HarzWaldHaus: Newest Geopark information point with UNESCO award!

HarzWaldHaus: Newest Geopark information point with UNESCO award!

The resin has with that HarzForestHouse Bad Harzburg received a new attraction: the visitor center was officially recognized as a Geopark information point. This prestigious award, awarded by a UNESCO commission, underlines the importance of the site for regional education on geology and nature conservation.

The handover took place at the beginning of July 2025, when the commission visited the interactive exhibition. House manager Josefine Barke proudly accepted the token of recognition, while Ines Lüddecke gave the delegation exciting insights into the development of the Harz forests. She also explained how location factors influence the selection of tree species for reforestation. Tobias Seifert, district manager in the protected area, answered questions about the current forest situation in the Harz National Park.

Diverse discoveries in the Geopark

The HarzWaldHaus is a joint project between the Lower Saxony State Forests and the Harz National Park. The exhibition addresses both the important history of mining in the region and its influence on the current natural landscape. This mix of education and entertainment seems to have completely convinced the UNESCO commission, because the HarzWaldHaus has now been included in the list of recognized geopark locations.

But that's not the only positive news from the region: the neighboring one Treetop path also received an award, and both can be considered part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Harz. Braunschweiger Land. Eastphalia (HBLO) can be considered. In 2025, this geopark will even celebrate its tenth anniversary.

Strict verification by UNESCO

The UNESCO panel, represented by experts such as Alberto Gil Toja from Spain and Sarina from China, traveled to the region at the end of June 2025 to evaluate the quality of the geopark. During this time they visited several important places, including the Königslutter Imperial Cathedral and the Geopark Information Center in Königslutter, which illustrates the geological diversity of the region.

The inspection is part of an international quality control that is carried out every four years. If the criteria for a new award are met, the geopark will be recognized for another four years. This system not only promotes awareness of the local geology, but also supports sustainable development and generates new sources of income for the community.

What makes the Geopark special is the focus on connecting geological heritage and local culture. UNESCO, together with the local community, ensures the preservation of these treasures and thus also enables geotourism, which creates new jobs and stimulates the local economy. This not only raises awareness of the sustainable use of resources, but also promotes the population's identification with their homeland.

The decision on the revalidation of the Geopark will probably not be made until the end of 2025, but one thing is certain: the Harz region can look forward to an exciting future. With its newly recognized information points and committed local community, the region is taking a big step towards sustainable development.