What is the VGPL Commission and what are we up to?
The IAVCEI Commission on Volcano Geoheritage and Protected Volcanic Landscapes (VGPL) aims to support and promote the scientific, educational and cultural values of volcanic sites around the world. Our core objectives are to contribute scientific knowledge for the management of protected volcanic areas, to identify and promote the scientific values of these areas, to communicate their heritage significance through education and interpretation, and to emphasise geotourism as a driver of sustainable economic and community development.
In 2024, the Commission helped organise Volcandpark 2024, held in Jičín, Czech Republic, from 20 to 24 May. This event marked the first major meeting of the Commission since the pandemic, building on previous conferences in Olot (2012) and Lanzarote (2016). Volcandpark 2024 brought together researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders from across the globe to explore how volcanic geoheritage, geodiversity, conservation, and geotourism can be effectively integrated.
During the Jičín meeting, a new leadership team for the Commission was established who commenced in late 2024. The current co-leaders would like to sincerely thank the outgoing co-leaders – Károly Németh, Juan Martí, Tom Casadevall, and Mohammed Rashad Moufti – for their time, dedication, and leadership in developing and guiding the Commission. The new co-leaders are Heather Handley (University of Twente, Netherlands; Monash University, Australia), Juana Vegas (Geological and Mining Institute of Spain, IGME-CSIC, Madrid), Olga Bergal-Kuvikas (Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kamchatka, Russia), and Vladislav Rapprich (Czech Geological Survey, Prague).
In addition to coordinating the Volcandpark flagship event, the Commission is currently working with communities and organisations to provide expert guidance on development projects planned in highly sensitive volcanic areas, such as the Springerville and San Francisco Volcanic Fields in the southwestern United States. The Commission has also played an active role in overseeing the application and ratification of volcanic geoheritage sites nominated for the IUGS Geological Heritage Sites program. Having contributed to the First and Second 100 lists, the Commission is now preparing to participate actively in the nomination process for the Third 100, continuing its support for the global recognition of volcanic sites.
The Commission is co-organising session 7.1 From Indigenous Knowledge to geoheritage: Strengthening community resilience and public engagement in volcanic regions for the upcoming IAVCEI 2025 Scientific Assembly, scheduled for next month.
Looking ahead, this year the VGPL plans to launch a global online seminar series, build the website and establish a social media presence, support planning efforts for Volcandpark 2026 in Sopron, Hungary, and contribute to the ongoing Third 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites nomination process.
The Commission remains committed to enhancing the role and visibility of volcanic geoheritage within the volcanological community and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Members of the IAVCEI community with an interest in geoheritage, geoconservation, or geotourism are encouraged to engage with the VGPL’s upcoming initiatives. Those interested in participating in the new monthly seminar series are warmly invited to get in touch.
The Commission welcomes collaboration, input, and participation from across the IAVCEI network. Those interested in participating in the new monthly seminar series are warmly invited to get in touch.
Authors: Heather Handley, Károly Németh, Juana Vegas, Olga Bergal-Kuvikas, Vladislav Rapprich
What is the VGPL Commission and what are we up to? The IAVCEI Commission on Volcano Geoheritage and Protected Volcanic Landscapes (VGPL) aims to support and promote the scientific, educational and cultural values of volcanic sites around the world. Our…