bains (France) in 1991 provided a great momentum for the developing cause of European geoconservation, and an ethos to underpin the day-to-day efforts of ProGEO and all in the field, in the form of the Digne Declaration.
Main achievements
From the first establishment of ProGEO, seminars, conferences and symposia have been arranged within the framework of the association, both on national and international levels.
Both regional and national ProGEO groups are active in the work of conserving the geological heritage of their countries or regions. One of the main activities of these groups has been contributions to the geosites project which establishes frameworks for selection of geoconservation sites of international importance.
ProGEO has also cooperated with many others to organize meetings and symposia including, sessions at international geological congresses (IGC)in Oslo (2008), Brisbane (2012), and Cape Town (2016). Other key achievements include contributing to the establishment of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) first two geological resolutions ever, the first adopted at the WCC 2008 and the second at the WCC 2012. For the first time, the World Parks Congress 2014 included geoconservation in its programme in Sydney, Australia.
One of the ProGEO’s major initiatives is the scientific publication “Geoheritage”, published by Springer since 2009. This collaborative effort can develop new and broader perspectives in geoconservation, such as geodiversity, geotourism, geoparks, landscape conservation and geological education.
Furthermore, for the first time a comprehensive overview of geoconservation in Europe has been presented in a book – “Geoheritage in Europe and its conservation”. The book includes specific contributions from 37 countries focussing on legislation and geoconservation practices.
2002
Dublin, Ireland
The first group, "The European Working Group on Earth-Science Conservation", was founded.
2000
Official registration ProGEO as an Association.
Past Events
2023
Loughborough, UK
XI International Progeo Symposium in Charnwood Forest, Celebrating Geoheritage, Promoting Geoconservation
9-11th October 2023
2021
Madrid, Spain
Ninth General Assembly (held electronically)
X International ProGEO Symposium, Building connections for global geoconservation, 7-10th June 2021 (a fully online free event)
2018
Chęciny, Poland
Eight General Assembly
IX International ProGEO Symposium on Conservation of Geoheritage: Geoheritage and Conservation: Modern Approaches and Applications – Towards the 2030 Agenda
2015
Reykjavík, Iceland
Seventh General Assembly
VIII International ProGEO Symposium on Conservation of Geoheritage: Geoconservation Strategies in a Changing World.
2012
Bari, Italy
Sixth General Assembly
VII International ProGEO Symposium on Conservation of Geoheritage. Geoheritage: Protecting and Sharing.
2010
Hagen, Germany
VI International ProGEO Symposium on Conservation of Geological Heritage. Geosites: Resources for the Public. Palaeontology and Conservation of Geosites.
2008
Rab, Croatia
Fifth General Assembly
V International ProGEO Symposium on Conservation of the Geological Heritage.
2006
Kyiv, Ukraine
ProGEO Symposium. Safeguarding our Geological Heritage. European Protection Policies of the Geological Heritage – Theory and Practice.
2005
Braga, Portugal
Braga, Portugal
IV International Symposium ProGEO. On the Conservation of the Geological Heritage
1999
Madrid, Spain
III International Symposium. Towards the Balanced Management and Conservation of the Geological Heritage in the New Millennium.
1998
Belogradchik, Bulgaria
Geological Heritage of Europe.
1997
Tallinn, Estonia
Second General Assembly.
1996
Rome, Italy
II International Symposium. On the Conservation of our Geological Heritage/ World Heritage: Geotope Conservation World-wide, European and Italian Experiences.
1993
Mitwitz-Cologne, Germany
First General Assembly.
The formal start for ProGEO and the adoption of Articles.
1991
Digne-les-Bains, France
I International Symposium.
Declaration of the Rights of the Memory of the Earth.
1990
Lom, Norway
Presentation of the Lom Articles
1988
Leersum, Holland.
The first group, "The European Working Group on Earth-Science Conservation", was founded.