Global recognition for a rock star

Professor Ross Dowling is WA’s own global rock star, having been recognised for his contribution towards UNESCO Global Geoparks.

The award was announced in at the Global Geopark Network Regional Conference in Brazil, which marked the network’s 20th anniversary.

The Certificates of Recognition was awarded for significantly supporting GGN’s development.

As Professor Dowling was not present, it was accepted on his behalf by Professor Artur Sa, president of the UNESCO chair on Geoparks, Sustainable Development and Healthy Lifestyles.

Professor Dowling says: “I am proud to be associated with the Global Geoparks movement and of my contributions to its development in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, the US, Brazil and the Sultanate of Oman.”

And Prof Dowling says he wont rest until UNESCO Global Geoparks are reintroduced into Australia, commenting that more geoparks have been introduced in NZ.

Prof Dowling was the foundation chair for tourism at Edith Cowan University and is an international speaker on geotourism and geoparks and has organised geotourism conferences around the world. He is a global advocate for geoparks, which unifies areas of geological significance. They recognise not just the geology, but flora and fauna of their area and tend to be developed by local communities.

But there are geopark projects (not Global Geoparks) happening in WA.

They include:

+ Nannup WA Geopark, which was launched on November 8 by Jane Kelsbie, member for Warren-Blackwood.

+ Murchison GeoRegion and Aspiring Geopark. The GeoRegion was launched in 2020 and now they are working to create a geopark.

+ Binjareb-Peel Drive Geotrail, which was launched by Minister for Regional Development Don Punch on August 21, 2024. It will form the heart of a geopark.

+ Mt Barker’s Mountain Tourism Organisation, which is working towards creating a geopark by 2026.

+ Joondalup–Wanneroo, which is working towards creating a geopark.