Today marks the beginning of the long journey of the Portuguese Delegation of the Algarvensis Geopark to Chile, where the 11th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks will take place.

The delegation, composed of around 15 members, includes representatives of the Algarvensis Geopark Association, the technical team, and the three founding municipalities, Loulé, Silves, and Albufeira.

At this global meeting, the Algarvensis Geopark will be represented with 13 oral presentations and 2 posters, covering a wide range of topics such as geotourism, geoeducation, culture, geoconservation, science, local communities, and partnerships.

It will also be on this occasion that Portugal will receive, in an informal manner, the decision of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, which will meet on September 5 - 6, regarding the candidacy of the Algarvensis Geopark to join the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

The Council’s decision is sovereign and irrevocable. Regardless of the outcome, immediate entry into the network or a deferral of two years, the Portuguese delegation remains confident in the work carried out so far and awaits the news with serenity.