Based on an international European Leader + program (1997-2000) managed by the  Haute Provence Geological Reserve Management Association in partnership with the petrified forest of Lesvos (Greece), the Vulkaneifel (Germany) and Maestrazgo (Spain), the European Geoparks Network was launched, with the support of UNESCO in 2000.
Very soon, many territories wishing to integrate into the process to constitute, over the years, an extremely active network which has served as a reference to the launching of the Global Geoparks Network: GGN (2004)
Today about 111 Geoparks are existing  in the world, 65 are inside the European Geopark Network.
For more information (English only): http://www.europeangeoparks.org/