GEO2KA

GEO2KA - Geoheritage and Geohazards in Karst Areas

The project intends to contribute to a better handling of geohazards and geoheritage protection in karst areas. To investigate the karstic specificities and responses affecting risk mitigation actions, 2 karst areas are studied, 1 in Belgium, located in the Famenne-Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark, with typical meander cut-offs systems, and 1 in Vietnam, the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark (mountainous karst with typical sinkhole-resurgence systems). To achieve this goal 3 activities are planned. (1) Drawing up an inventory list and map with a ranking or prioritisation of geohazards and vulnerable geoheritage will support policy makers in urban / land use planning. This will be done in close collaboration with the Geoparks, local management and citizens. (2) High level technology (MT-SAR) will be applied to map ground movement over the whole surface of the 2 Geoparks. This will help in estimating the influence and the impact of geohazards and will guide the planning of future interventions to reduce high risk, and to ensure the protection of geoheritage. (3) To increase the awareness of protecting geoheritage and decrease the effects of geohazards local authorities and citizens will be informed about specific geohazards threatening their living environment, and what they themselves can do against it (with emphasis on the pollution of groundwater). Within the borders of the 2 Geoparks is a dense network of schools, which are a privileged site for disseminating knowledge. They can not only mobilise teachers and students but also reach out to their parents and even to a broader public. So, we intend to set up a sustainable cooperation between 2 Geoparks based on karst geology in very different geographic and climatic settings that goes beyond the period of the project.