Locations
Technical Committee on Environment
Exploring the Geological Heritage of the island of Cyprus: Research and Development project
Objectives
This project aimed to promote geological education and raise public awareness on the geological heritage of the island of Cyprus, motivating young people to discover and connect with this shared nature heritage through learning and gamification. Using geology and the island’s geo-heritage, the project created networks of youth from across the island building bridges between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and enhancing their interest and understanding on geology and environmental awareness.
The main objectives of this project were:
Fostering collaboration and building bridges between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots;
Promoting geo-education and spreading awareness on the geological heritage of the island of Cyprus: To enhance the public’s (and mainly youth’s) knowledge about the geology and geo-heritage of the island of Cyprus;
Raising Environmental Awareness: By learning about the geological heritage of the island of Cyprus, people also learned to respect the geo-heritage and natural environment of the island. As a result, geo-heritage used geology as a tool to enhance environmental awareness and advocate for the importance of environmental protection.
Results
Geology plays a crucial role in understanding environmental phenomena and uncovering Earth's natural secrets. The field encompasses various elements, including rocks, fossils, minerals, crystals, caves, and volcanic eruptions. Geological heritage refers to the unique, rare, or unusual geological and natural features found in a specific location. As a shared treasure of the Earth, it holds universal value and should be protected by all of humanity.
The Technical Committee on Environment collaborated with a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot geologist to promote awareness and appreciation of the island’s geological heritage. Their joint efforts focused on:
Creating a database of key geological sites across the island.
Organizing field trips to educate people about the island of Cyprus’ geo-heritage.
Conducting seminars and workshops on geology and geo-education, particularly for young people and children.
Developing games and interactive activities to bring communities together, using geology as a tool for building connections and promoting environmental awareness.
As part of the initiative, four geo-site visits took place in September 2024, as well as in March and April 2025. Participants explored key sites across the island, including:
Over 80 participants—including geologists, archaeologists, teachers, and nature enthusiasts—engaged in these excursions, learning about the island's geology while networking and forming new connections.
Additionally, the two geologists developed three interactive games designed to make learning about the island's geological history engaging for children and youth:
Rock Description Cards – A card game introducing different rock types.
Geological Treasure Hunt – A fun, educational journey through the island’s geological evolution.
Fossil Excavation Workshop – A hands-on experience in discovering and understanding fossils.
These games were successfully tested during educational workshops organized by the Geo-Heritage Project. A comprehensive Educational Content Report, along with downloadable game guidelines and tips, is available to help educators and enthusiasts foster a deeper appreciation for the island of Cyprus’ geology, geo-heritage, and environment.
This project is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in coordination with OSASG-Cyprus.
